97 Squadron Association - Gallery of Images

This part of the site is a tribute to Edward Leach Porter, known as "Ted", who served at Coningsby during 1944, attached to No 5 Group's 54 Base, which was the unit that provided the men who led and controlled bombing raids. The official title for this role was Master of Ceremonies.

In his capacity as a Master of Ceremonies, "Ted" Porter flew a 97 Squadron Lancaster, which was serviced and maintained by 97 Squadron ground crew, and he flew with a regular crew.

Porter had won the DFC with 207 Squadron in 1943 (as a Flight Lieutenant) and he returned to operations when he took command of 9 Squadron at Bardney on 14th November. He flew with distinction throughout the Battle of Berlin period, and was awarded a Bar to his DFC, before being posted to 54 Base at Coningsby in April 1944.

"Ted" Porter was killed, aged 33, on 17th August 1943 whilst leading a daring low level attack at Stettin Bay. He had returned early from leave and volunteered to do this trip without his usual crew.

The next photo (below) shows "Ted" Porter (extreme left) with three regular members of his crew.

(Below) "Ted" Porter (front row, centre) with his loyal ground crew and aircrew. The previous webmaster of this site, Des Evans, is standing in the back row (5th from right) and to his left is Jim Logan (the navigator).

Above and below are photos of Flight Lieutenant Jack Skingley DFC, a Bomb Aimer, who joined 97 Squadron in December 1943 from 207 Squadron. Whilst with the Squadron he wrote the poem "Our Heroes" (see Poetry section on this site); sadly he was killed on 21st July 1944 when his aircraft failed to return from an attack on railway yards at Courtrai in France.

(Above) Sergeant Amos Dexter, a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, from Wallington in Surrey who joined 97 Squadron on 24th October 1941. He was killed on 8th November 1941, aged 21, when his Avro Manchester aircraft failed to return from a sortie over the North Sea, searching for downed aircrews

(Above) Flight Lieutenant Peter Burbridge DFC, who was killed on his 33rd operation, on the night of 22nd/23rd November 1943. His wife was 3 months pregnant with twins at the time.

Warrant Officer Harry Kirby was the flight engineer in an otherwise all Australian crew. After completing 16 operations with 467 Squadron, Harry and the rest of the crew joined 97 Squadron in September 1944. They survived the war, completing a total of 43 operations. In this photo you can see the much prized Path Finder Force Badge worn on the flap of the left breast pocket.

Below is John Would who served with 97 Squadron as a Bomb Aimer and Radar Operator during 1944-45. He was awarded the Bar to the DFC that he had won earlier in the war with 44 Squadron.

(Above) Australian Keith Watson who flew with 97 Squadron during the latter stages of the war. As can be seen from this photo, the RAAF unifrom was darker than the RAF equivalent and did not have brass buttons.

Noel Parker, from New South Wales, enlisted in the RAAF in 1941, and flew ten operations on Stirlings with 75 Squadron in 1943, before being shot down by a German night fighter over Belgium in November 1943. The young Australian managed to evade capture and made it back to the UK, whereupon he was commissioned and allowed to resume his operational career, joining 97 Squadron in March 1944. He flew with distinction with the Squadron, winning the DFC and Bar before returning to Australia.

Londoner Reg Saxby was with 97 Squadron for a year from October 1944, flying as the flight engineer in the crew of Australian Flight Lieutenant Robertson

Welshman George Batho was the mid upper gunner in Flight Lieutenant Shorter's crew. Again, in this photo you can see the coveted Path Finder Force Badge on George's left breast pocket flap. The medal ribbons worn are (from left) those of the Distinguished Flying Cross, The 1919-1945 Star and the Air Crew Europe Star. The latter ribbon has a rosette indicating that George also qualified for the France & Germany Star.

Above is Sergeant Alan Grossmith from Stoke Newington in North London, who served as a navigator with 97 Squadron during 1942. He was killed, aged 22, on 11th July 1942 when his aircraft was brought down by the defences over the Danzig submarine yards.

(Above) F/Lt Tom Leak who completed 45 operations as bomb aimer/H2S operator in the crew of Sqn Ldr Charles Owen.


	About 97 Squadron: The Association History Reunions What's New! ------------------------- Abbreviations Aircrews Avro Lancaster Flight Ops. Gallery Groundcrews Lancaster Codes/Call Signs Lancaster PB409 The 97 Dambusters Logbooks Losses Memorial Navigator's Story Nuremburg Raids Pause For Thought People Poetry RAF Bourn Thorpe Camp WAAF Weather Report ------------------------- Contact us Links HOME ------------------------- Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top Top			Gallery 2 Wing Commander E.L.Porter DFC & Bar This part of the site is a tribute to Edward Leach Porter, known as "Ted", who served at Coningsby during 1944, attached to No 5 Group's 54 Base, which was the unit that provided the men who led and controlled bombing raids. The official title for this role was Master of Ceremonies. In his capacity as a Master of Ceremonies, "Ted" Porter flew a 97 Squadron Lancaster, which was serviced and maintained by 97 Squadron ground crew, and he flew with a regular crew. Porter had won the DFC with 207 Squadron in 1943 (as a Flight Lieutenant) and he returned to operations when he took command of 9 Squadron at Bardney on 14th November. He flew with distinction throughout the Battle of Berlin period, and was awarded a Bar to his DFC, before being posted to 54 Base at Coningsby in April 1944. "Ted" Porter was killed, aged 33, on 17th August 1943 whilst leading a daring low level attack at Stettin Bay. He had returned early from leave and volunteered to do this trip without his usual crew. Below is a photo of "Ted" Porter at the controls of a Lancaster. The next photo (below) shows "Ted" Porter (extreme left) with three regular members of his crew. (Below) "Ted" Porter (front row, centre) with his loyal ground crew and aircrew. The previous webmaster of this site, Des Evans, is standing in the back row (5th from right) and to his left is Jim Logan (the navigator). Flight Lieutenant Jack Skingley DFC Above and below are photos of Flight Lieutenant Jack Skingley DFC, a Bomb Aimer, who joined 97 Squadron in December 1943 from 207 Squadron. Whilst with the Squadron he wrote the poem "Our Heroes" (see Poetry section on this site); sadly he was killed on 21st July 1944 when his aircraft failed to return from an attack on railway yards at Courtrai in France. Sergeant Amos Dexter (Above) Sergeant Amos Dexter, a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, from Wallington in Surrey who joined 97 Squadron on 24th October 1941. He was killed on 8th November 1941, aged 21, when his Avro Manchester aircraft failed to return from a sortie over the North Sea, searching for downed aircrews Flight Lieutenant Peter Burbridge DFC (Above) Flight Lieutenant Peter Burbridge DFC, who was killed on his 33rd operation, on the night of 22nd/23rd November 1943. His wife was 3 months pregnant with twins at the time. Warrant Officer Harry Kirby Warrant Officer Harry Kirby was the flight engineer in an otherwise all Australian crew. After completing 16 operations with 467 Squadron, Harry and the rest of the crew joined 97 Squadron in September 1944. They survived the war, completing a total of 43 operations. In this photo you can see the much prized Path Finder Force Badge worn on the flap of the left breast pocket. Flight Lieutenant John Would DFC & Bar Below is John Would who served with 97 Squadron as a Bomb Aimer and Radar Operator during 1944-45. He was awarded the Bar to the DFC that he had won earlier in the war with 44 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant Keith Watson RAAF (Above) Australian Keith Watson who flew with 97 Squadron during the latter stages of the war. As can be seen from this photo, the RAAF unifrom was darker than the RAF equivalent and did not have brass buttons. Squadron Leader Noel Parker DFC & Bar Noel Parker, from New South Wales, enlisted in the RAAF in 1941, and flew ten operations on Stirlings with 75 Squadron in 1943, before being shot down by a German night fighter over Belgium in November 1943. The young Australian managed to evade capture and made it back to the UK, whereupon he was commissioned and allowed to resume his operational career, joining 97 Squadron in March 1944. He flew with distinction with the Squadron, winning the DFC and Bar before returning to Australia. Warrant Officer Reg Saxby Londoner Reg Saxby was with 97 Squadron for a year from October 1944, flying as the flight engineer in the crew of Australian Flight Lieutenant Robertson Warrant Officer George Batho DFC Welshman George Batho was the mid upper gunner in Flight Lieutenant Shorter's crew. Again, in this photo you can see the coveted Path Finder Force Badge on George's left breast pocket flap. The medal ribbons worn are (from left) those of the Distinguished Flying Cross, The 1919-1945 Star and the Air Crew Europe Star. The latter ribbon has a rosette indicating that George also qualified for the France & Germany Star. Sergeant Alan Grossmith Above is Sergeant Alan Grossmith from Stoke Newington in North London, who served as a navigator with 97 Squadron during 1942. He was killed, aged 22, on 11th July 1942 when his aircraft was brought down by the defences over the Danzig submarine yards. Flight Lieutenant Tom Leak DFC (Above) F/Lt Tom Leak who completed 45 operations as bomb aimer/H2S operator in the crew of Sqn Ldr Charles Owen.