Gallery 9

'A' Flight Aircrew, Coningsby 1941

Seated (left to right) Sgt Henley, Flying Officer Mackid, Flying Officer Hallows, Pilot Officer Pickering, Flying Officer Rodley, Unknown. Standing - (extreme left) Sgt Cutting, (4th from left) Sgt Cummings. Others unknown.

97 Squadron Officers, September 1941

A group of 97 Squadron officers with Captain Gammans MP on his visit to Coningsby on 21st September 1941.

Back row (left to right) Flying Officer Mims, Flight Lieutenant Trueman, Flight Lieutenant Rolfe, Pilot Officer Noble, Pilot Officer Blakeman DFM. Front row (left to right) Flight Lieutenant Price DFC, Captain Gammans, Wing Commander Balsdon, Squadron Leader Sherwood DFC, Flight Lieutenant Hind (Adjutant). Wing Cmdr Balsdon was 97 Squadron's first Commanding Officer during the Second World War.

The Funeral of Sergeant Matthams, Coningsby Cemetery, November 1942

This was an all too familiar site during the war years. 97 Squadron aircrew and ground crew carry the coffin of 26-year-old Australian navigator, Sergeant Ronald Matthams into Coningsby Cemetery. Matthams was killed when his aircraft crashed near Woodhall Spa on a training flight.

97 Squadron Aircrew, Woodhall Spa, Summer 1942

A group of photograph of 97 Squadron aircrew taken at Woodhall Spa during the Summer of 1942. Seated in the third row (in the centre) is the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Collier DSO DFC. Can you spot the alsatian dog?

Air Gunners, August 1942

A group of air gunners taken on 19th August 1942 during their attendance on No 41 Course. Five of these men served with 97 Squadron (Baggs, Hussey, Rea, Hill and Boyton).

B Flight 97 Squadron 1945

A photo of B Flight taken in 1945 at Coningsby. It was provided by Phil Wardell whose father (F/Lt Terence Wardell)is in the 3rd row up, 4th from right. The Flight Commander (seated 2nd row, centre) was Wg Cmdr "Jock" Mason DSO DFC (a navigator).

97 Squadron Ground Crew, Bourn

(Above) This is a group of 97 Squadron ground crew that is believed to have been taken at Bourn in 1943 or1944.

RAF Rugby Team 1944

Also provided by Phil Wardell is this photo of the RAF Rugby team, with F/Lt Wardell in the middle row (extreme right).

97 Squadron Aircrew, Coningsby March 1945

97 Squadron Observers, Coningsby, May 1945

Back Row (from left) - F/Sgt Hector, F/L Would, F/L Odgers, F/L McPhie, F/L Lunn.

Middle Row (from left) - F/O G.Harris, F/L J.Harris, P/O Wilson, S/L Campbell (Navigation Leader), F/L Allen, F/L Ratcliffe, F/L Noble.

Front Row (from left) - W/O Scullard, P/O Hallett, F/Sgt Billington, S/L Cooper (Bombing Leader), F/O Le Marchant, F/L Milne, F/O Alabaster, W/O Parker

97 Squadron Personnel that participated in Operation Red Lion II in the Far East

"Filming the Dambusters"

(Above) Here is a photo taken at East Kirkby (the home of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre) on the occasion of the launch of the book "Filming the Dambusters" by Brian Goulding (standing centre). With Brian are three ex-97 Squadron men, all of whom took part in the making of the famous film, "The Dambusters", in 1954. They are (from left) Eric Quiller, Albert Mildred and Bill French.

A Group of 97 Squadron Bomb Aimers, Coningsby 1945

(Above) This is a group of bomb aimers taken at Coningsby in 1945. In the back row (from left) are W/O Ken Bates, S/L Graham Rogers DFC, E.Stule, F.Harrison. In the front (0rder unknown) are J.Pearce, F.Powell and R.M.Rusbridge and one unknown

AOC's Inspection - Watton 1965

(Above) 97 Squadron aircrew officers assembled outside one of the hangars at Watton in 1965 on the occasion of a visit by the AOC Signals Command.

Back (from left) F/L J.A.Quilley, F/L E.B.Fletcher, F/Sgt J.A.Cox, M/Sig R.Taylor, M/Engr H.G.Skeer, M/Sig A.Botten, M/Ae Op D.E.Lewis, F/L R.W.Francis DFC, F/O T.K.Topaz. 

Centre (from left) F/L G.R.Jenkins RCAF, F/L E.E.Fell AFC, F/L F.P.G.Wagner, F/L W.F.Donaldson, F/L W.F.J.Gibbs, F/L F.L.Waltham, F/L B.J.King, F/L D.Carrington, M/Sig D.J.Edgar, M AE Op I.C.Webb BEM

Front  (from left) F/L F.Hercliffe, F/L R.A.Davies (Nav Leader), F/L R.J.B.Jackson (B Flight Commander), S/L D.S.Smith (OC), F/L R.H.Brighton, F/L E.A.Le Baigue (Spec Op Leader), F/L P.G.H.Perry

Aircrew - Watton 1966

(Above) B Flight at RAF Watton July 1965 in front of a Canberra aircraft when the Squadron was in Signals Command.  Back (from left) Ken Topaz, Chris Webb BEM, Jack Edgar, Dave Lewis, John Cox, Dave Carrington, Pete Perry, Eric Fell, Russ Jenkins.  Front (from left) John Quilley, Dave Waltham, Reg Davies, Bob Jackson, Ted Le Baigue, Jack Gibbs, Pete Wagner.

(Above) a Varsity aircraft and (from left) Frank hercliffe, Ray Francis, Bill Donaldson, Bob Brighton, Brian King, Bob Fletcher and Ron Taylor