550 Squadron

Sgt Wilfred Barratt

Sgt Wilfred Barratt flew as a mid-upper gunner with 550 Squadron.

Sgt Barratt, along with the rest of the crew of ND425, was killed on 30/31 March 1944 when his Lancaster bomber was shot down by a night-fighter on the raid to Nurmburg. The plane exploded over Unterspiesheim, 11 km SSE of Schweinfurt. ND425 was one of two 550 Squadron Lancasters lost that night.

	Sgt Wilfred Barratt Picture courtesy of Gary Barratt (CA)
	Sgt Wilfred Barratt and fellow flyer, possibly Sgt Jock McGhie. Picture courtesy of Gary Barratt (CA)

Does anyone know if ND425 had a nickname or crew-marking on the fuselage? If so, do please email in any information you might have (contact details at the foot of the page).

Final Letter Home

For a glimpse into the daily routine during those days in 1944/1945 when 550 Squadron was operational Wilfred's final letter, which he wrote on March 19th 1944, is shown below. He was lost on March 31st 1944.
Notice the line "we are on again tonight."

	Sgt Wilfred Barratt letter Letter courtesy of Gary Barratt (CA)
	Sgt Wilfred Barratt letter (page 1). Letter courtesy of Gary Barratt (CA)
	Sgt Wilfred Barratt letter (page 2). Letter courtesy of Gary Barratt (CA)

For a transcipt of the letter click here.

It is interesting that Wilfred mentions being on for a raid on that evening of March 19th 1944.
What was on for that night and did it go on as planned or was it aborted at the last minute?
A search for operations on 19/20 Mar 1944 shows there was a Bomber Command raid to Frankfurt that night, but no 550 Sqdn aircraft are listed as lost on this operation. So perhaps 550 Sqdn was involved and luck was with them, or maybe 550 Sqdn was not called on that night. At the moment we can't say with certainty that 550 Sqdn took part.

Do you know? If so then please email in details so that the site can be updated and the family learn more about Wilfred's time with the squadron.

Offical Telegram and King's Letter

The first two images shown below are scans of the official telegram received by Sgt Barratt's mother in August of 1944. A good 5-6 months after Wilfred had died. A very long time for a mother to wonder why the letters had stopped.
The third image is the letter from the King which grieving mothers, fathers, wives or siblings would have eventually received during the war.

	Official telegram to Sgt Barratt's mother Kindly made available by Gary Barratt (CA)
	Official telegram to Sgt Barratt's mother (second page) Kindly made available by Gary Barratt (CA)
	Letter of sympathy from King George VI to Sgt Barratt's mother Kindly made available by Gary Barratt (CA)