550 Squadron

P/O E F Marles and Crew

P/O Marles and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from R.A.F Station, Lindholme, w.e.f 17.3.1944:

• P/O E F Marles (P)
• Sgt G L Grant (F/Eng)
• Sgt H W Cooper (Nav)
• F/Sgt J H Elliott RCAF (A/B)
• Sgt A Cleghorn CdG (W/Op)
• Sgt J E Roberts (MU/AG)
• Sgt E W Kendall (R/AG)

The Bowen-Bravery crew (Bowen-Bravery, Thompson, Thomas, Fyffe, Cleghorn, Bodill, Thompson) were awarded Croix de Guerre (CdG) by the French Government in recognition of their aircraft leading the opening attacks on D-Day. The citation hangs beside the 550 Squadron Memorial Window in St Denys' Church, North Killingholme. Thus Sgt Cleghorn was flying with a different crew to his normal crew on this occasion. Information about the flight and the target available here.

Sgt A Cleghorn

In late 2025 the Association received the following request (which was included in the June 2026 Newsletter, Issue 94):

"I'm wondering if any of our members can help me identify the artist who drew the attached portrait of my father Alexander Cleghorn.
Alex was a wireless operator in 550 Squadron. I am happy to report that he survived the war and lived a happy and fulfilled life until he passed away in 1999.
Sadly we never discovered the identity of the artist but I believe the signature says "T. Beetham, July 1945".
Any information regarding the drawing and the artist would be gratefully received. Can anyone help?"

If you are able to shed any light on this portrait, the artist or the sitter then do please contact the Association so that the information can be passed on to the family of Alex Cleghorn.

	Sgt Alexander Cleghorn
	Signature on the rear of the portrait It is possible that the signature is T. Beetham, July 1945.

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