550 Squadron
S/Ldr A P Gainsford DFC and Crew
S/Ldr Gainsford and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 11 Base w.e.f 14.09.4:
- S/Ldr A P Gainsford RNZAF DFC (P)
- F/O S G Kitson (F/Eng)
- F/Sgt W R Williams RAAF (Nav)
- F/Sgt J H F Rowe (A/B)
- W/O F E Barrett (W/Op)
- F/O H G Cook RCAF (MU/AG)
- F/Sgt G H Davidson RCAF (R/AG)
S/Ldr A P Gainsford was Flight Commander "C" Flight: 09 Sep 44 - 07 Nov 44.
For most, if not all, of the crew this was their second operational tour with Bomber Command.
The crew were posted from 550 Sqdn to 150 Sqdn on 7th November 1944 (with the exception of F/O Cook who was posted from 550 Sqdn to R.C.A.F "R" Depot w.e.f 20.11.44).
S/Ldr Gainsford’s last operation was with 150 Sqdn on 22 Dec 1944 by which time he had completed a total of 62 Operations on Bomber Command flying both Wellington and Lancaster aircraft. He was awarded the DSO, AFC and DFC during war service and the OBE in 1963. His career continued with the RNZAF until his retirement in the rank of Air Commodore in 1967 and he passed away in 1974.
S/Ldr A P Gainsford RNZAF
There follow below some pages from S/Ldr Gainsford's log book. Many thanks to Tony Gainsford (son) for making these items and associated information available for use on the web-site.
Log book (page 1) |
Log book (page 2) |
Log book (page 23) |
Log book (page 4) |