There follows below lists of the officers and men who served in 550 Squadron. The information used to build this page was taken in the first instance from the lists provided on the original Squadron Association web-site, but have been augmented by new and additional information gathered since that time.
This information is not yet complete: it has been build from the Roll of Honour, Decorations and Senior Officer lists, and then by working through other available records. So please don't shout just yet if you spot an omission - work continues to build a more complete, and accurate, list.
Do however shout if you spot an error! Please email any corrections or information to the contact details in the link at the bottom of the page.
Serviceman Details: The column headers should be fairly self-explanatory. The final column (Web links) contains, where given, links to other items on this web-site or indeed to external sources where further information or photographs, etc can be found.
Aircraft: When a link to a particular aircraft is given, this only indicates aircraft it is known the crewman was associated with (such as when flight logs are available or the aircraft has failed to return from an operation). It does not exclude the fact that the crewman may well have flown on other aircraft too, that is either just not documented in the currently available records or simply not known to the author. The aircraft links will take you to the operations listed for that aircraft.
Note that the vast bulk of the information available about squadron servicemen presented below concerns air-crew; almost no information is available about the men, and women, of the technical and other ground crews who played their part in making the squadron an effective fighting unit. This is a shame, given the key role they played in keeping the aircraft in the air and the men flying them able to do their job. So if you have ground-crew information do please send it in so that it too can be included in the squadron record.
Definitions of the abbreviations used are available: here.
| Serviceman Details | Aircraft | Rank | Initials (First Name) |
Last Name | Decorations | Service | Service No. | Role | Flight | Other Information | Links | FTR? | Date | Service Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/L | J (James) |
Cassidy | DFC* | RAAF | A414901 | Nav | C | Navigator with S/Ldr Willie Caldow. Flew on the last operational mission of The Phantom of the Ruhr (BQ-B). Flew 1st tour with 12/626 Sqdn (06/07/43-29/01/44) out of Wickenby (see Jack Currie, Lancaster Target) where he was awarded the DFC, followed by 2nd tour with 550 Sqdn (18/11/44-16/03/45) where he added a Bar to his DFC. DFC gazetted in the supplement to the London Gazette 20/12/45 (S/L Pickles RAAF in the same edition). Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. L.F.S. w.e.f. 13.11.44 Completed tour on 16.03.45 Post-war returned to live in Australia and then returned to the UK. Died July 2015 just a couple of months short of his 94th birthday |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/EE139-ThePhantomOfTheRuhr/FlLtJCassidy/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderWFCaldow/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/EE139-ThePhantomOfTheRuhr/FlLtJCassidy/Images/IBCC_20191222.jpg /pages/bomber-command-books.php#TonUpLancs /pages/bomber-command-books.php#LancasterTarget /pages/bomber-command-books.php#FromANewAngle http://www.626-squadron.co.uk/crews6.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tH8OVAICjQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfj0OnSb53A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7b_w5EX04E /images/PhantomofTheRuhr/BBMF20070427/index.php |
- | - |
EE139 ME390 NG221 NG251 NG336 NN715 |
| F/Sgt | E J (Edward John) |
Coffey | RAAF | A.11044 | Nav | - | From No.75 Base w.e.f. 7.5.45 Posted to RAF Station, Gamston w.e.f. 25.6.45 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POELFleming/index.php http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=862791 |
- | - | - | |
| Sgt | T M (Thomas Matthew) |
Cranitch | RAAF | A.429518 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 103 Sqdn w.e.f. 8.11.44 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtLDale/index.php |
- | - |
NG132 NG250 |
|
| F/Sgt | B D (Benedict Daniel) |
Cunningham | RAAF | A.436747 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.75 Base w.e.f. 6.5.45 Posted to R.A.F. Station, Gamston w.e.f. 25.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtButler/index.php |
- | - | - | |
| P/O | E M |
England | DFC | RAAF | Nav | - | - | - | - |
ED942 |
||
| F/Sgt | E M |
England | RAAF | A.412418 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 100 Sqdn w.e.f 25/11/43 (on squadron start-up) Posted (as P/O) to 27 O.T.U. on 14.5.44 (on completion of first tour) |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtABCraig/index.php |
- | - |
DV176 ED942 JA934 LM425 LM460 |
|
| F/Sgt | J W (John) |
Eppel | RAAF | A.433156 | Nav | - | Posted from 550 Sqdn to A.C.A.C w.e.f. 26.2.45 Received Legion d'honneur from French Government; was presented with the same in November 2015 on board a French Frigate in Australia. Died December 2018 A great friend of the Association providing much information for the web-site about the Squadron and Bomber Command in general. |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOJHarris/index.php https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/3399 /pages/IBCC-DigitalArchive.php |
- | - |
ED905 LL748 LL811 NF998 NG251 PB532 PD320 |
|
| F/Sgt | Fetterplace | RAAF | A.35007 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.73 Base w.e.f. 18.5.45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to RAF Station Gamston w.e.f 25.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtShepherd/index.php |
- | - | - | ||
| F/O | R G |
George | RAAF | A.424853 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 1 L.F.S. on 15.7.44 Posted from 550 Sqdn to 582 Sqdn w.e.f. 17.9.44 Joined 550 Sqdn in Jul 44, posted to a Pathfinders Sqdn Sept 44 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHGManley/index.php /original-site-archive/lib/image020.jpg |
- | - |
EE139 EE193 LM182 ME583 ND972 PD221 |
|
| F/Sgt | J T |
Goodrick | RAAF | A.415522 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 103 Sqdn w.e.f. 20.1.44 Posted from 550 Sqdn to No. 12 Sqdn w.e.f. 1/2/44 |
- | - | - | - | |
| F/Sgt | R R ("Russ") |
Longmire | RAAF | A.437141 | Nav | C |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderJCSarll/index.php |
- | - |
ME542 NG243 |
||
| F/Sgt | N H (Neville) |
Lund | RAAF | A.435235 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f. 27.2.45 Posted to 460 Sqdn w.e.f 13.6.45 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POAGElliott/index.php |
- | - |
ME548 NF931 NG246 PA288 RF135 RF214 |
|
| F/Sgt | F W L |
Mann | RAAF | A.432317 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 1 L.F.S. wef. 31.8.44 Posted to No. 150 Sqdn on 7th November 1944 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOGHMarkes/index.php |
- | - |
LL831 ME776 NG120 NG132 NG135 NG153 PB707 |
|
| F/Sgt | McLeod | RAAF | A.431941 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.75 Base w.e.f. 6.5.45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to RAF Station Gamston w.e.f 26.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POERCathcart/index.php |
- | - | - | ||
| F/Sgt | P J (Paul James) |
Mellor | RAAF | A.442526 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.75 Base w.e.f. 6.5.45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to RAF Station Gamston w.e.f. 26.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtCRRScott/index.php http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=R&VeteranId=1032672 |
- | - | - | |
| P/O | R J |
Moran | DFC | RAAF | A.434584 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 1 L.F.S. w.e.f. 13.08.44 (with Dodds crew) First listed as F/Sgt, then P/O later F/O Posted to 550 Sqdn from N/E sick w.e.f 14.11.44 Posted to 550 Sqdn from N/E sick w.e.f. 17.11.44 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOHDodds/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FORATapsell/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtDAShaw/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOLGMichie/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtEHLuder/index.php |
- | - |
ED905 EE193 LM228 ME503 ND972 NG221 NG251 NG390 PA268 PA991 PB532 PB864 PD313 PD319 PD320 RA503 RF136 |
| F/L | G S (Garnet) |
Nankivell | RAAF | A.416982 | Nav | - | - |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FODWSummons/index.php /pages/550-sqdn-photos-group.php#BFlight |
- | - |
LL831 ME301 NG133 NG287 PD313 RF135 |
|
| F/Sgt | L W (Leo Wilkin) |
Pfitzner | RAAF | A.437950 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f. 6.2.45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to R.A.F Station Gamston, w.e.f 25.6.1945 |
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=1028933 /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOJLukies/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOCGKEdlund/index.php |
- | - |
LM228 ME301 ND972 NF931 NG120 NG132 NG243 NG250 PB707 |
|
| F/Sgt | R H (Reginald Henry) |
Pinnington | RAAF | A.432417 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.75 Base w.e.f. 6.5.45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to RAF Station Gamston w.e.f. 25.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtVRLJohnson/index.php http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=R&&VeteranID=1024963 |
- | - | - | |
| F/Sgt | Sarson | RAAF | A.4355529 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from RAF Bottesford w.e.f 13/04/45 Posted from 550 Sqdn to R.A.F. Station, Gamston, w.e.f. 26.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtJADexter/index.php |
- | - |
ME776 |
||
| F/Sgt | A W |
Scott | RAAF | A435000 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f 07/04/45 Posted to R.A.F Station Gamston, w.e.f 25.6.1945 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtJFThomas/index.php |
- | - |
NG250 PD313 RF135 |
|
| F/Sgt | J K |
Sharpe | RAAF | A.437167 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 1 LFS on 16.7.44 26 Aug 1944 W5005 (Nan), ditched in Humber - no injuries Posted from 550 Sqdn to A.C.A.C Brackla, w.e.f 11-1-45 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtRHopman/index.php /original-site-archive/lib/image014.jpg |
Surv. | 26 Aug 1944 |
DV200 EE139 LL831 LM273 ME776 PB532 PD225 W5005 |
|
| F/Sgt | Taylor | RAAF | A.435614 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No.71 Base w.e.f. 18.5.45 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtWalters/index.php |
- | - | - | ||
| F/O | J C |
Thorp | RAAF | A.428826 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 13 Base w.e.f 4.32.45 on ceasing to be N/E sick |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FOThompson/index.php |
- | - |
NG120 PD320 |
|
| F/Sgt | B M (Bruce Milton) |
Trowbridge | RAAF | 433793 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f. 17.2.45 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/POSWNielson/index.php |
KIA | 7/8 Mar. 1945 |
ME390 ME503 |
|
| F/Sgt | E H |
Waller | RAAF | A.427607 | Nav | - | - |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FSgtKFWilson/index.php |
- | - |
ME428 PD382 |
|
| F/Sgt | W R |
Williams | RAAF | A.437894 | Nav | - | Posted to 550 Sqdn from No. 11 Base w.e.f 14.09.44 Posted from 550 Sqdn to 150 Sqdn on 7th November 1944 |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/SqdnLeaderAPGainsford/index.php /documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FlLtDAShaw/index.php |
- | - |
ED905 LL831 NF931 NG120 NG134 NG135 |
|
| F/O | D E |
Wright | RAAF | A.425473 | Nav | - | - |
/documents/public/Lancasters-Crews/FORATapsell/index.php |
- | - |
NG134 |
|
The details were last updated: 21 November 2024
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