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Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) (RAF(VR)) Officers
1939-1945

 

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Gatward,
Alfred Kitchener
"Ken"
A.K. Gatward

personal narrative
28.08.1914
-
11.1998
Colchester, Essex
F/Sgt. ?
? [740730]
P/O (prob)
27.07.1940 [83251]
P/O
27.07.1941, seniority 21.07.1941
(WS) F/O
27.07.1941, seniority 21.07.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
27.07.1942, seniority 21.07.1942
(A) Sq.Ldr.
(01.1944)
(WS) Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1944
Sq.Ldr.
01.07.1946, seniority 01.09.1945
W/Cdr.
01.11.1947, seniority 01.07.1947
Gp.Capt.
01.07.1957 (retd 03.09.1964)
Distinguished Service Order DSO
02.06.1944
?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
> 07.1942
< 01.1944
?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
03.10.1944
*
Mention in Despatches MID
14.01.1944
?
* This officer has led the squadron with great skill and gallantry in many sorties. In July 1944, he particpated in an operation which resulted in the destruction of an enemy convoy, comprising 3 medium sized merchant vessels and 6 escorting ships. In August, 1944, Wing Commander Gatward led his squadron in an attack on a target in the Gironde area. During the operation his aircraft was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire and sustained serious damage. Nevertheless, he flew safely to base in the face of great difficulty. This officer has displayed leadership of the highest order.
27.07.1940


commissioned RAFVR (General Duties Branch)



flying Beaufighters with Coastal Command
[on 12.06.1942, crewed by Flight Lieutenant A.K. Gatward (Pilot) & Sergeant G. Fern (Observer), a Beaufighter dropped a French Tricolore on the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, and then strafed the nearby Headquarters of the Kriegsmarine]
03.1944
-
24.08.1944
CO 404 (RCAF) Squadron



went on to command a whole Beaufighter Coastal Strike Wing later in the war with the Mk.X
01.07.1946
-
03.09.1964
permanent commision RAF (General Duties Branch)
03.09.1964
-
07.01.1971
Flying Officer, RAFVR (Training Branch)
Gibb,
Matthew
M. Gibb
Changed name from Matiozas Waytkeviczia to Matthew Gibb by deed poll of 05.06.1946.

09.10.1920
-
03.05.2008
Ldg.Acm.
? [1335435]
P/O (prob)
31.10.1942 [131773]
(WS) F/O (prob)
03.05.1943
(WS) F/Lt.
06.11.1944
31.10.1942


first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)
?
-
13.05.1943
navigator, 51 Squadron RAF (shot down)
13.05.1943
-
04.1945
POW in German captivity
Gibb,
Walter Frame
W.F. Gibb


26.03.1919
near Port Talbot
-
04.10.2006
Ldg.Acm.
? [913424]
P/O (prob)
24.11.1940 [88881]
P/O
24.11.1941
(WS) F/O
24.11.1941, seniority 19.11.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
24.11.1942, seniority 19.11.1942
(A) Sq.Ldr.
1943?
(WS) Sq.Ldr.
20.12.1944
(A) W/Cdr.
09.1944
Distinguished Service Order DSO
01.05.1945
*
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
06.07.1943
**

* Wing Commander Gibb has completed very many sorties since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Highly efficient, brave and resolute, this officer has set a splendid example to all. Among his successes is the destruction of five enemy aircraft, three of which he shot down in the early days of March, 1945.
** Squadron Leader Gibb has displayed great skill as a pilot during operations both by day and night. During one day he severely damaged 7 locomotives in France. On another occasion, he led a section of 3 aircraft which engaged 2 Junkers 88's over the Bay of Biscay. Owing to his skilful leadership both of the enemy aircraft were destroyed. This officer has displayed great courage and tenacity.

Education: Clifton College
05.1940


joined RAFVR
24.11.1940


first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)
(1943)


264 Squadron RAF
(1943)


611 Squadron RAF
07.1943


Flight Commander, 605 Squadron RAF



test squadron of the Central Flying School
09.1944
-
1945
Commanding Officer, 239 Squadron RAF
 
Giles,
David

D. Giles

Son of Frederick William Giles and Margaret Mary Maud Palin Giles (née Evans), of Gordons, Almondsbury, near Bristol.
Brother of Capt. John F. Giles, and Capt. Bruce T. Giles, both of The Gloucestershire Regiment
27.05.1922
Abbots Leigh, Long Ashton district, Somerset
-
10.2003
South Somerset district, Soemrset
Sgt.
? [1316255]
P/O (prob)
30.01.1942 [121291]
(WS) F/O (prob)
01.10.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
30.01.1944
F/Lt. RAF
28.01.1947, seniority 01.09.1945
Sq.Ldr. RAF
01.01.1951 (retd 03.10.1964; own request)
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
07.04.1944
?



flying training in Canada
30.01.1942


commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1944)
 
 
255 Squadron RAF
28.01.1947
 
 
commissoined, RAF (General Duties Branch) [permanent commission]
Goldsack,
John William
J.W. Goldsack
?
-
F/Sgt.
? [509536]
(A) P/O (prob)
23.03.1944 [172701]
P/O (prob)
18.05.1944
P/O
18.11.1944
(WS) F/O
18.11.1944
F/O (Emergency List)
? (reld 17.12.1954; retaining rank of F/Lt.)
(1943?)


stationed at RAF Compton Bassett (later posted abroad) ?
23.03.1944

first commission, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch)

Goodhew,
[Sir] Victor Henry
V.H. Goodhew
Son of late Rudolph Goodhew, Mannings
Heath, Sussex.
Married 1st (1940) Sylvia Johnson (marriage dissolved); one son, one daughter.
Married 2nd (1951) Suzanne Gordon­Burge (marriage dissolved 1972).
Married 3rd (1972) Eva Rittinghausen (marriage dissolved 1981).

30.11.1919
-
11.10.2006
Cpl.
? [753303]
(A) P/O (prob)
31.12.1942 [135945]
P/O (prob)
03.03.1943
(WS) F/O (prob)
25.08.1943
[ (A) Sq.Ldr. ??
1945 ?? [unconfirmed]]
Education: King's College School
31.12.1942


first commission, RAFVR (Special and Administrative Duties Branch)



commanded Airborne Radar Unit, attached 6th Airborne Division
Member: Westminster City Council, 1953-1959; LCC, 1958-1961. Contested (C) Paddington North, 1955; MP (C) St Albans Div., Herts, Oct. 1959-1983. PPS to Mr C. I. Orr-Ewing, OBE, MP (when Civil Lord of the Admiralty), May 1962-1963; PPS to Hon. Thomas Galbraith, MP (Jt Parly Sec., Min. of Transport), 1963-1964; Asst Govt Whip, June­Oct. 1970; a Lord Comr, HM Treasury, 1970-1973. Member: Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, 1975-1983; Select Cttee, House of Commons Services, 1978-1983; House of Commons Commn, 1979-1983; Jt Sec. 1922 Cttee, 1979-1983; Vice-Chm., Cons. Defence Cttee, 1974-1983. Chm., Bd of Management, Inst. of Sports Medicine, 1982- (Mem., 1967-1970, 1973-1982).
Graeme,
Dudley Brian
D.B. Graeme
Married Nita Beddoe (died 2006); ... children.
02.10.1914
Vancouver, BC, Canada
-
07.2008 still alive aged 93 at Chichester
Acm.
13.08.1940 [1284523]
Ldg.Acm.
?
P/O (prob)
18.05.1941 [66598]
P/O
18.05.1942
(WS) F/O
18.05.1942
(A) F/Lt.
?
(WS) F/Lt.
18.05.1943 (reld 30.01.1945) (demobilized 05.1945)
Air Force Cross AFC
08.06.1944
?
Worked for the Staines, Middlesex Fire Brigade, 1939.
13.08.1940
-
24.08.1940
No. 1 Recruiting Centre RAF (Uxbridge)
24.08.1940
-
30.08.1940
No. 1 Recruiting Wing RAF (Babbacombe)
30.08.1940
-
16.11.1940
No. 4 Initial Training Wing RAF (Paignton)
16.11.1940
-
11.01.1941
No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School RAF (Weston Super Mare)
14.01.1941
-
18.05.1941
No. 15 Service Flying Training School RAF (Kidlington)
18.05.1941


first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)
31.05.1941
-
11.06.1941
No. 11 Group Flight Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (Heston, from 05.06.1941 Croydon)
11.06.1941
-
18.07.1944
287 Squadron RAF (Tangemere, from 10.05.1942 Ford, from 15.05.1943 Weston Super Mare)
19.07.1944
-
29.09.1944
60 Operational Training Unit RAF (High Erkell)
15.10.1944
-
14.05.1945
107 Squadron RAF (Hartford Bridge, from 01.11.1944 Cambrai/Epinoy) (flying Mosquitoes)
30.01.1945
-
14.05.1945
appointed to Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), continuing service with 107 Sqn RAF
Graves,
Richard Courtney
R.C. Graves
Married; at least one son.
?
-
1976
Sgt.
? [748763]
(A) P/O (prob)
17.08.1940 [83289]
P/O (prob)
?
P/O
17.08.1941
(WS) F/O
17.08.1941
(WS) F/Lt.
17.08.1942 (reld 1946)
17.08.1940


first commission, RAFVR (General Duties Branch)
09.09.1940
-
13.09.1940
253 Squadron RAF
14.09.1940
-
27.09.1940
85 Squadron RAF
28.09.1940
-
29.09.1940
253 Squadron RAF
[flying from Kenley with a Hurricane I fighter [V6621] he was shot down on a patrol after combat with a Messerschmitt 109 at 16.40 hrs near Haywards Heath [slightly wounded in shoulder]]



after recovering was sent to Egypt and then onto Ceylon
± 1945


sent to British Embassy in Paris (spoke French fluently)
Green,
Howard Morley Saville
"Pat"
J.H. Green
Married Elizabeth-Anne Seabrook.
22.09.1920
-
c. 2002
New Zealand
Ldg.Acm.
? [1281117]
P/O (prob)
01.04.1941 [63448]
P/O
01.04.1942
(WS) F/O
01.04.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
01.04.1943
F/Lt. RAF
01.07.1946
25.02.1947, seniority 01.12.1942
Sq.Ldr. RAF
01.01.1950
W/Cdr. RAF
01.01.1956 (retd 22.09.1967)
Mention in Despatches MID
02.06.1943
?
01.04.1941


first commission RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
18.12.1945


commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [extended service]
01.07.1946


permanent commission
(1955)
-
(1957)
stationed at Malta
       

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