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

 

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Newby,
Jim
J. Newby (Photo courtesy of Mr Tony Swaby) J. Newby (Photo courtesy of Mr Tony Swaby)
Son of Alfred Newby, coal miner, and Annie Elizabeth Mincher.

Mr Tony Swaby about his uncle's wartime career: "I knew Uncle Jim very well, particularly in my formative years, albeit he lived then in Beeston, Notts, over 30 miles or so from Mexborough. I do remember him telling me about his RAF service and the fact that he was a Navigator (Sgt) flying in Catalina flying boats. I would imagine that much of these operations took place over the North Atlantic, and he certainly mentioned visiting Ganda, Newfoundland, at some stage during his service. It was whilst he was in Canada that Jim received his wings, which were apparently presented to him by then then Princess Juliana of The Netherlands (later to be Queen Juliana), who was living in exile at Stornoway House, a suburb of Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa. Jim told me this himself, and there was further anecdotal evidence from my Mother (Jim's sister), together with other family members. On a point of interest, at some stage during his service and whilst navigating his Catalina, the crew were called upon the rescue a pilot at sea. According to Jim, there was a significant sea swell on that day but the catalina managed to land near to the downed pilot and rescue him, alive and well. But, as the aircraft was taking off (Catalinas apparently took off in stages), a large wave engulfed it, and they too were then in need of rescue. The fact that Jim and the other crew members were missing was relayed to my Grandfather/Grandmother Alfred and Annie Elizabeth, who were of the belief that Jim had perished. Grandfather was a coal miner working underground on the coal face at nearby Denaby Main Colliery, near to Mexborough, Doncaster, when, during his meal break, he read a newspaper which included a story about a number of air crew who had been rescued at sea. Jim Newby was one of those rescued, and this fact was later formally confirmed by the War Office, probably by telegram."
15.11.1918
Mexborough, Doncaster district, Yorkshire
-
10.1987
Barnsley district, Yorkshire
Acm. 2nd cl. 29.09.1941 [1579183]
Ldg.Acm. 13.07.1942
T/Sgt. 15.10.1943
P/O (prob) 04.08.1944 [184091]
P/O 04.02.1945, seniority 28.08.1944
(WS) F/O 04.02.1945 (emgcy list) (reld 01.07.1959; retaining rank of F/O)
Tool setter operator (Ericsson Telephone Engineering Company, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, 1935-1941.
29.09.1941     enlisted, RAFVR (served in the ranks for 2 years, 310 days)
30.09.1941     Air Crew Holding Unit RAF Birmingham (Reserve)
16.03.1942     No. 1 Air Crew Reception Centre RAF
01.04.1942     171 TW [Training Wing?] RAF
13.06.1942     under training Pilot
17.07.1942     Air Crew Despatch Centre 15, 51 Group Pool, Elementary Flying Training School, RAF
09.12.1942     Air Crew Despatch Centre RAF Bridgnorth
16.12.1942 - 17.12.1942 passage to Canada
17.12.1942     under training Navigator B
23.12.1942     No. 31 Personnel Despatch Centre RAF
02.04.1943     No. 31 Bombing & Gunnery School RAF
30.05.1943     Air Observer School RAF
19.10.1943     under training Navigator B
31.10.1943     34 Operational Training Unit RAF
29.01.1944     No. 1 "Y" Depot (Halifax, NS)
01.02.1944     HQ 45 Group RAF
12.04.1944     45 Group RAF (North Bay)
04.08.1944     commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
      may have served in Air-Sea Rescue
Newport,
Norman
N. Newport
 ?
-
(A) P/O (prob) 10.10.1941 [107961]
P/O (prob) 10.12.1941
(WS) F/O (prob) 01.10.1942 (emgcy list) (reld 10.02.1954; retaining rank of F/Lt.)
(T) F/Lt. ?
10.10.1941     commissioned, RAFVR (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
      served in North Africa & Italy
Nicholls,
John Hamilton
 J.H. Nicholls

J.H. Nicholls writes: "I think about this time I was shot down but managed to get the plane back to base. I was then sent on rest to Egypt as Chief Flying Instructor at Ismailia, a switch to the Middle East Command. When I returned to Italy and promoted to Wing Commander, a return to the European Command."
1916 ?
-
05.2009 still alive [aged 93]
Sgt.
 		? [1056935]
P/O (prob)
 		19.02.1942 [116982]
(WS) F/O (prob)
 		01.10.1942
(WS) F/Lt.
 		01.10.1943?
(WS) Sq.Ldr.
 		27.07.1945
(A?) W/Cdr.
 		?
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
 06.04.1943
 ?
19.02.1942
  
 		 
 		commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
(1943)

601 (County of London) Squadron RAuxAF
03.1944
 -
 		07.1944
 		Commanding Officer, 601 (County of London) Squadron RAuxAF



achieved 5.7 victories
Nono,
Vincent Anthony
V.A. Nono (Photo courtesy of Mr John Leaf)
Son of Joseph and Nora Nono.
Husband of Jean Ramsay Henry Nono.
 1910 ?
Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
-
01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 33]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, 17.B.10]
Ldg.Acm.
 		? [1386501]
P/O (prob)
 		11.08.1942 [127018]
F/O (prob)
 		21.05.1943, seniority 11.02.1943
11.08.1942
  
 		 
 		commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch) [emergency commission]
?
 -
 		01.05.1943
 		navigator, 106 Squadron RAF
 [his Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O] took off 2355 hrs 30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was killed]
       

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