Sergeant William Frederick Allen
Volunteering for aircrew duities Bill Allen and followinghis basic training he was posted to No.10 Air Gunnery School at RAF Walney, Following this it was on to No.17 Operational Training Unit at RAF Silverstone. It was here where they crewed up and the crew of five were, F/O A F Cathro; Pilot, F/O M G McClisky; Navigator, F/O P M Rooney; Bomb Aimer, W/O G E Hawkes; Wireless Operator and himself as Air Gunner.
They were then posted to No.5 Lancaster finishing School at RAF Syerston where they were given two more crew, Sgt R Hood; Flight Engineer and Sgt D M Bradford; 2nd Air Gunner. This completed the crew of Seven.
Their posting to 50 Squadron was on 27 February 1945. Their first operation being on 5 march 1945 to Bohlen.
L to R: W/O George E Hawkes CAN/R18788 ( Wireless Operator), Sgt D M Bradford 3010768 ( Air Gunner Mid Upper) Sgt Bob Hood 1525604 ( Engineer), Sgt Willian Frederick Allen 1893722 ( Rear Gunner), F/O George Mclisky NZ 4213866( Navigator)
Seated: L to R F/O A F Cathro 153601 ( Pilot), F/O P M Rooney 169712 ( Bomb Aimer).
The newspaper clipping left shows them during a debrief after one of their operations, showing L to R Hawkes, Cathro, Allen and Rooney.
Operations began on 5 March 1945 and their list of operations are;
5 March 1945 F/O A F Cathro Bohlen
Lancaster I Sgt R Hood
PB 821 F/O M G McClisky
F/O P M Rooney
W/O G E Hawkes
Sgt D M Bradford
Sgt W F Allen
7 March 1945 Harburg
Lancaster I
PB 821
11 March 1945 Dortmund
Lancaster I
PB821
14 March 1945 Lutzkendorf
Lancaster I
PB821
16 March 1945 Wurzburg
Lancaster I
PB821
20 March 1945 Bohlen
Lancaster I
PB821
22 March 1945 Bremen
Lancaster I
PB821
9 April 1945 Hamburg
Lancaster I
PD285
16 April 1945 Pilsen
Lancaster I
PA222
18 April 1945 Komotau
Lancaster I
PA222
25 April 1945 Tonsberg
Lancaster I
PA222
1 June 1945 posted to 44 squadron
Bill Allen passed away November 1994 aged 69.
We are grateful to Suzanne Holwell and David Lee Allen for the details on their father.
Mike Connock
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