Post
by georgetanksherman » Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:40 am
Greetings and Welcome to Wartimes.ca PARKYNMB,
I am retired USAF, aircraft crew chief, while stationed in the U.K. (F-111's) I picked up a book about the Eagle Squadrons and their history, starting out Royal Air Force Squadrons, then in September 1942 all three squadrons transferred Planes and personnel to United States Army Air Force. I already knew about the volunteers of the Flying Tigers, so about 11 years ago, I started researching to see if other Americans Volunteered. WOW, with the AWESOME help of people on this site, I have a rather good list, by no means complete, of Americans with the RAF, RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF, SAAF, Canadian Army, British Army, Canadian Navy and British Navy. I have also been working on Americans that where too old to fly combat, so they joined the Ferry Squadrons ferrying aircraft from the U.S. and Canada over to the U.K. as civilians.
I live in Texas and have so far found 375 Texans that crossed the border into Canada to join in and help the Commonwealth nations.
Americans were in the British Army and RAF at Dunkirk, France, ... Americans were part of the Dieppe Raid, (Not the 50 U.S. Rangers) example: 61 P.O.W.'s, 13 K.IA.'s and 5 W.I.A. as well as the other operations.
Example R.A.F./R.C.A.F. aircraft, KIA, KIFA, WIA, Safe: Avro Lancaster: 304 Americans, Handley Page Halifax: 318 Americans, Vickers Wellington: 292 Americans, Hawker Hurricane: 147 Americans (Eagle Squadron not included), Supermarine Spitfire: 323 Americans (Eagle Squadron not included) just a sample
When the U.S. was brought in the war, many Americans transferred over to the U.S. Forces, but many did not, as they were turned down by U.S. Forces for one reason or another, so they stuck with who they trained with.
What I have on your relative, you probably already have this info,
Lancaster, R5695, R.A.F. No. 207 Squadron, Lost on November 25, 1942
Aircraft took off from RAF Langer, Langer, Nottinghamshire, England on a bombing mission to Haselunne, Germany. Aircraft failed to return to base from mission. Aircraft cause of loss and location is not known, Aircraft and crew were lost without a trace.
Crew:
Pilot: P/O A.J. Parkyn, J/16080, RCAF, Palesades Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Flt Eng: Sgt J.J. Gallimore, 632517, RAF, Denton, Lancashire, England
Nav: W/O II J.L. Guichard, R/83204, RCAF, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Nav: W/O II W.J. Vandervoort, R/74630, RCAF, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nav: Flt Sgt J.M. Allen, R/93188, RCAF, Mimico, Ontario, Canada
Gnr: P/O E.E. Chouinere, J/16081, RCAF, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Gnr: Sgt J. Slater, 1536441, RAFVR, Hyde, Cheshire, England
Gnr: Sgt W.F.R. Webb, 1320645, RAFVR, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England
Be glad to help any way I can if you need it !
All the Best !
George
