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Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Way | ||||
Flying Officer Wilfred Howard Way RCAF and crew were posted from 1656 HCU at RAF Lindholme to 103 squadron at Elsham Wolds on the 9th February 1944. Their first operation as a complete crew was to Augsburg on the 25/26th February, which they completed successfully in spite of being involved in 2 separate combats with nightfighters. They did not fly another operation until the 24/25th March when they flew to Berlin and were again involved in another combat, which damaged their Lancaster. The crew flew 8 operations in April, all of which were completed successfully in spite of a further combat and sustaining flak damage. Of particular note was a very long but successful raid to Freidrichshaven on the 27/28th April. In May the crew took part in 8 operations including the raid to Mailly-le-Camp on the 3/4th May which resulted in very heavy losses to the attacking force. In early June the crew flew 2 operations to attack gun positions on the French coast as part of the preparations for the D Day landing and on the eve of D day, the 5/6th June, took part in a raid on gun positions at Crisbeq. Way was an exceptional pilot and very highly thought of on the squadron. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 27th March. He led an outstanding multi-national crew, which formed a good team in the air and got on well together socially. Due to various circumstances the crew did not fly unchanged throughout. Flight Sergeant W S Donnahey had joined them as rear gunner from another crew after 4 operations. At the beginning of June, Donnahey had completed his second tour and was screened. 6/7th June 1944 Target: Railway bridges at Vire The crew for their final operation was:- Pilot - Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Howard Way RCAF. Flight Engineer - Sergeant John Edward Jennings RAFVR. Air Bomber - Pilot Officer John Douglas Gallagher RCAF. Navigator - Pilot Officer Derrick Reginald Hollingsworth RAFVR. Wireless operator - Flight Sergeant Roger Hughes Cooper RAFVR. Mid Upper Gunner - Flight Sergeant Leonard William Zingelmann RAAF. Rear Gunner - Flight Sergeant Joseph Pearson Duns RCAF.
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