Hi Everyone, I'm trying to identify the signature of O.C. 'B' Flight, 106 Sqn RAF in Oct 1942. (See attached Pic). Does anyone have any idea who the Sqn Ldr is please? Thanks, Jon
Hi, Definitely Gibson as OC Sqn, but thanks for the suggestion of Franks - I'll see if I get anywhere with that. Jon
Just a brief follow-up to my original question, in case anyone is interested, I've now found out that the gent in question is: John Searby D.S.O .D.F.C He took command of 106 Sqn for a couple of months when Gibson left to form 617 Sqn for the Dams raid. He subsequently moved to the Pathfinder force commanding 83 Sqn and a couple of the Pathfinder Bases (Warboys & Upwood). Cheers, Jon
Oh - I've only just seen this thread and you're quite right - that's 'Honest John' Searby signing above Gibson. Searby's signature changed a little after WWII, If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend reading Searby's posthumously-published memoir 'The Everlasting Arms' ( edited by Martin Middlebrook ) which covers his career and his association with Gibson in great detail.
Hi Erich - The sigs are on a logbook page from a 106 Sqn aircrew member. I think that it was the wirless operator on a crew captained by P/O Cooper (more research required there!) because the "duty" is listed as "1st W.O.P." on all the entries on the page. The two aircraft listed on for the flights are R5750 and W4770 and the log page lists five operational missions an a few transits and training flights. I checked the flights agains the aircraft records on this site and they all tie up. Lost Bombers - World War II Lost Bombers Hi Martin - Thanks very much for the tip about Searby's memoirs; I'll get hold of a copy. Jon