Personnel

Allen	Sgt V.J.T. Allen. He was from Hope-under-Dinmore, near Leominster, Herefordshire, and completed a term at Oxford having previously attended Lucton School. He volunteered for aircrew in 1942, and naturaly trained overseas before being posted to 616 in spring 1944. Consequently he flew on numerous sorties from Exeter (Culmhead) during the build up to D-Day, and operations thereafter until his death in a flying accident on June 29th, 1944. On the fateful day, Sgt Allen took off on an 'aileron test flight', and flew north to undertake a low-level beat up of his parents' farm at Buskwood. This was the second time that he had done such a thing, Mark [Postlethwaite] having painted the first. Anyway, this time he misjudged things and crashed in front of the farm in sight of his parents and sister. He was 19 years old, and the tragedy was a huge blow to the small rural community involved. There is no record in the 616 ORB, however, of Allen even having made a flight on the day of his death, he simply disappears from the record. The accident was featured in the RAF training manual 'Tee-Emm' as an example to other headstrong young pilots. Bob George, who was a fellow NCO pilot of Allen's on 616 at the time, recalled that the 'CO got into very hot water' over the incident, although Pete Brothers, who was the Wing Leader (and who has been a pal of Dilip's for years) 'cannot recall the matter'(!). Above info provided by Dilip Sarkar
Barry	F/Lt Dennis Barry, a Spitfire VII pilot on 22 July 1944, moved onto Meteors. He ended up as a Squadron Leader and is currently an active member of the Squadron Association.
Beedham *	Derrick Beedham, sergeant-pilot. Please note that although all records I've seen show the spelling as 'Derek', an email from his son provided the correct spelling. It isn't unusual for original documents to contain errors! 23 June 1941, flying a Spitfire IIa (P7435) on Circus 19, baled out into the Channel near Brighton (having run out of petrol) where he was picked up by a lifeboat. This didn't go down too well, the Ops log shows they believed he could have made a forced landing on the Downs. Shortly after this he successfully landed his Spitfire on only one undercarriage leg. 25 January 1942, left 616 for the Middle East.³
Beisegel	S/Ldr Walter 'Bike' Beisiegel, took command of 616 on 18 September 1939, bringing a fresh batch of pilots with him. This was shortly after the AAF was embodied into the RAF on 23 August 1939. He was posted to Staff College on 1 May 1940, handing over command to Marcus Robinson. I did find out more of his subsequent movements from Max Williams, but have not yet got the anecdotes all transcribed.
Bell *	F/O J.S. Bell 21 February 1940, at 14:15 leading a scramble by Yellow section, he avoided a Battle but hit a Magister, wrecking both aircraft and killing P/O Coysh. Bell was unhurt.³ 1 June 1940, flying K9948, ditched after attacking 8 Bf109s (bringing one down), strafed but unharmed and rescued by RN ship. June(?) 1940, intercepted a lone He 111 somewhere between Leconfield and Hull at 10,000 ft. Chased the 111 down to 200 ft, which jettisoned its bombs and ran for home (smoking) after a short burst from Bell. 26 August 1940, flying R6632, hit by a Bf109 over Dungeness, and force-landed safely. 30 August 1940, flying X4248, after a midday combat with a Bf109 crashed and killed during the approach to West Malling. Buried at Lincoln.¹ Max Williams was Bell's Fitter, and from Max's description it seems Bell was a nice chap who was liked by the squadron. His grave in Lincoln has been adopted by the local air cadets, and a memorial ceremony is held on the anniversary of his death.⁴
Bowen	Sgt Bowen (RCAF) - joined 5 May 1941.
Brewer	Sgt Ronald Leslie Brewer (NZ401249), joined 616 1 April 1941(?), killed 25 June 1941, flying P7327, shot down in the same sweep over St.Omer as Sgt Jenks, killed, age 29.²
Brewster	Brewster - no information available at present other than he was with 616 in November 1940.
Brown	Pt Off Brown - 21 June 1941, flying P7730 on Circus 16, downed by Bf109 over Boulogne and killed, last seen diving out of control. The ORB records that 'he was liked by both officers and men'. He was the first officer casualty of 1941.³ This was Adolf Galland's 70th victory. Not sure if this is E.P.S. Brown who joined on 17 April 1941.
Brown	P/O C.B. Brown - a section leader, lost his right eye in 1942 (25th May) intercepting a Dornier 217 over Leicester, but went on to command a Shackleton squadron.
Burnard	F/Sgt Fred Percy Burnard - killed ¹ This may be incorrect, as he is also listed as having left the RAF in 1947 with the rank of S/Ldr. Additional research is needed on this.
Burton *	'Billy' Burton D.F.C. - squadron commander as of 3 September 1940 flying 'QJ-K', Cranwell cadet with exceptionally good rating. Born on 21 June 1916 in Letchworth. His war service started as 'B' Flight commander with 66 Sqn. See 'Dizzie' Allen's book 'Squadron Leader' for details of these early days. After 'Billy' was posted to 11 Group on 1 October 1941 he ended up in North Africa where he acquired an impressive reputation. Following a brief return to the UK, 'Billy' was returning to North Africa with several other high ranking officers. For some reason the pilot decided to fly during the daylight, and was intercepted over the Bay of Biscay on 13 June 1943 and shot down with the loss of everybody on board.
Burton	P/O E.H. Burton (RCAF), 22 September 1941, flying a Spitfire Vb, killed at Brighton, during a training flight he broke sharply left and collided with Sgt J.B. Slack. The Ops log makes for poignant reading; Burton and Slack had only been with the squadron a short while but both were well liked. Slack had only just got married and Burton was recently engaged.³
Carter *	Sgt J.C. Carter, 21 September 1941, flying Spitfire Vb W3433 (Progress II, the second Spitfire funded by Blackpool Corporation's Transport department) - corrected to AB795 in Vol III of RAF Fighter Command Losses, failed to return from a Circus having been lost 10 miles south of Le Touquet, taken prisoner. Carter was a popular pilot with the squadron and much missed.³ Note that "Progress" is the Blackpool town motto.
Cartmel	F/Sgt B.Cartmel - 29 April 1945, killed when his Meteor collided in cloud with that of S/Ldr Watts.
Casson *	'Buck' Casson - from Sheffield. 'Buck' had to bale out from his Spitfire on 5th May 1941 near Westhampnett following an attack with Roy Marples. "We intercepted a reconnaissance Ju 88 at 15,000 ft over Portsmouth. It dived south to just 100 ft over the sea. I shot the rear gunner but was hit myself and started leaking glycol. I just managed to recross the coast at 950 ft with a cockpit full of smoke. I inverted my Spitfire and baled out near Littlehampton". My previous note that he possibly died in action following an encounter with JG26 over Northern France is very wrong. Brought down by a single bullet in the engine of his Spitfire Vb, 'Buck' was captured and is still alive today. This was in the same fight that Bader was lost in. In the picture he is the one holding up his glass. 1 September 1940, flying R6778, plane written off after combat with a Do215 over Kenley, but 'Buck' was OK. 'Buck' went on to command 616 squadron after the war, a fitting sequel for an original member who started on Gloster Gauntlets and finished with Gloster Meteors in the space of 10 years. Sadly, although 'Buck' has been an active member of the squadron Association he is now very ill.
Clegg *	F/Lt Gordon Clegg, a Spitfire VII pilot on 22 July 1944. Moved on to Meteors and took part in a successful ground attack on 24 April 1945, strafing a truck carrying German troops.
Cleland *	F/Lt Jack Cleland (NZ), joined 616 Squadron flying Spitfire VI's in June 1942. After nine months with 616 Squadron on channel patrols and forays on escort missions into France, he spent two months in North Africa. Returning to 616 in December, Jack Cleland was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in March 1944. His experience came to the fore on 12 June 1944 (or 13 June? - see entry for Harrison) when he attacked two Focke Wulf 190s in his Spitfire VII near Laval, a French airfield being used by the Luftwaffe. His logbook entry reads "Destroyed 2 FW 190s. Hit by flak in wing, hood and engine. Baled out 12 miles S/W of Portland Bill. Picked up by A.S.R. launch 15 minutes later." (text as shown on Warbirds over Wanaka site)² He left 616 on 6 June 1944.
Clerc	P/O Clerc (France), a Meteor pilot in 1944.
Clouston	Sgt Warwick Ashling Clouston (NZ402452), killed 20 June 1942 age 21²
Coldrey	Sgt. N.W.J. Coldrey (Rhodesian, 778619), 19 August 1942 (Dieppe), flying Spitfire VI AB529, killed in combat with FW190s. Aged 26, buried at Middelkirke Communal Cemetery.
Copeland	Sgt P. Copeland - 26 August 1940, flying K9827, shot down by Bf109 near Wye, wounded (burned). Killed later in the war but no details available.¹
Cooper *	Mike Cooper (Kenya) - one of the Meteor pilots, Mike wrote the excellent book "Meteor Age" which unfortunately was never published. This is an absolute gem of a book, kindly provided to me by W/Cdr Eric King of the 616 Squadron Association. Mike joined 616 in April 1942, and stayed with the squadron all the way through the war, although at one point he was shot down over France and it took him 6 months to get back home. Mike was also the author of "One of the Many". Sadly Mike died on 30th November 1998. 30 July 1942, baled out of Spitfire VI (BR167) and rescued during a Ramrod to St.Omer, when the squadron was engaged by FW190s of JG26. See entry for Lee. 2 October 1942, on Circus 221 baled out of his Spitfire VI and was rescued by Air Sea Rescue Walrus. 16 August 1943, on a Ramrod when his Spitfire Vc (BR987) suffered engine trouble and he baled out over France, making a successful home run.
Crabtree	Sgt D.B. Crabtree - 12 May 1941 joined 616 from 57 OTU, Hawarden. 3 July 1941, flying Spitfire IIa P7980, shot down near Hazebroucke but avoided capture and returned to England via Spain. Just to indicate the speed this could happen, the squadron received a letter from Crabtree from Madrid on 9 August 1941.³
Croquet	Sgt Croquet - claimed a probable 190 in May 1943.
Darling	'Mitzi' Darling - posted to 616 about 14 August 1941 to take command of 'B' Flight.
Davidson	Sgt George Leslie Davidson (NZ404904), killed in a flying accident, 13 April 1942 age 26². According to Sgt Phil Miller's log for 24 March 1942 "Paddy Davidson killed while slow rolling at 50 ft. in YQ-Z" - note the date difference, the 13 April being confirmed by the Sqn Record Book, but I don't know where the 'Warbirds over Wanaka' site got its information from.
Dean *	T.D.'Dixie' Dean - joined 616 in November 1942, although his most famous exploit was in 1944, when 'Dixie' was the first pilot to bring down a V1 whilst flying a Meteor, tipping it over with his wing tip because of gun problems. He claimed another two shortly afterwards. See the Jets section for more details.
Doulton	F/O A.K. Doulton - 21 January 1944, reported a fuel problem whilst returning from a Ramrod, turned back inland and baled out.
Dundas *	H.S.L. (Hugh Spencer Lisle) 'Cocky' Dundas D.F.C. - born 22 July 1920 in Doncaster, educated at Stowe, joined 616 in early 1939 earning his pilot's wings on 17 June. Wounded in the arm and leg and baled out after combat with a Bf109 on 22 August 1940, returned to 616 late '40 or early '41. Brother John believed shot down over the Isle of Wight in November '40. Went on to command the first Typhoon squadron and survived the war. He was promoted to 'A' Flight commander on 8 July 1941.³ The following extract relates to August '40.. . . . . . this day for instance, a lanky, nineteen year old boy called Cocky Dundas flew with the wing for the first time. Exactly a month earlier Dundas had been with 616 Squadron at Kenley; they were waiting at readiness for an evening visit from Winston Churchill when they had been scrambled and ran into a flock of 109s over Kent. It was Dundas's first fight and a 109 had "jumped" him, shot his controls to bits and put bullets in his engine and glycol tank. Smoke and glycol fumes filled the cockpit and he could not get his hood open. He spun out of control from 12,000 feet till finally he was able to jettison the hood and baled out at 800 feet, breaking his collar bone at the same time. Now only two of the old pilots were left in the squadron, and Dundas, still shaken, shoulder still weak, was going back for more. . . . .Paul Brickhill - Reach for the Sky, Collins 1954 Apparently his parachute only opened seconds before hitting the ground, and he was very badly shaken by the event. Details from the Operations log show that this wasn't Dundas' first fight. He took part in patrols over Dunkirk, and the log for 28 May 1940 says he fired all his ammo at a 109 but the result was unobserved.³ 8 May 1941, flying P7827 QJ-A ('Cock of the North') Dundas took part in the first trial run of the 'finger four' formation, was badly damaged and belly-landed at RAF Hawkinge. It is possible he was shot down by Mölders. *On 26 April 1943, 'Cocky' was a Wing Commander leading 244 Fighter Wing on a patrol over Medjez el Bab - Pont du Fahs. In an ensuing action Francis Malan ('Sailor' Malan's brother) was lost.Later in the war 'Cocky' was Wing Leader of 324 Wing, operating under the control of the US 12th Tactical Air Command in Italy, although administratively under the Desert Air Force. Following this stint he was on Operations staff at Advanced HQ Desert Air Force, just before the landings at Anzio.Sadly, 'Cocky' died on the 10 July 1995. A plaque was recently presented to his old school, Aysgarth Prep School.