The above photo shows five of the original Crews of 415 Squadron Albacore Flight. Navigators are located in the first row and pilots in the second. The photo was taken in October 1943 at Manston Kent. The five crews are numbered from left to right. 

415 Squadron Crews – Albacore Era – 1943 - 1944

 

Swordfish - The Story of 415 Squadron - recalls that in September 1943 part of the Squadron began conversion training on Fairey Albacores. Six crews were sent to RAF Manston to commence training with 841 Squadron, which was a land based Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Unit. 841 Squadron’s aircraft assets, which included +12 Albacores and 3 Fairey Swordfish, were transferred to 415 Squadron in November 1943. This left 415 Squadron as the only Allied operational unit flying bi-planes. In April 1944, the Albacore Flight was moved to Thorney Island and the number of aircraft was increased to twenty. A comprehensive article on this era of the Squadron has been written by Mr. Andrew Thomas.

Crews consisted of two personnel, a pilot and navigator. Information, including crew photos, has been gathered through multiple sources. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in the reporting of 415 Squadron Albacore crews. Any errors or omissions that may be found in the information listed below are not intentional. The 415 Squadron Association would be pleased to receive any input, including additional crew photos, which would enhance the accuracy of this record.

​PILKINGTON

F/O W.G. Pilkington
F/O R.S. Arrand (RAF)


RABBETS

Pilot F/O A.J. Rabbets (RAF)
Navigator F/O C. Grant (RAF)

  

REYNOLDS


Pilot F/Sgt E.J. Reynolds (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.T. Steele (NZ)

 
RIVERS

Pilot F/O L.W.F. Rivers (RAF)
Navigator F/O A.F.G. Hughes (Died of wounds 24 Mar 1943)
Navigator F/O A.W. Griffiths (RAF)

 
ROSS

Pilot F/L E.S.M. Ross (RAF)
Navigator F/Sgt J. Hyans (RAF)

 
SCANTLEBURY

Pilot F/Sgt W.J. Scantlebury (RAF)
Navigator F/O R.A. Moulton (AUS)

 
SENECAL

Pilot F/O J.H.A. Senecal
Navigator F/O T.R. Burtch (RAF)

 


















THOMSON

Pilot F/O D.C. Thomson DFC
Navigator F/O A.H. Bartlett DFC

415 Squadron  Association

ARMSTRONG

Pilot F/Lt R. Armstrong (RAF)
Navigator F/O H.R.D.S. Cuddon (RAF)

 
BOWERS

Pilot F/Sgt W.C. Bowers (RAF)
Navigator P/O D.J.G. McKenzie (AUS)

 
BRASNETT

Pilot F/O W.G. Brasnett DFC
Navigator F/O T.H. Parnell DFC (RAF)
F/Sgt R. Lynes (RAF)



BROUGHTON

Pilot F/O F.W. Broughton
Navigator P/O J.M. Dawkins
 

BROWN

Pilot F/O R.E. Brown (RAF)
Navigator P/O L.W. Fostitt (RAF)
F/Sgt H.A. Hufford (RAF)


CAMPBELL

Pilot F/L J.D.W. Campbell
Navigator F/O J.E Lundy

 
CHADWICK

Pilot F/O N. Chadwick
Navigator W/O A.N. Bernel

 
COWAN – KIA 20 January 1944

Pilot S/Ldr E.W. Cowan
Navigator F/O D.T. Wood (RAFVR)

 
DAVIS

Pilot S/Ldr J.T.J. Davis DFC
Navigator F/O H.J. Thompson DFC

 
EADIE

Pilot F/O C.M. Eadie
Navigator Lt H. Pincknes (US)

 
EMMOTT

Pilot W/O R.H. Emmott (RAF)
Navigator W/O D.M Meek (RAF)

 
FRYER

Pilot F/O A. Fryer (RAF)
Navigator F/Sgt K.W.W. Bradley (RAF)


GADZOS

Pilot P/O W. Gadzos
Navigator W/O A.W.T. Joyce
F/Sgt K.E. Ashworth (RAF)

 
GATES

Pilot P/O R.C. Gates
Navigator Lt V.T. Rice (US)

 
GORDON


Pilot S/Ldr R.A. Gordon
Navigator F/O C.W. Collins (RAF)
P/O G.T. MacKenzie DFM
F/O J.F. Nowell (RAF)

 

GRAYSTON

Pilot F/Sgt V.S. Grayston (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.P. Rollefson

 
GUY

Pilot F/O B. Guy (RAF)
Navigator F/O A.J. Bridge (RAF)

 
HILDEBRANDT

Pilot P/O A.F. Hildebrandt
Navigator P/O W.E. MacCausland

 
KEILLOR

Pilot S/Ldr H.G. Keillor DFC
Navigator F/O C.A. Wondolowski (DFC)

 
MACKIE – Killed 9 April 1944

Pilot F/O P.D. Mackie (RAF)
Navigator F/O F. McFarland (RAFVR)


passengers also killed:
AM2 A.L. Thomas (RAFVR) (U/T Nav)
F/L L.G. Loft (RAFVR) (Flying Control)

 
McNEIL-WATSON

Pilot P/O D.B. McNeil-Watson (RAF)
Navigator P/O W. Tyler (RAF)

 
MENNIE

Pilot F/O O.H. Mennie
Navigator W/O R.A. Leach

 
PERRY

Pilot F/O R.A. Perry DFM (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.G. Jobe

 
PILKINGTON

Pilot F/L W.G. Pilkington
Navigator F/L R.S. Arrand (RAF)​