Carpe Diem - 576 Squadron RAF

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SERVICE RECORDS

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

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Date	Event	Aircraft Flown
SERVICE RECORDS
25 Nov 1943 25 Nov 1943	Joined 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, Linconshire	Auto loaded with initial creation of profile
20 Apr 1945 20 Apr 1945	Set Rank from Flight Record
21 Apr 1945 21 Apr 1945	Set Rank from Flight Record
14 Jul 1945 14 Jul 1945	Promoted Flt Sgt. Date approximate but after 4 Jul and before 16 Aug 45
16 Aug 1945 16 Aug 1945	Set Rank from Flight Record

Date	Aircraft	Code	Flight Details	T/O	Land	Flt Time	Crew
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS
23 Mar 1945	SW276	UL-G²	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
24 Mar 1945	PB753	UL-X²	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
25 Mar 1945	RF200	UL-D²	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
26 Mar 1945	SW276	UL-G²	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
06 Apr 1945	SW276	UL-G	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Probably a 'Y' H2S cross-country navigation exercise (tbc)
09 Apr 1945	RA562	UL-B	KIEL	1920	0200	6h40	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Target: Shipping, Deutsche-Werke U-Boat yard & industrial centre on the East side of Kiel harbour. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Aiming Point reached at 2254. The heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer was sunk at its dock during this attack.
10 Apr 1945	RA562	UL-B	PLAUEN	1815	0320	9h05	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 10x 500lb bombs.
14 Apr 1945	SW276	UL-G	CUXHAVEN	1945	0035	4h50	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Target: Harbour area. Flown as a diversion to the main attack on Potsdam. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. Bombed from 18000ft at 1236.
14 Apr 1945	NX562	UL-F	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Probably a low level cross-country map-reading exercise (tbc).
18 Apr 1945	SW276	UL-G	HELIGOLAND	0940	1440	5h00	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Target: Naval base, submarine repair yards, airfield & built-up area. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs
20 Apr 1945	RF200	UL-D	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Low level sack dropping in preparation for Operation MANNA.
20 Apr 1945	RE127	UL-L	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Low level sack dropping in preparation for Operation MANNA.
21 Apr 1945	LM227	UL-I	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Low level sack dropping in preparation for Operation MANNA.
27 Apr 1945	NX562	UL-F	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
29 Apr 1945	LM594	UL-A	VALKENBURG AIRFIELD	1150	1445	2h55	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
30 Apr 1945	RA562	UL-B	DELFT AIRFIELD	1520	1815	2h55	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
01 May 1945	NX562	UL-F	ROTTERDAM	1455	1830	3h35	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
02 May 1945	NX562	UL-F	ROTTERDAM	1250	1600	3h10	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
03 May 1945	LM594	UL-A	VALKENBURG AIRFIELD	1025	1340	3h15	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
07 May 1945	LM594	UL-A	ROTTERDAM	1230	1545	3h15	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Operation MANNA - the dropping of vital supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 blocks.
16 May 1945	LM594	UL-A	FISKERTON TO BRUSSELS B58	0740	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG
NOTES:	Operation EXODUS - repatriating Allied Prisoners of War. Positioning to Brussels Melsbroek. On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one Air Gunner who occupied the mid-upper turret.
16 May 1945	LM594	UL-A	BRUSSELS B58 TO WESTCOTT	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG
NOTES:	Operation EXODUS. Load: 24 Allied Prisoners of War.
16 May 1945	LM594	UL-A	WESTCOTT TO FISKERTON	nk	1320	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG
NOTES:	Operation EXODUS. Return to Base.
26 May 1945	RE127	UL-L	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
31 May 1945	NX562	UL-F	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Probably high level bombing (tbc).
25 Jun 1945	NX562	UL-F	FLENSBURG	0645	1140	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Exercise POST MORTEM I - testing the German air defence network.
01 Jul 1945	NX562	UL-F	FLENSBURG	1200	1745	5h45	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Exercise POST MORTEM III - testing the German air defence network.
04 Jul 1945	NX562	UL-F	FLENSBURG	1250	1855	6h05	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Exercise POST MORTEM 5 - testing the German air defence network.
07 Jul 1945	PA282	UL-C	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known.
24 Jul 1945	SW276	UL-G	Bomb Disposal	nk	nk	nk	P1 Gp Capt T.J. Arbuthnot P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Probably disposal of incendiaries in the North Sea (tbc). Probably flown with the Titchener crew (Kesterton confirmed).
10 Aug 1945	NX576	UL-K	Training	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Not known
13 Aug 1945	NX562	UL-F	Bomb Disposal	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Disposal of incendiary bombs in Cardigan Bay (tbc)
16 Aug 1945	PD271	UL-T	FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO	0710	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Flt Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville RG
NOTES:	Operation DODGE. Positioning flight to Italy to pick up Allied Servicemen for repatriation. Route: Base - Aylesbury - Selsey Bill - Poitiers - Toulouse - Corsica - Elba - Pomigliano
20 Aug 1945	PD271	UL-T	POMIGLIANO TO GLATTON	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Flt Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville RG
NOTES:	Operation DODGE. Repatriating Allied Servicemen. 20 passengers.
20 Aug 1945	PD271	UL-T	GLATTON TO FISKERTON	nk	1650	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Flt Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville RG
NOTES:	Operation DODGE. Return to base.
03 Sep 1945	HK759	UL-G2 tbc	FISKERTON to WROUGHTON	nk	nk	nk	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Flt Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG Sgt G.W.H. Somerville
NOTES:	Delivering HK759 to 15 Maintenance Unit for scrapping. Crew to be confirmed - Titchener records the location as Aston Down but this is unlikely (aircraft records)
04 Sep 1945	NX562	UL-F	FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO	0700	1540	8h40	P1 Fg Off G.A. Titchener P2 FE Flt Sgt W.J. Faulkner AB Flt Sgt A.W.G. Watson NAV Flt Sgt F.A. Kesterton WOp Flt Sgt P.R. Elkington MUG Sgt M.V. Jones RG
NOTES:	Operation DODGE - the repatriation of Allied servicemen from Italy. The crew suffered an engine failure and therefore returned on three to Fiskerton from 4300N 00350E (just South of Montpellier, France). This is the last known flight for the crew on 576.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public

PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public

CREW MEMBER PROFILE

WATSON

First Name/s:

Arthur William George

Service No/s:

1583931

Air Bomber