CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
WOODLIFF |
First Name/s: |
Harold "Fingers" |
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Service No/s: |
1303252 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Air Bomber |
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Awards: |
SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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01 Jun 1940 |
Enlisted at No.9 Recruiting Centre, Blackpool. Exact date tbc. |
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01 Jan 1945 |
No.1654 Heavy Conversion Unit, Wigsley. Exact date tbc. |
Lancaster |
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01 Apr 1945 |
No.576 Squadron 'B' Flight, Fiskerton. Exact date tbc. |
Lancaster |
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16 Sep 1945 |
No.50 Squadron 'B' Flight, Sturgate |
Lancaster |
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07 Mar 1946 |
No.100 Personnel Disposal Centre, Uxbridge, for discharge |
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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03 Apr 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
1540 |
2100 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise and practice bombing on the range. |
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03 Apr 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X2 |
Training |
1540 |
2100 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise and practice bombing on the range. |
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06 Apr 1945 |
NG273 |
UL-Y |
Training |
1240 |
1535 |
2h55 |
P1 Plt Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
High level practice bombing on the range and air-to-sea firing. |
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07 Apr 1945 |
UL-B |
Training |
1425 |
1520 |
0h55 |
P1 Plt Off K. Fry |
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NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. |
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18 Apr 1945 |
ME801 |
UL-N |
HELIGOLAND |
1015 |
1455 |
4h40 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Target: Naval base, submarine repair yards, airfield & built-up area. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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20 Apr 1945 |
NN806 |
UL-M |
Training |
1420 |
1450 |
0h30 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Practice sack dropping in preparation for Operation MANNA, the provision by air of supplies for the starving Dutch population. |
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22 Apr 1945 |
PA307 |
UL-W2 |
BREMEN |
1525 |
2040 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Target: Focke-Wulf aircraft factory and enemy troop concentrations. Flown in support of the British XXX Corps attacking the city. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 8x 500lb bombs. The Master Bomber aborted the attack due to extensive cloud cover which obscured the target. Crews were instructed to bring their bombs back, but the less experienced crews jettisoned their bombload at sea. |
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24 Apr 1945 |
RF197 |
UL-F2 |
Training |
1410 |
1730 |
3h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Low-level map-reading cross-country navigation exercise. |
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25 Apr 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
BERCHTESGARTEN |
0535 |
1350 |
8h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Target: Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ complex & SS barracks. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 4x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs. |
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29 Apr 1945 |
PA175 |
UL-K2 |
VALKENBURG AIRFIELD |
1155 |
1500 |
3h05 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. The dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch population. Load: 4 'blocks'. |
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30 Apr 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
DELFT AIRFIELD |
1505 |
1820 |
3h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. The dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4 'blocks'. |
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02 May 1945 |
PA307 |
UL-W2 |
ROTTERDAM |
1310 |
1605 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. The dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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03 May 1945 |
PA307 |
UL-W2 |
VALKENBURG AIRFIELD |
1030 |
1330 |
3h00 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. The dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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05 May 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R |
ROTTERDAM |
0655 |
0935 |
2h40 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA. The dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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08 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
ROTTERDAM |
1215 |
1520 |
3h05 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation MANNA; the dropping of emergency supplies to the starving Dutch people. Load: 4x 'blocks'. |
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11 May 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
FISKERTON TO BRUSSELS B58 |
1150 |
1335 |
1h45 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS: positioning flight to Brussels Melsbroek B58. *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret. |
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11 May 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
BRUSSELS B58 – FORD |
nk |
nk |
1h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flighths, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret Load: 24 passengers |
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11 May 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
FORD – FISKERTON |
1705 |
1755 |
0h50 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret |
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17 May 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
Training |
nk |
nk |
2h10 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing attacks on Leicester. |
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19 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
nk |
nk |
1h10 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Three-aircraft formation flying. |
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26 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
FISKERTON TO BRUSSELS B58 |
0840 |
1020 |
1h40 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS. Positioning flight to Brussels Melsbroek B58 aerodrome. *On EXODUS flights, the crews carried only one gunner, normally the Rear Gunner who flew in the mid-upper turret; this time it was the Mid-Upper Gunner. |
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26 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
BRUSSELS B58 TO OAKLEY |
nk |
nk |
1h55 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS. Repatriating 20+ allied PoWs back home. The crew experienced a burst tyre but it is not known if this happened in Brussels or on landing at Oakley. |
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26 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
OAKLEY TO FISKERTON |
1730 |
1805 |
0h35 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation EXODUS. Return to base. |
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29 May 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
2200 |
0150 |
3h50 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise. |
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11 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
0020 |
0145 |
1h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Practice high-level bombing at the Lee Marsh Range. |
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12 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
2100 |
0440 |
7h40 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise. |
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14 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
2300 |
0315 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise. |
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25 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
FLENSBURG |
0650 |
1150 |
5h00 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Exercise POST MORTEM 1: A test of the German air defence radar system. |
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26 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
1525 |
1645 |
1h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Air-to-sea firing. |
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27 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Test flight |
1315 |
1340 |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Rigging test. |
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27 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
1430 |
1800 |
3h30 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise and air-to-sea firing. |
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29 Jun 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
FLENSBURG |
1015 |
1550 |
5h35 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Exercise POST MORTEM II; test of the German air defence radar network. |
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01 Jul 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
FLENSBURG |
1210 |
1750 |
5h40 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Exercise POST MORTEM III; test of the German air defence radar network. |
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03 Jul 1945 |
RA514 |
UL-R |
Training |
1010 |
1320 |
3h10 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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04 Jul 1945 |
RA587 |
UL-U |
FLENSBURG |
1310 |
1835 |
5h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Exercise POST MORTEM V; test of the German air defence radar network. |
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22 Jul 1945 |
PB753 |
UL-X |
Incendiary disposal |
1645 |
1815 |
1h30 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping 10,000 lb of incendiaries in the North Sea. |
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25 Jul 1945 |
NF976 |
UL-Z |
Incendiary disposal |
1645 |
1800 |
1h15 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea. |
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25 Jul 1945 |
NF976 |
UL-Z |
Incendiary disposal |
nk |
nk |
1h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea. Second sortie of the day |
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25 Jul 1945 |
NF976 |
UL-Z |
Incendiary disposal |
nk |
nk |
1h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea. Third sortie of the day. |
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26 Jul 1945 |
ME862 |
UL-J2 |
Training |
1355 |
1430 |
0h35 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. |
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27 Jul 1945 |
RA563 |
UL-Q |
Training |
0925 |
1000 |
0h35 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. |
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27 Jul 1945 |
RA563 |
UL-Q |
Training |
1310 |
1540 |
2h30 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
High-level practice bombing. |
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30 Jul 1945 |
RA587 |
UL-U |
Training |
0045 |
0140 |
0h55 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Night fighter affiliation. |
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02 Aug 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Training |
1030 |
1250 |
2h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Loop homing and circuits. Burst tyre. |
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02 Aug 1945 |
RA587 |
UL-U |
Training |
1830 |
0020 |
5h50 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Night exercise 'BULLSEYE' |
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04 Aug 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Incendiary disposal |
1515 |
1720 |
2h05 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping 6,000 lb of incendiaries in Cardigan Bay. |
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13 Aug 1945 |
RA594 |
UL-V |
Incendiary disposal |
1245 |
1455 |
2h10 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Dropping 6,000 lb of incendiaries in Cardigan Bay. |
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16 Aug 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G |
FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO |
0715 |
1335 |
6h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation 'DODGE' - Positioning Flight. These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The route flown was: Base - Aylesbury - Selsey Bill - Poitiers - Toulouse - Corsica - Elba - Pomigliano. |
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20 Aug 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G |
POMIGLIANO TO GLATTON |
0645 |
1345 |
7h00 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation 'DODGE' Repatriating 20 Allied Servicemen to the UK.. 'DODGE' sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. |
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20 Aug 1945 |
SW276 |
UL-G |
GLATTON TO FISKERTON |
1450 |
1510 |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Return to base carrying the K Hignell crew as passengers. |
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01 Sep 1945 |
NX562 |
UL-F |
Transit Woodbridge to Fiskerton |
1445 |
1605 |
1h20 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Woodbridge to Fiskerton. The crew had positioned as passengers to Woodbridge on RA563 with the G M Henderson crew to collect NX562 which had been under repair since diverting in on 24 Aug 45. Crew names to be confirmed. |
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09 Sep 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P |
FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO (LANDED ISTRES) |
0800 |
1445 |
6h45 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation 'DODGE' positioning flight. The aircraft encountered very bad weather and thunderstorms on the way and suffered an engine failure and WT receiver failure and diverted to Istres in France. |
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10 Sep 1945 |
LM294 |
UL-P |
ISTRES TO POMIGLIANO |
1040 |
1325 |
2h45 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
NOTES: |
Operation 'DODGE' - Transit flight to Pomigliano after some rough repairs. |
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12 Sep 1945 |
P4-Q |
POMIGLIANO TO GLATTON |
1000 |
1325 |
3h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
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NOTES: |
Operation 'DODGE' repatriation of 20 Allied Servicemen to the UK. LM294 remained unserviceable and was left in Pomigliano. The crew flew to Glatton in 'borrowed' 153 Sqn's P4-Q. |
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12 Sep 1945 |
P4-Q |
GLATTON TO FISKERTON |
1705 |
1730 |
0h25 |
P1 Fg Off K. Fry |
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NOTES: |
Transit to Fiskerton (tbc) in 153 Sqn's P4-Q. |
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 |