Carpe Diem - 576 Squadron RAF

CREW MEMBER PROFILE
Surname:	BOULLIER		First Name/s:	Stanley Thomas "Tom or Paddy"

Service No/s:	1498671 128861	Service:	RAFVR	Branch:	Pilot

Awards:	1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal

Return

Date	Event	Aircraft Flown
SERVICE RECORDS
03 May 1941 03 May 1941	Enlisted at No.3 Recruiting Centre, Padgate as AC2.
04 May 1941 04 May 1941	Transferred to the Reserve
05 May 1941 05 May 1941	No.5 Air Crew Selection Board - Recommended for training as pilot/observer
25 Oct 1941 25 Oct 1941	No.1 Air Crew Reception Centre, St. John's Wood, London
01 Nov 1941 01 Nov 1941	Remustered as u/t pilot and promoted to Leading Aircraftman
08 Nov 1941 08 Nov 1941	Air Crew Disposal Wing, Brighton
22 Nov 1941 22 Nov 1941	No.21 Elementary Flying Training School, Booker, High Wycombe - for assessment	Tiger Moth
28 Dec 1941 28 Dec 1941	Embarked UK (Precise date, port and ship tbc)
06 Jan 1942 06 Jan 1942	No.31 Personnel Depot, Moncton, NB.
19 Jan 1942 19 Jan 1942	Departed Moncton, NB by train to Montgomery, Alabama, USA to commence pilot training under the Arnold Scheme
24 Jan 1942 24 Jan 1942	RAF Reception Centre, Turner Field, Albany, GA
22 Feb 1942 22 Feb 1942	Primary Flying Training School, Tuscaloosa, AL	PT-17 Stearman (tbc)
30 Apr 1942 30 Apr 1942	Basic Flying Training School, Gunter Field, Montgomery, AL	BT-13 Valiant (tbc)
03 Jul 1942 03 Jul 1942	Advanced Flying Training School, Craig Field, Sale, AL. Class 42H	AT-17 Bobcat (tbc)
04 Sep 1942 04 Sep 1942	Discharged on appointment to commission.
05 Sep 1942 05 Sep 1942	Awarded both RAF and USAAF Pilot's Flying Badges and commissioned as Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) from the rank of LAC (London Gazette 10 Nov 42, p4869)
06 Sep 1942 06 Sep 1942	Became a flying instructor in the US under the Arnold Scheme. (Precise date and unit(s) tbc).	tbc
28 Dec 1942 28 Dec 1942	Awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge
05 Apr 1943 05 Apr 1943	Promoted to Flying Officer (war substantive) (London Gazette 16 Apr 43, p1748)
12 Jul 1943 12 Jul 1943	Embarked USA/Canada (vessel, port and precise date tbc)
20 Jul 1943 20 Jul 1943	Disembarked UK (port and precise date tbc)
21 Jul 1943 21 Jul 1943	No.7 Personnel Reception Centre, Harrogate (supernumery)
31 Aug 1943 31 Aug 1943	No.11 & 21 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Wheaton Aston, Staffs	Oxford
14 Dec 1943 14 Dec 1943	No.1 Ferry Pool, Air Transport Auxiliary, White Waltham; probably as an instructor (tbc)	tbc
28 Apr 1944 28 Apr 1944	No.30 Operational Training Unit, Hixon. Boullier crew formed.	Wellington
31 May 1944 31 May 1944	Accident in Wellington III BJ597 'O' - The aircraft took off from Hixon at 2315 on 30 May for a 'Nickel' (pamphlet dropping) operation on Cherbourg. At 15,000ft and approximately 10 miles West of Cherbourg, the starboard engine caught fire. The aircraft turned back towards England and distress calls were broadcast, however none were acknowledged. Eventually the aircraft crossed the South coast at 8,000ft, continuing to seek assistance. The weather conditions were far from ideal and at 0145 hrs, now down to 4,000 ft and with a thick blanket of cloud beneath, the Boullier ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. The Wellington crashed close to Bulkington, some 4 miles South-West of Devizes, Wiltshire. A later medical report states that the aircraft 'spun in' from 18,000ft, but this is unlikely.	Wellington III
05 Sep 1944 05 Sep 1944	Promoted to Flight Lieutenant (war substantive) (London Gazette 22 Sep 44, p4385)
10 Sep 1944 10 Sep 1944	No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit, Lindholme. Flight Engineer Barclay and WOp Ashley join the crew.	Halifax & Lancaster
29 Oct 1944 29 Oct 1944	During a cross-country training flight in Halifax 'X', a fire broke out in the aircraft and the mission was abandoned. No injuries reported.	Halifax
15 Nov 1944 15 Nov 1944	Accident in Lancaster LM175. Whilst taxying out, the aircraft was hit by Halifax W7860 which had swung out of control on take-off. Ashley's (WOp) logbook simply states, 'Another a/c pranged us while it was taking off'.	Lancaster
22 Nov 1944 22 Nov 1944	No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Fiskerton.	Lancaster
02 Feb 1945 02 Feb 1945	Accident in Lancaster PD312, UL-R2. The Lancaster experienced a mid air collision with another aircraft near Strasbourg. The aircraft was eventually abandoned over Beauvais, and all the crew safely landed behind Allied lines, Full story below.	Lancaster
06 Feb 1945 06 Feb 1945	Briefly attached to the 451st Bomb Squadron, USAAF, at Beauvais/Tille airfield. Returned to 576 Squadron by Dakota for non-operational flying.	Lancaster
06 Mar 1945 06 Mar 1945	No.15 Base, Scampton; non-effective sick.
20 Mar 1945 20 Mar 1945	Left 576 Squadron. It is reported that Flt Lt Boullier flew some training flights and one more operation on his return to the UK, but there is no record of either in the Squadron ORB.
23 Apr 1945 23 Apr 1945	Air Crew Disposal Unit, Keresley Grange, Coventry
14 May 1945 14 May 1945	No.1 Personnel Holding Unit, Innsworth, Gloucester (supernumery)
11 Jun 1945 11 Jun 1945	Transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch (London Gazette 26 Jun 45, p3118.
21 Jun 1945 21 Jun 1945	Headquarters Transport Command (Location tbc) - supernumery Administration Officer
30 Jul 1945 30 Jul 1945	HQ No.216 Group, RAF Central Mediterranean Force, Castel Benito, Tripoli, Libya. (supernumery)
15 Jul 1946 15 Jul 1946	No.104 Personnel Disposal Centre, Hednesford., for disposal.
26 Jul 1946 26 Jul 1946	Formal release from Service
20 Oct 1946 20 Oct 1946	Final day of Service
01 Jul 1959 01 Jul 1959	Commission relinquished, retaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant (London Gazette 28 Jul 59,).

Date	Aircraft	Code	Flight Details	T/O	Land	Flt Time	Crew
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS
	PD312	UL-R²	LUDWIGSHAFEN	1610	2305	6h55	P1 S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards, factories and troop positions. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1620x 4lb incendiaries.
07 Dec 1944	PD271	*UL-T²	Training	nk	nk	5h00	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Pre-operational cross-country navigation exercise.
08 Dec 1944	PD309	UL-W²	Training	nk	nk	4h10	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Cross-country navigation exercise and practice bombing.
11 Dec 1944	PD232	UL-O²	Training	nk	nk	1h30	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	High-level practice bombing and air-to-sea firing.
12 Dec 1944	PD309	UL-W²	ESSEN	1615	2135	5h20	P1 Flt Lt H. Leyton-Brown P2 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier FE Sgt R.A. Hawkins AB Flt Sgt G. Paterson NAV Sgt L. Peters WOp Sgt E. Johnson MUG Sgt J.P. McMullen RG Sgt G. Lester
NOTES:	Target: Krupps munitions factory and rail centre at 5125.5N 00701E. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. 'Second Dickie' trip for Flt Lt Boullier
17 Dec 1944	NG273	UL-Y²	ULM	1530	2300	7h30	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards and the Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1604x 4lb incendiaries.
22 Dec 1944	NG273	UL-Y²	KOBLENZ	1525	2100	5h35	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 13x 1000lb bombs. Lost an engine and diverted to Manston on 3. Most other Squadron aircraft diverted to Charterhall.
24 Dec 1944	NG273	UL-Y²	Manston to Fiskerton	nk	nk	0h55	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Return from diversion but diverted to Ludford Magna due to weather at base. The crew were then taken to Fiskerton by road.
28 Dec 1944	NF976	UL-Z²	BONN	1540	2120	5h40	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 8x 500lb bombs
31 Dec 1944	PD271	*UL-T²	OSTERFELD	1505	2105	6h00	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs.
05 Jan 1945	PB753	UL-X²	ROYAN	0225	0915	6h50	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Enemy garrison and supply depot (flown in support of the Free French forces besieging the town). Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs.
07 Jan 1945	PD271	*UL-T²	MUNICH	1835	0255	8h20	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Fg Off M.A. Frost
NOTES:	Target: Industrial and transport area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1320x 4lb incendiaries. Fg Off M A Frost replaced Sgt Stanton for this operation; reason not known.
28 Jan 1945	PB753	UL-X²	Training	nk	nk	2h25	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing attacks against York, and air-to-air firing.
01 Feb 1945	ME671	UL-V²	MERSEBURG / LEUNA	nk	nk	0h00	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 12x 500lb bombs. Did not take off due to the aircraft becoming bogged down in mud when taxying from dispersal.
02 Feb 1945	PD312	UL-R²	WIESBADEN	2045	FTR	uk	P1 Flt Lt S.T. Boullier P2 FE Sgt D. Barclay AB Fg Off P.J. Smith NAV Sgt J. McVey WOp Sgt E. Ashley MUG Sgt R.E. Laverty RCAF RG Sgt F.V. Stanton RCAF
NOTES:	Target: Built-up area, where large numbers of troops were resting. Load 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1604x 4lb incendiaries. A serious port outer engine fire occurred on the return flight when approximately overhead Strasbourg. There were later reports of a mid-air collision, but these have not been substantiated. Boullier dived the aircraft in an attempt to extinguish the fire as he was unable to feather the affected engine and did not use the Graviner. He managed to maintain some level of control but, on approaching the Beauvais area, the starboard outer also partially failed and the aircraft yawed to starboard. The Captain ordered the crew to prepare to abandon the aircraft and at position 4950N 00200E, he ordered his crew to bail out. With difficulty he also baled out, and all landed safely behind Allied lines. Barclay suffered a slight strain to his back on landing, otherwise the crew were all unhurt. They returned to Fiskerton six days later, by air, on 08 Feb 45.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Details
Stanley Thomas Boullier (known as 'Tom' by his family, and 'Paddy' by his crew), was born on 29 Apr 1920 in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, son of the Rev. John Amiable Boullier and Margaret Hester Attridge. He had four brothers; Philip John, John Attridge, Philip Samuel and William Robert. Just prior to enlistment he was a student at Queen's University, Belfast and learnt to fly at the University Air Squadron. He was a double member of the Caterpillar Club having abandoned aircraft by parachute on two occasions whilst serving with the RAF. On 16 Mar 1944 Tom married Lilian Good at Wesley Centenary Church, Bangor, N Ireland. They had three children, Kathleen Norma b.1945, Kenneth John b.1951 and Jane Christine b.1954. Following the war, Tom became head of industrial relations at John Laing Construction Ltd. He passed away on 13 Oct 1995, aged 75. Ken Boullier

PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS
Details
Boullier's dogtags whilst serving as an airman undergoing training Boullier Family
Tom Boullier was awarded both RAF and USAAF wings on his graduation Boullier Family
Commissioning photograph Boullier Family
Graduation Certificate; Craig Field, Selma, AL, 05 September 1942 Boullier Family
Tom and Lillian's Wedding - 16 March 1944 Boullier Family
Ripcord, handle, and part of Tom's parachute from his Wellington bale-out, 31 May 1944. The parachute was used to create the family Christening robe. Boullier Family
'K' Report on the downing of PD312 - 02 Feb 1945 National Archives
Tom Boullier's Caterpillar Club tie and brooch Boullier Family
Tom Boullier's 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal and 1939-45 War Meda Boullier Family
Tom Boullier's silk scarf made from the parachute of his first (Wellington) bale-out. He wore it on every operation on 576 Squadron. Boullier Family