Richard Byrne Honeycombe

In memory of
Flight Sergeant
Richard Byrne Honeycombe

December 4, 1942

Military Service:
Service Number: R/96328
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Division: 402 Sqdn.

Source CVWM

Courtesy  RCAF  Dunnville  Museum

Information  taken from the Internet

Flight Sergeant R.B. Honeycombe  From Brooklyn NY Served w/ 402 Squadron. On 4 December 1942 flying Spitfire Mk IX BS132 for a sweep over the Pas de Calais, he was shot down by a Fw-190 from JG 26 over Guînes and killed in action.

Spitfire Mk IX BS132
Delivered new to No. 402 (F) Squadron, RCAF on 5 August 1942. Lost during combat with JG26 on 4 December 1942 during a Rodeo mission. F/Sgt. R.B. Honeycombe, an American in the RCAF, killed.

William Stangel

Stangel got his wings  at Dunnville.

Later  he would  fly this…

Who remembers him?

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William J. Stangel

Rank, Service
Major O-4, U.S. Air Force
Veteran of:
Royal Canadian Air Force 1941-1942
Royal Air Force 1942
U.S. Army (USAAF) 1942-1947
U.S. Air Force 1947-1950
World War II 1941-1945
Cold War 1945-1950
Tribute:
Bill Stangel was born on December 1, 1914, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 19, 1941, and after completing flight training, he completed advanced flight training in England before being assigned to the No. 559 Squadron of the Royal Air Force in England in August 1942. Stangel was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Army Air Forces on October 28, 1942, and was assigned to VIII Fighter Command in England from October 1942 to July 1944. Capt Stangel was next assigned as a P-51 Mustang pilot with the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter group in England from August 1944 to March 1945, and then as an Air Inspector with Headquarters 352nd Fighter Group from March to September 1945. During this time he was credited with the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. His next assignment was as an Air Inspector in Germany from September 1945 to December 1948. His final assignments were as an Air Inspector at Craig AFB, Alabama, and at Kelly AFB, Texas, from December 1948 until he left active duty on April 14, 1950. Bill Stangel died on January 3, 1974.

Source

http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1242

BRITTAIN, F/L William Bruce (J28286) -Distinguished Flying Cross – No. 427 Squadron

BRITTAIN, F/L William Bruce (J28286) -Distinguished Flying Cross – No.427 Squadron – Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 March 1945 and AFRO 721/45 dated 27 April 1945. Home in Ste.Anne de Bellevue, Quebec; enlisted in Montreal, 18 July 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 25 September 1941), No.10 EFTS (graduated 5 December 1941) and No.6 SFTS (graduated 27 March 1942). No citation other than “completed…many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty.” DHist file 181.009 D.1729 (RG.24 Vol.20607) has recommendation dated 17 December 1944 when he had flown 26 sorties (128 hours 50 minutes) from 18 July to 16 November 1944. At the time he was a Deputy Flight Commander.

 

This captain has completed twenty-six heavy operational bombing attacks against the enemy. Flight Lieutenant Brittain is a Deputy Flight Commander and his work in general is outstanding. He sets his mind on the task in hand and with a fine offensive spirit, setting a magnificent example not only to his crew but but to the entire squadron.

APPLETON, F/L Charles Arthur Plewman (J26064) -Distinguished Flying Cross – No.433 Squadron

 

APPLETON, F/L Charles Arthur Plewman (J26064) -Distinguished Flying Cross – No.433 Squadron – Award effective 6 January 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 January 1945 and AFRO 508/45 dated 23 March 1945. Born 1920, Chesterton, England. Home in Toronto. Served in militia before enlisting in Toronto, 3 June 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 25 September 1941), No.10 EFTS (graduated 5 December 1941) and No.6 SFTS (graduated 27 March 1942). Commissioned 1943.

Award presented 9 October 1947. Died in Port Moody, British Columbia, 9 December 1998. Photo PL-29616 shows him with W/C Clive Sinton while with No.433 Squadron; PL-38660 with wife after investiture. No citation other than “completed… numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.” DHist file 181.009 D.2609 (RG.24 Vol.20627) has recommendation dated 20 October 1944 when he had flown 35 sorties (156 hours 30 minutes) from 6 May to 15 October 1944.

 

This officer has now completed a tour of operations comprising thirty-five sorties over enemy territory and involving attacks against a wide variety of well defended targets in France and Germany.

 

 

Under a calm and quiet manner he has a fine offensive spirit in action which inspires confidence in not only his crew, but the entire squadron. He has repeatedly displayed ability to make instant decisions in emergency, and his skilful pilotage and good judgement have contributed much to the successful completion of his many operational sorties.

 

Flight Lieutenant Appleton has been acting in the capacity of Deputy Flight Commander of “A” Flight for a considerable time, where his splendid example and untiring efforts with junior crews has been most praiseworthy.

 

BRIDGES, F/O Harold Eugene (J10742) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.77 Squadron

BRIDGES, F/O Harold Eugene (J10742) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.77 Squadron – Award effective 3 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944. Home in Toronto; enlisted there 18 July 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 25 September 1941), No.10 EFTS (graduated 5 December 1941) and No.6 SFTS (graduated 27 March 1942).

Award sent by registered mail 17 December 1948. Remained in postwar RCAF, (Colonel with NORAD, 1969), retiring as a Group Captain in 1972. Ordained an Anglican priest in 1975. Died in Ottawa, 20 June 1994.

In August 1944, this officer piloted an aircraft in an attack on an enemy storage depot in the Foret de Nieppe. Before reaching the target the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Many holes were torn in the fuselage and mainplane. Three engines were damaged, one of them being completely put out of action. The air bomber was wounded. Considerable height was lost but Flying Officer Bridges retained control and went on to bomb the target. He afterwards flew the damaged bomber to an airfield in this country and effected a safe landing although the tail wheel had been badly damaged. This officer is a highly efficient and courageous captain. He has completed many sorties and has displayed the highest standard of devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Eric Thomas Garrett

Collision after take-off, crashed at Poolspring, near Nun Monkton; buried in England. Probably collided with Hal MZ845/KW “J” from Tholthorpe airfield as the pilots fought to control their aircraft in severe icing.
 

LAC Garrett

+(J/10741) Eric Thomas Garrett – 426 Sqn.

Course 44: December 6, 1941 – March 27. 1942

Wing Commander Patriarche addressed the graduates.

“This coming year is going to be an extremely tough one and there will be a tendency all through the Empire of the people to criticize those in authority. It is being done already but I hope that you here, both airmen and visitors, will have no part in it.

“Make sure before you criticize that you always have a suggestion better than what you are criticizing. None of the men in political or military authority is of a lower standard than the rest of us. They have to be better men or they would not have got the job.

“You can take it for granted that those men can make just as good or better suggestions than the rest of us. Bear in mind that they have all the facts, whereas we have but a few.”

+(J/10741) Eric Thomas Garrett – 426 Sqn., (J/10742) Harold Eugene Bridges (DFC), (J/10744) L.J. Smith, (J/10748) Thomas Ernest Hilary Farley, (J/10751) William James Stangel, (J/10752) Alfred Giles, +Daniel Ray Scott, +Robert Byrne Honeycombe, Wallace Oppenheimer, James W. Gillen, Gordon A. Patton, +Albert Dalton Braswell, Lee Wells, Conrad Ross Crawford, John William Hubler, Charles Arthur Plewman Appleton – DFC 433 Sqn., +Frank Joseph Borrell, Lawrence Walton Montague, Joseph Wilford McMullin, George Greenwood, +Vincent Wall, John Claire MacDonald, +Dorian Ledington, William Houston Julian, Norman Alexander Ballantyne, John Land Clinton, Edward Mielko, M.M. Fudge, John Douglas Hooper. R. King, James Pringle Morton, +Victor George DeHavilland, Harold Albert Heacock, C.E. Shannon, William Bruce Brittain (DFC), Alexander Wall Strang, G.D. Watson

Royal New Zealand Air Force: (414667) Albert James ‘Jimmy’ Osborne – 165/185 Sqns.; Arthur David Leese, (414238) Alfred William Burge DFC), George T. Couttie, +(414651) Godfrey Alan McKoy, +(414721) Harry Keith Williams, +(414677) Arthur Lyall Ray, +(41430) Bruce Mackenzie Hirstich, +(413858) Maurice Carson Jolly, + (414380) Douglas Robert Bannerman, +(413875) Frederick Thomas Martyn, +(414664) Andrew George Patterson Newman, +(414278) Raymond Cyril Going, +(414321) Mervyn Jack Mills – 132 Sqn.; +(41141) Jack McRae Brigham – 243 Sqn.; R.R. Horo, (414330) Vincent Orr; (413924) Roger Wing; Stewart Matthews – 45 Sqn.; Thomas (David) Stewart – 165/185 Sqns., James E. Shields, Thomas Alexander, Wallace M. Sampson, Raymond J. Hetherington, Raymond S. Campbell, James J. McMath – 110 Sqn.; (George?) J.N. Buchanan, (414689) David Gordon Simpson – DFC 603/143 Sqns.; (414645) Jeffrey Maxwell McCarrison – 254 Sqn.; Warren P. Bennett; (414374) William Frank Bern – 64 Sqn.

Sailed from Auckland November 17, 1941 aboard the S.S. Monterey to San Francisco.

Source
http://rcafdunnville.blogspot.ca

Courtesy RCAF Dunnville Museum

No. 6 SFTS Dunnville – Course 44 Section 2

Memories from the past – How many came back? – Update

Picture of the ship which sailed from Auckland to San Francisco on November 17, 1941.

picture taken in 1933

SS  Monterey  arriving at Auckland  

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

Royal New Zealand Air Force:

(414667) Albert James ‘Jimmy’ Osborne – 165/185 Sqns.;

Arthur David Leese,

(414238) Alfred William Burge DFC),

George T. Couttie,

+(414651) Godfrey Alan McKoy,

+(414721) Harry Keith Williams,

+(414677) Arthur Lyall Ray,

+(41430) Bruce Mackenzie Hirstich,

+(413858) Maurice Carson Jolly,

+ (414380) Douglas Robert Bannerman,

+(413875) Frederick Thomas Martyn,

+(414664) Andrew George Patterson Newman,

+(414278) Raymond Cyril Going,

+(414321) Mervyn Jack Mills – 132 Sqn.;

+(41141) Jack McRae Brigham – 243 Sqn.;

R.R. Horo,

(414330) Vincent Orr;

(413924) Roger Wing;

Stewart Matthews – 45 Sqn.;

Thomas (David) Stewart – 165/185 Sqns.,

James E. Shields,

Thomas Alexander,

Wallace M. Sampson,

Raymond J. Hetherington,

Raymond S. Campbell,

James J. McMath – 110 Sqn.;

(George?) J.N. Buchanan,

(414689) David Gordon Simpson – DFC 603/143 Sqns.;

(414645) Jeffrey Maxwell McCarrison – 254 Sqn.;

Warren P. Bennett;

(414374) William Frank Bern – 64 Sqn.

Sailed from Auckland November 17, 1941…

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