Guestbook1

In Memory of J H, Buck Rogers Wireless Operator, Death March 13, 2014 and Remembering the W H, Wally Phillips Crew. Geoff and Devon Phillips, son and daughter of Pilot Officer pilot W G Phillips, updated a tragic situation within the Rogers family. Deaths of three members within two years. Wife Lily /2012, son Richard February /2014 and Jim March 13th 2014. Buck Rogers was the Wireless Operator on the Wally Phillips Crew. Their special friendship survived a war and lasted a lifetime. While serving with the Squadron during the war I witnessed family like relationships develop within 408 aircrews and it’s important to record Bucks death and their special relationship on the 408 Squadron Association Site. This relationship is best described by Wally’s letter. To the family of Buck Rogers - From Wally Phillips and family, Buck an I met in WW2 in Bomber Command’s 408 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire. Buck was our wireless operator and I was the Pilot. Our time together in the air is highly memorable for all the members of our seven person crew. Each member of our crew realized that each contributed his abilities to keep the aircraft from getting into trouble. One of the aspects of Buck’s special abilities was his skill in finding, when necessary, a landing at another airdrome and keeping us in touch with them. You might say it’s almost as though certain very specific skills of Buck’s came to the fore when the occasion required them. Buck was a popular fellow - after all, Buck had a nose for good food and it was a big dvantage for all of us. If we were going to be separated from our home base, Buck was not going to waste time sending us to a Base that did not offer better lodgings, and most importantly better food than ours! That proved to be an important skill that was not recorded in the history books !!. After the war Buck and I lost touch for some years. Then Buck’s son Richard visited Canada and managed to locate me. Through Richard’s detective work, Buck and I were reunited. My wife Joan and I went to England to visit Buck and his wife Lily. Later Buck and Lily came to Canada. This was a very special friendship. Most recently, Buck and I visited the airbase at Linton-on-Ouse togerther last June. We had a full tour, met with pilots in training, and also visited Beningbrough Hall where we were stationed. The last meal Buck and I hasd together, was on June 25, 2013, in York at Brigantes Restaurant and Brassiere. Buck enjoyed his non-dietary approved meal with a pint, and seventy years later, he is still going out of his way to eat what he really wanted and not what he was supposed to be eating. I believe it was meat pie and mashed ! All this after a full English breakfast earlier that day ! Cheers to you Buck.

Hi there - i was with 408 Squadron based at Rockcliff as an aerial radar operator aboard the Lancaster for the SHORAN Survey. Anyone around from those crews ?? Be nice to hear from you . Thanks . Ben

Dear association members, recently the resting ground of a 408 Squadron Lancaster was discovered in The Netherlands. Although the location was known as a place where a bomber crashed during WWII, particulars were not known. The bodies of the crew had all been recovered and buried eventually at the Schoonselhof in Antwerp (Pictures on this site under \"Grave Markers\" The aircraft we have now found out had crashed in the early morning of 20th February 1944 after a raid on Leipzig. The location is in a protected conservation area. The identity of the wreck is the Lancaster LL720 or Squadron code EQ-R. I thought this knowledge might be of interest to members of the site. gr jaap geensen

Hello can anyone help I am in the process of writing a book about a certain Lancaster Bomber MK11 DS707 she appears to have started with 410 then sent to the 408 then finally to the 426 .When she was with the 410 she was coded OW-E (I think) and was given nose art of a goose and titled OUR MARY 11 . When she was sent to the 408 she retained her nose art and was coded EQ-C EQ-M EQ-D I believe she did 25 opps with the 408 before being sent to the 426 Would anyone have any ORBs on the crews that flew this craft or images while with the 408 kind regards Richard

(1) Ruff Thu, 17 October 2013 20:40:10 +0000 email My dad Sgt A J Ruff, RAF was a pilot with the Goose Squadron and flew on Lancaster DS692 The Lancaster II Phase. Linton-on-Ouse about August 1943 - January/February 1945 DS692 Code EQ-? A Flight or B Flight ? Any recollections of A Flight pilots W G Phillips or A Quinlan completing their tours of operations, or The loss of B Flight crews S R Laine and Squadron C/O D S Jacobs He\'s now an active over ninety year old ( Me to ) and I am sure he would like to get in touch with anyone that is interested. Unfortunately can\'t suggest any aircrew that I can get to get in touch with your Dad. I was A Flight ground crew November 1941-1944. George R McKillop New Westminster BC george_mck@shaw.ca

John You may not be aware of an account of Bochum Raid on this Site under STORIES, The Bochum Raid, Also interested in having any additional information you may be prepared to share the names and fate of the aircrew. George R McKillop New Westminster, BC george_mck@shaw.ca

Steve Served as ground crew with 408 in the UK late November 1941 - early December 1944. Have updated 408 Squadron Wartime Casualty List and recall the loss of three 408 squadron personnel. Association has an online 408 Squadron Book of Remembrance and a related ongoing 408 Squadron Grave Marker project. Interested in knowing whether you took any photos of their headstones ? Thanks for the update George R McKillop Burnaby BC