RICHARDSON, A (#223)

Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:

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Flt Lt A “Tony” RICHARDSON: added two years to his real birthdate, 27 Apr 1924, wearing silver buttons of Latymer School Air Defence Cadet Force as he turned up at RAF UXBRIDGE in Mar40 to be attested In July, then Bridgnorth & Blackpool, AIRCRAFT HANDLING & transfer to 600 SQN, as 16 yrs old AC2 receiving an Armourer brief to fly occasional BLENHEIM gunner sorties.

He then became a qualified AIR GUNNER, training on WELLINGTONS with a largely AUSSIE crew; out through GIB & MALTA to DESERT, arriving on 108 SQN 27 Feb 1942, in time for deployments forward from FAYID and some rapid moves east during the big retreat, stabilising at LC237, with 38 sorties mostly before ALAMEIN (first 18 all strategic inc.3 Benghazis 8,12 & 16 May 1942 then 19th to 38 all tactical except 37th, 6hr 10min sortie, 9 Sep 1942 against Tobruk); tourex to UK 24 Oct 1942 & back on WELLINGTON OTU; vla .4 COASTAL OTU at ALNESS, he crewed up on SUNDERLAND Mk 111s for long CONVOY PROTECTION and ANTI-SUBMARINE duties over the WESTERN APPROACHES often in very poor weather with “mooring” & unmooring”, bilge crews etc on  228 SQN (lost two crews including their own loaned 2nd Pilot) then 277 and 279 SQUADRONS & OTU ALNESS; in particular records the CONTRIBUTION of crews’ long arduous 12 hour COASTAL COMMAND PATROLS, with no autopilots & non-existent navigation aids, frequently as a deterrent presence with intangible results, and for the OPERATIONS of wartime SUNDERLAND FLYING BOATS.