Journal

Updates, F/L George Berg, Future plans

2012-02-25T19:42:36Z

Hello All,

Over the past several months I have added numerous photos to all sections, including very brief descriptions to the thumbnails. Sliding the cursor over thumbnail will indicate the content within that page. I.E. biographies, additional images, extensive research, captions and is work in progress as some will require linking to off site web sites.

Recently added to the "Individual Portraits" is a very well researched history on F/L George Berg a bomb aimer with crew 27. F/L Berg had served with two squadrons accumulating 23 previous missions, transferred to 434 he was on his 26th and Failed To Return. Numerous images, personal history, Loss of Aircaft Reports, including eyewitness accounts of the the fateful crash. Nephew John Berg has put in numerous years into the research, it has only been in the past couple months that final pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

George Berg, age 19, Weldon, Saskatchewan

Future plans for RCAF 434 Squadron web site include adding to the "Air & Ground Crew Index" the number of missions each crew flew including the months, also any combats involved with Luftwaffe, and "Loss of Aircraft Reports" if available.

Alan

Uploading numerous photos

2011-10-31T16:43:11Z

Hello,

With Remembrance day only 11 days away I have been uploading plenty of photo's in each section. Some I do not have much information, so hopefully once posted I'll recieve some history from others whom browse the site.

WL-O "Lady Orchid" Lancaster has recieved a complete coat of paint from nose to tail. This 434 squadron bomber is now on display in Calgary at the Aerospace Museum. Hopefully a mid upper turret will be inserted in the near future.

Alan

Thothorpe today

2010-08-28T22:03:53Z

Tholthorpe Aerodrome today

Recieved numerous photos of the Tholthorpe airfield, these were snapped in the past month. Very special thanks to John Green whom lives in the area. View these in a new section "Tholthorpe Today" - 434 Gallery Folder.

Should anyone have photos dated back in the early 1940's, I would be more then happy to add to site, as well the Croft area.

Update - Missions Flown by Pilot & Crew

2010-08-15T18:43:05Z

Hello,

Long time with no messages or updates. Over the past 9 months I have added photo's slowly, now accumulated 100 individual portraits of airmen, each page in "Individual" contain 80 Airmen. Approx 40 "Aircrew", all being said hopefully achieved in posting close to one third of the faces belonging to 434 squadron. Would be equally appreciated if I could obtain more ground crew photos.

In the "Personnel Download" section I uploaded several images of Missions Flown by Pilot / Crew. These documents provide the Pilot's name and crew #, giving months they were operational along with number of missions flown.

Once again, thanks to all whom have contributed, the site is averaging 6500 page views per month. Hopefully more photos will be forthcoming.

Talk later, Alan

Updates; Photo's, Nanton - "Lady Orchid", Email's

2009-07-18T13:43:12Z

Hello,

Photos…

Well it has been quite a few months since the last update; I have received numerous photos for posting, with a few biographies to go along. Other photo’s I have not posted as I am awaiting written material from the senders. It is easier for me to add photos once I have inserted the text, so I patiently wait, besides who wants to be indoors during the summer including me.

Nanton

Nanton Lancaster Society Museum is hosting some special events this year, one in particular will be the 14^th and 15^th of August. They have a number of activities scheduled for these two days; one in particular is the unveiling of “Lady Orchid” Nose-art.

Ronnie Jenkins - Pilot for "Lady Orchid"

"Lady Orchid"

As you may be aware I have a detailed story posted on the 434 Squadron web site, as well the Nanton Lancaster web site has a lot of info on “Lady Orchid” and the events for that weekend.

Sgt. Bruce Baird, R/AG for "Lady Orchid"

Well that is all for now…

Alan

April 4th Update; 431 & 434 pre-op breifing photo & crew 91 airman.

2009-04-04T20:42:21Z

This photo is now available for download in "Personnel Downloads" a very large file at 4.7 MB. Many faces are recognizable, please contact me if you recognize any of the airmen.

Photo taken between 30 Aug. 1944 and 7 April 1945.

431 and 434 Squadron are briefed for a mission to Essen.

(Above photo with caption description is located in gallery "Up and Down Time")

Also added in "Biography" section a member of crew 91; F/O "Gordon" Stacey recounts the night he was shot down and evaded capture.

Alan

Feb 2009 update

2009-02-08T22:58:27Z

Well it has been quite slow, recieved only a few photos since last update. So I have been tidying up site.

Removed "Family Memories" and "Veterans" galleries, I took the remaining photos in these sections and added them to the "Individual" gallery. Hopefully I will be able to update with other photos of these airmen... P/O Bert Brown of crew 140, F/Lt. John Fern of crew 151, along with F/O Ernie Wilkinson from crew 161.

Alan

November 2008 update

2008-11-23T22:24:03Z

This month has been very active on 434 site, numerous inquiries on individuals and crews, and once again trying to catch up.

Added photos and written material on crew 21 (F/O Jones) and crew 168 (F/O Hooper). One interesting submission was WL-W "Wimpy" Lancaster, this is a rare photo with Wimpy flipping burgers, each burger represents a successful mission, to view this a/c see the individual section, crew 168 F/O Hooper.

WL-W "Wimpy"

Thanks to all whom contributed information and/or photos past couple weeks.

Alan

October 2008 update

2008-10-18T22:17:44Z

Hello,
Past couple months I have been trying to get caught up, I am going to add a section folder for Nose Art & Aircraft of 434 squadron, moving the serial numbers into this also.
A big thanks to Clarence Simonsen for his story on "Lady Orchid" and her pilot the late F/O Ron Jenkins of Calgary Alberta, see the link at the bottom of the main page, a very well researched document.
Updating some items in the Combat section as well.

See the 1945 section in "Combat" as the Pilot F/O D.J. Cameron crew 152 escaped being shot down but suffered a tragic loss.

Till next time, keep the photo's and information coming. Alan

Busy summer and visit to Nanton Lancaster Museum

2008-09-11T18:32:02Z

Hello,

Here is a brief note on my visit to the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum and some very interesting individuals I met and had conversations with.

Mr. Edmund Kluczny, whom I met up with on a private tour of the Nanton Lancaster.

We entered the Lanc together along with a mechanic on Friday afternoon, Mr. Kluczny was very agile and was able to climb over the spars and other obstacles all the way up into the pilots seat. The mechanic and I were very enlightened on many stories “Ed” was able to recall over a span of 45 minutes. Here are some photo’s as well as his mention in Hugh Halliday’s “Honors & Awards” in the AirForce.ca web site.

P/O Edmund Kluczny

KLUCZNY, P/O Edmund George (J92663) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.90 Squadron - Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 27 March 1945 and AFRO 1127/45 dated 6 July 1945. Born at Empress, Alberta, 1921; home in Winfield or Alder Flats, Alberta (cook); enlisted in Edmonton, 4 June 1942. Trained at No.4 ITS (graduated 6 November 1942), No.5 EFTS (graduated 5 February 1943) and No.15 SFTS (graduated 28 May 1943). Commissioned November 1942. No citation other than "completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." Public Records Office Air 2/9050 has recommendation dated 14 December 1944 when he was a Warrant Officer (R159445) who had flown 35 sorties (178 hours 21 minutes); commissioned 23 December 1944 with effect from 23 November 1944.

In the past week I have almost completed adding captions to all the previous photos and arranged in chronological order.