COMRADES
George was part of the 467 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force based at RAF Bottesford & Waddington.
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No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was formed at Scampton in the United Kingdom on 7 November 1942. Although intended as an Australian squadron under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the majority of its personnel were originally British. The replacement of these men with Australians was a gradual process and it was only towards the end of the war that the squadron gained a dominant Australian character.
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The squadron relocated to Bottesford on 23 November 1942 and commenced operations on 2 January 1943. On 12th November 1943 it moved to Waddington, which remained the squadron's home until the end of the war. Equipped with Avro Lancaster heavy bombers, and forming part of 5 Group, RAF Bomber Command, the squadron's operational focus for much of the war was the strategic bombing offensive against Germany.
Photo December 1943, RAF Waddington.
Rear Gun Turret:
F/O Bill Fisher RAAF
Middle Row L-R:
1) Sgt. Cliff Cooper, RAF
2) Sgt Ralph Chambers, F/Engineer, (Barrow In Furness), Aged 37
3) F/Sgt William Donald (Blackie) Blackwell, (South Guildford, West Australia) Aged 28
4) F/O Raymond Joseph Alfred (Ted) Maidstone, Navigator, (Gloucester) Aged 20
Front Row L-R
1) Sgt George Andrew Litchfield, Air Bomber, (Bedford), Aged 21
2) F/Lt Leo Braham Patkin, Pilot, (Victoria, Australia) Aged 30
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Sgt. Cliff Cooper survived the war. He joined another 467 Sqd crew who were posted to 582 PFF in March 1944.
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Sgt Ralph Chambers is older than the rest of the crew. His story was he was a professional soldier originally serving with the Army from the 1920's in the Royal Tank Corps, but switched to the RAF.
The crew of Lancaster PO-M in uniform. George is 2nd left.
The crew of Lancaster PO-M in their flight gear. George is 1st left front row.
L - R:
Raymond Joseph Alfred (Ted) Maidstone, Navigator (Gloucester, England)
Sgt George Andrew Litchfield, Air Bomber (Bedford, England)
F/Lt Leo Braham Patkin, Pilot, (Victoria, Australia)
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From squadron records the following airman also flew with George:
P/O Haddlesey.E.F.G - Wounded 3/4.11.43, ME110 shot down. Deceased 04/05/89
Sgt Cooper.C.T.
F/O Fisher.W.N. - Wounded 3/4.11.43
Sgt Aitken.J.B
F/O Weeden.R.A. - KIA 3/4.12.43
F/S Jeffrieses.L.A. - 2nd Nav to Berlin 26/27.11.43
P/O Nugent.F.J. - 2nd B/A to Frankfurt 20/21.12.43