Douglas William Peck DSO DFC RAF – 103 Squadron / 627 Squadron – WW2 - 42430.
Douglas Peck was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Newton in mid 1941. He may well have had significant flying experience on bombers at that time as he only flew 3 operations as co-pilot, as shown below :-
20/07/41 - Max – Cologne
24/07/41 - Max - Gneisenau
19/08/41 - Crawford - Le Havre
Peck was then allocated his own crew - see photo above . This included Wireless Operator / Air Gunner George Deering RCAF who later flew as front gunner with Guy Gibson on the Dambusters Raid.
He then flew the following operations :-
11-Sep-41 - Le Havre - Docks and shipping - Wellington - R1445 - F/O DW Peck
16-Sep-41 - Karlsruhe - Communications - Wellington - R1445 - F/O DW Peck
20-Sep-41 - Frankfurt - Industrial area - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck – Aborted - General recall because of worsening weather at base. Bombed secondary.
30-Sep-41 - Hamburg - Railway station - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck - Combat. Attacked by NF. Escaped into cloud. Repeatedly hit by flak
12-Oct-41 - Bremen - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck
13-Oct-41 - Dusseldorf - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck
17-Oct-41 - Duisburg - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1344 - F/O DW Peck
20-Oct-41 - Emden - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck
24-Oct-41 - Frankfurt - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1395 - F/O DW Peck - Made second attack on Haamstede airfield
31-Oct-41 - Hamburg - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck – Early return - Generator unserviceable
26-Nov-41 - Emden - Point of Aim - Wellington - R1667 - F/O DW Peck
28-Dec-41 - Wilhelmshaven - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
06-Jan-42 - Brest - German capital ships - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck - Hit by flak
10-Jan-42 - Wilhelmshaven - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck - Landed at Swanton Morley
15-Jan-42 - Hamburg - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck - Bombed search light and railway track N of target
21-Jan-42 - Bremen - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
25-Jan-42 - Brest - German capital ships - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
28-Jan-42 - Munster - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
14-Feb-42 - Mannheim - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
21-Feb-42 - Mannheim and others - Point of aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck - W/T and heating system U/S
03-Mar-42 - Paris - Renault motor factory - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
08-Mar-42 - Essen - Point of Aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
09-Mar-42 - Essen - Point of Aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
13-Mar-42 - Cologne - Point of Aim - Wellington - X9666 - F/O DW Peck
Peck was awarded a DFC gazetted 26 May 1942
Vickers Wellington R1445 flown by Peck in September 1941
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In 43/44 he was attached to 627 Squadron flying Pathfinder De Havilland Mosquitos and was awarded a DSO, citation below :-
Douglas William Peck (42430) - 627 Squadron
Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has completed a very large number or sorties and his achievements have won great praise. He has invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage and resolution and his example has been most inspiring. On a recent occasion he piloted an aircraft on a sortie against Munich. When over the target his aircraft was hit by anti- . aircraft fire whilst illuminated in the searchlights. One engine was rendered useless and a little later the aircraft went out of control. Considerable height was lost but Flight Lieutenant Peck succeeded in regaining control and then, with his usual determination continued his mission which he completed successfully. London Gazette No. 36555, Dated 1944-06-09.
De Havilland Mosquito IV of the type flown by 627 Squadron
Whilst with 627 Squadron he flew 61 sorties which is an impressive number and with the 27 he flew with 103 Squadron would make his total 88.
Compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive and WWP
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