James R Havers DFC RAF – 103 Squadron – 1937/41 - 37969
Jimmy Havers was a pre war regular and joined 103 Squadron when it was reformed in the late 30s. He was certainly with the Squadron when they were at RAF Unsworth in 1937 as he is featured on the 103 Squadron formal group photo taken at that time.
He served with the Squadron for until 1941 and throughout the Battle of France for which he was awarded a DFC gazetted in November 1940.
Jimmy Havers pictured in France with 103 Squadron April 1940
On return to the UK remained with the Squadron at RAF Newton flying Battles and then Vickers Wellingtons. His operations in France are unknown but when the Squadron became part of 1 Group RAF Bomber Command he flew the following operations :-
21-Jul-40 – Rotterdam - Oil Storage tanks – Battle – L5433 – F/L JR Havers - Unable to locate primary. Bombed chemical works.
11-Sep-40 - Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – P2308 – F/L JR Havers
16-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – L5525 – F/L JR Havers - Bombed Le Touquet
22-Sep-40 – Boulogne - Invasion barges – Battle – L5525 – F/L JR Havers
27-Sep-40 – Ostend - Invasion barges – Battle – P2320 – F/L JR Havers
01-Jan-41 – Bremen – Docks – Wellington – T2610 – F/L JR Havers - Landed in snowstorm at base
03-Jan-41 – Bremen - General attack – Wellington – T2621 – F/L JR Havers – Did not take off – Wireless transmitter unserviceable and damaged hatch catch
15-Jan-41 Wilhelmshaven - General Attack – Wellington - R2610 - S/L Mellor first pilot
10-Feb-41 - Hanover - GA - Wellington - R1445 - Early Return. Aircraft would not climb - S/L Mellor first pilot
12-Mar-41 – Hamburg - U boat yards – Wellington – R1395 – F/L JR Havers
14-Mar-41 – Gelsenkirchen – Oil – Wellington – R1396 – F/L JR Havers - Combat. Twin engined enemy aircraft. Both gunners engaged. Enemy aircraft hit and dived into cloud
21-Mar-41 – Lorient - U Boat base – Wellington – T2999 – F/L JR Havers
30-Mar-41 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – T2996 – F/L JR Havers
06-Apr-41 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – T2996 – F/L JR Havers
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On the 11th April 1940 he was posted as an instructor to a 20 OTU at Lossiemouth and remained in that role until he became a Squadron Leader Flight Commander with 100 Squadron in the later stages of the war.
What became of him after that I do not know and will be interested to hear.
Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archive.
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