Ray Onians Chatham RAAF and crew - 103 Squadron – 1945 - 432438
The Chatham crew. Ray Chatham middle back row
Ray Onians Chatham was born 20 July 1924 at Murwillumbah New South Wales Australia. He enlisted in Sydney New South Wales on the 2 January 1943.
The Chatham crew were posted to 103 squadron in February / early March 1945 from HCU. Date not recorded in ORB.
The crew was as follows :-
F/S R O Chatham RAAF
Sgt F Thompson
Sgt J E Moss
F/S D E Smith
Sgt D Hewett
Sgt N Pashley
Sgt L Jackson
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Chatham flew his first operation on the 12 March 1945 as co pilot with the experienced crew of F/L B B Hardman in Lancaster LM177 to Dortmund
Chatham then captained his crew on the following operations :-
22-Mar-45 - Hildesheim - Railway yards - Lancaster - RF186 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
25-Mar-45 - Hannover - Army support - Lancaster - RF229 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
27-Mar-45 - Paderborn - Army support - Lancaster - ME847 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
25-Apr-45 - Berchtesgaden - Hitler's chalet and SS barracks - Lancaster - ME698 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
29-Apr-45 - Leiden - Operation Manna - Lancaster - ME698 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
01-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - RF186 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
03-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - PA319 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
04-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - PA319 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
07-May-45 - Rotterdam - Operation Manna - Lancaster - PA319 - F/S RO Chatham RAAF
Ray Chatham was commissioned on the 11 May 1945. On the posted to No 5 Aircrew Holding Unit and discharged on the 30 November 1945.
He passed away at the age of 81 on the 26 September 2005 and was laid to rest at Lawn Cemetery Cohuna, Victoria, Australia.
Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archive
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