William E Baker DFC RCAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944/45
William Baker and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds from Heavy Conversion Unit 11 Base on the 8th September 1944.
The crew was as follows :-
William E Baker (Duke) - Pilot – Canada
Harry W Ewen (Jock) - Flight Engineer – Scotland
Oscar Hoffman - Bomb Aimer – Switzerland
Dudley R Stone (Dud) - Navigator – London England
Arther M Blomfield (Bob) Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - Sheffield, England
John Dewing (Johnny) - Mid-Upper Gunner - Yorkshire, England
James McDermott (Paddy) - Rear Gunner – Dublin, Ireland
They survived a long hard tour of 35 operations as follows:-
07-Oct-44 - Emmerich - Lancaster - PB637 - P/O WE Baker RCAF
11-Oct-44 - Fort Frederik Hendrik - Lancaster - LM131 - P/O WE Baker RCAF
14-Oct-44 - Duisburg - Lancaster - LM682 - P/O WE Baker RCAF
14-Oct-44 - Duisburg - Lancaster - ND861 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
15-Oct-44 - Wilhelmshaven - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
19-Oct-44 - Stuttgart - Lancaster - PB637 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
23-Oct-44 - Essen - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
25-Oct-44 - Essen - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
28-Oct-44 - Cologne - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
30-Oct-44 - Cologne - Lancaster - LM131 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
31-Oct-44 - Cologne - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
02-Nov-44 - Dusseldorf - Lancaster - PD287 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
04-Nov-44 - Bochum - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
18-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF - Bad weather at base. Diverted
21-Nov-44 - Aschenaffenburg - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
27-Nov-44 - Freiburg - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
29-Nov-44 - Dortmund - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
04-Dec-44 - Urft - Lancaster - LM682 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
06-Dec-44 - Leuna - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
12-Dec-44 - Essen - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
15-Dec-44 - Ludwigshafen/Oppau - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
22-Dec-44 - Koblenz - Lancaster - LM177 - F/O WE Baker RCAF - Bad weather at base. All aircraft diverted to Langham.
05-Jan-45 - Hanover - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
07-Jan-45 - Munich - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
16-Jan-45 - Zeitz - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
28-Jan-45 - Stuttgart/Zuffenhausen - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF – Did not take off - Engine unserviceable
01-Feb-45 - Ludwigshafen - Lancaster - PD236 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
02-Feb-45 - Wiesbaden - Lancaster - LM295 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
07-Feb-45 - Kleve - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
08-Feb-45 - Politz - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
13-Feb-45 - Dresden - Lancaster - RA528 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
14-Feb-45 - Chemnitz - Lancaster - NG492 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
20-Feb-45 - Dortmund - Lancaster - RA528 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
21-Feb-45 - Duisburg - Lancaster - RA528 - F/O WE Baker RCAF
02-Mar-45 - Cologne - Lancaster - LM295 - F/L WE Baker RCAF
08-Mar-45 - Kassel - Lancaster - RA528 - F/L WE Baker RCAF
On completion of their tour Bill Baker was awarded a DFC.
Back row L to R - Oscar Hoffman, James McDermott, Arthur M.Blomfield, John Dewing
Front row L to R - Harry W.Ewen, William E.Baker, Dudley R.Stone
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Dudley Ronald Stone RAFVR
Dudley Stone was the son of a London docker. He began training in Canada at No.1 Navigators School, Rivers, Manitoba in July 1943 passing the course in November of the same year. By April 1944 he was in the UK with 28 Operational Training Unit. In August he moved to 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit at Sandtoft and then to No.1 Lancaster Finishing School at Hemswell. He was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds in early September 1944. By 8th March 1945 he had completed 35 operational sorties and was then posted to 17 Operational Training Unit.
Post war he qualified as an accountant and married Patricia. They had one son, Bernard. Dudley left war bombed London and travelled the world with his job and family. Like many crews they developed a tight bond and firm friendship and he kept in touch them for many years right to the end. He was a regular attender at the RAF Elsham Wolds Reunions.
Compiled by David Fell with many thanks to Bernard Stone for all the information and photographs
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