Traces of World War 2 
RAF - 82 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

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82 SQUADRON - Bomber Command, Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV

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During the early part of the Second World War 82 Squadron, flying Bristol Blenheims, played a prominent part in No. 2 Group's offensive against shipping in the English Channel and the North Sea, and "fringe" targets on the Continent. On two occasions (17/05 and 13/08) during the summer of 1940 it was almost wiped out, but each time-thanks to the exceptional determination of the CO, Wing Commander the Earl of Bandon - it was re-formed within 48 hours to fight again.

Picture of Blenheims of 82 Sqdn. Watton, 1940.
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Missions and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with fatal losses are.

14/05/1940: Breda, NL (-)
17/05/1940, Gembloux, B. 12 Planes lost; 8 KIA, 13 MIA, 3 POW
22/05/1940: Hesdin, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA

07/06/1940: Reconnaissance, F. 1 Plane lost
08/06/1940: Abbeville, F. 2 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 2 POW
08/06/1940: Battle Area, F. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA, 2 POW
09/06/1940: ?, UK. 1 KIA or DOW
13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F. 3 Planes lost, 3 KIA, 1 MIA, 2 POW
25/06/1940: Training, UK 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
27/06/1940: NW Germany (crashed in NL). 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 1 POW
02/07/1940: Dortmund-Ems Canal, D (crashed in NL). 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA

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Losses 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)

Flying Officer (Pilot) John C.H. Blake, RAF 39196, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 27/02/1940, Sage War Cemetery, Germany
Aircraftman 1st Class Samuel N. Middleton, RAF 611040, 82 Sqdn., age 19, 27/02/1940, missing
Sergeant Thomas S. Weightman, RAF 564455, 82 Sqdn., age 27, 27/02/1940, missing

Flying Officer Glyn Harries, RAF 39520, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 01/04/1940, missing
Sergeant Herbert H. Kelleway, RAF 561573, 82 Sqdn., age 28, 01/04/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Eric L. Wolverson, RAF 544700, 82 Sqdn., age 25, 01/04/1940, missing

Sergeant (Obs. U/T.) George Chapman, RAF 580942, 82 Sqdn., age 19, 08/04/1940, Rosskeen Parish Churchyard Extensions (or Burial Ground), UK
Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) John W. Kempton, RAF 629791, 82 Sqdn., age 22, 08/04/1940, March (Eastwood) Burial Ground, UK

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14/05/1940: Breda, NL

Six Blenheim Mk.IV bombers of No.82 attacked German targets on the roads north of Breda and Tilburg. All returned home safely.

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17/05/1940, Gembloux, B

On 17th May, 1940, twelve aircraft of 82 Squadron, based at Watton, in Norfolk, took off to attack troop concentrations at Gembloux, Belgium, where the German army was sweeping West towards the Channel ports.

They were supposed to have a Hurricane figher escort but they were intercepted earlier and they had to proceed without their escorts. As they reached their target, 15 German Bf-109 fighters attacked them.

Eleven of them were shot down and the survivor (P8858, UX-W), badly damaged, managed to reach Watton, but it was written off due to the damage sustained.

type:
Bristol 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number:
P4838, UX-R
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940 (3 MIA)
Corporal Thomas H. Cummins, RAF 537830, 82 Sqdn., age 20, 17/05/1940, missing
Flying Officer Alexander M. Gofton, RAF 39312, 82 Sqdn., age 29, 17/05/1940, missing
Sergeant Frederick S. Miller, RAF 515573, 82 Sqdn., age 27, 17/05/1940, missing
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Lost without trace. One of the 12 Blenheims lost by 82 Squadron on this operation.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim 1/1V
serial number:
L8830, UX-T
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940 (2 POW, 1 Evd)
F/O R.J. McConnell PoW
Sgt S.J. Fulbrook Evd
LAC H. Humphreys PoW
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Hit by Flak and abandoned. Sgt Fulbrook managed to evade capture and later returned to his unit. His two comrades were both taken into captivity. LAC H.Humphreys was interned in Camps L1/L6/357, PoW No.57 F/O R.J.McConnell in Camps 9AH/L3, PoW No.410.

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number:
P4854, UX-F
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940 (2 MIA, 1 POW)
Sergeant Arthur G.B. Crouch, RAF 580508, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 17/05/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Raymonde Morris, RAF 551580, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 17/05/1940, missing
P/O Toft, PoW
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. P/O K.S.Toft was interned in Camps L1/9AH/20A/6B/L3, PoW No.126.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim 1/1V
serial number:
P8858, UX-W
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Sgt T.Morrison
Sgt Garbutt
AC1 M.C.Cleary
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Returned to base, badly shot up and the Blenheim was declared a write-off and SOC.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number:
P9210, UX-O
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) James J. Grierson, RAF 44976, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 17/05/1940, Festieux Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Joseph W. Paul, RAF 581002, 82 Sqdn., age 21, 17/05/1940, Festieux Communal Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) John H. Patterson, RAF 626953, 82 Sqdn., age 20, 17/05/1940, Festieux Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Shot down near Festieux (Aisne), 11 km SE of Laon, France.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim 1V
serial number:
P9213, UX-M
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op.) Alfred G. Sims, RAF 521263, 82 Sqdn., age 25, 17/05/1940, Presles-et-Thierney Churchyard, F
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) George W.C. Watson, RAF 37218, 82 Sqdn., age 26, 17/05/1940, Presles-et-Thierney Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Francis C. Wootten, RAF 581025, 82 Sqdn., age 26, 17/05/1940, Presles-et-Thierney Churchyard, F

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim 1V
serial number:
P4851, UX-N
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Sergeant Frank Fearnley, RAF 580369, 82 Sqdn., age 24, 17/05/1940, missing
F/O D.A. Fordham (Evd)
Corporal Allen G. Richards, RAF 551007, 82 Sqdn., DFM, age 20, 17/05/1940, missing
Airborne 0450 from Watton. F/O Fordham was reported safe, but his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Later in the day, the London Gazette published the news of Cpl Richards award.

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim 1V
serial number:
P4852, UX-O [?, see P9210]
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
S/L M.V. Delap, DFC (Evd?)
Sgt R.F. Wyness, DFM (Evd?)
P/O F.C. Jackson. (Evd?)
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Pancy-Courtecon (Aisne), 13 km SSE of Laon, France. S/L Delap and Sgt Wyness won their respective awards 11/03/1940, together with Cpl Richards, in the same action. See: P4851

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim 1V
serial number:
P4853, UX-D
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Sergeant Reginald E. Newbatt, RAF 580271, 82 Sqdn., age 22, 17/05/1940, missing
Sergeant Joseph K. Crawley, RAF 580572, 82 Sqdn., age 24, 17/05/1940, missing
Sergeant Albert V. Knowles, RAF 530226, 82 Sqdn., age 25, 17/05/1940 (missing)
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number:
P4898, UX-Y
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940 (3 MIA)
Pilot Officer Severin Christensen, RAF 76458, 82 Sqdn., age 21, 17/05/1940, missing
Sergeant Alfred N. Phillips, RAF 580524, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 17/05/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Peter R.V. Ettershank, RAF 551709, 82 Sqdn., 17/05/1940, missing
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number:
P4903, UX-U
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940
Sgt L.H. Wrightson Inj
Sergeant Stanley J. Beaumont
AC1 K.A.Thomas
Airborne 0450 from Watton. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. However, it is reported that the crew eventually made their way to safety and returned to their Squadron.
Ronald E. Ridgeway, nephew of Sgt. Beaumont: 'The pilot was badly hurt and had to be carried through some dangerous areas before they joined refugees fleeing the German advance. They were hidden in the crowd and the French underground got them to Nantes, France where they were taken back to England in a French fishing boat.'

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Type: Bristol Type 142L. Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: P4904, UX-B
operation: Gembloux
lost: 17/05/1940 (2 KIA)
Sergeant (Obs.) David J. Lees, RAF 565583, 82 Sqdn., age 25, 17/05/1940, Lappion Churchyard, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op.) Kenneth G. Reed, RAF 552567, 82 Sqdn., age 19, 17/05/1940, Merval Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Pilot) L.H. Watkins , Evd
Airborne 0450 from Watton. shot down near Lappion (Aisne), 26 km ENE of Laon, France. Sgt Watkins returned to his Squadron 1Jun40. Sgt D.J.Lees KIA KIA




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22/05/1940, Hesdin, F

Type: Bristol Type 143L, Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: P4828, UX-?
Operation: Hesdin
Lost: 22/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Aircraftman 2nd Class (W.Op.) Angus W. Elliot, RAF 626895, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 22/05/1940, Neufchatel-Hardelot (Neufchatel) New Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Pilot) John W. Hartfield, RAFVR 740678, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 22/05/1940, Neufchatel-Hardelot (Neufchatel) New Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Frederick Phillipson, RAF 563677, 82 Sqdn., age 27, 22/05/1940, Neufchatel-Hardelot (Neufchatel) New Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1845 from Watton. Shot down near Neufchatel-Hardelot (Pas- de-Calais), 7 km WSW of Samer, France.

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07/06/1940: Reconnaissance, F

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: P6915, UX-A
Operation: Reconnaissance
Lost: 07/06/1940
Sgt A.E. Merritt
F/S Robertson
Cpl Harris
Airborne 1110 from Wattisham to report enemy movements between Abbeville and St-Valéry. Badly shott about by Me109s and although a safe return to Wattisham was effected, the Blenheim was declared beyond economical repair and SOC.



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08/06/1940: Abbeville, F

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: R3709, UX-F
Operation: Abbeville
Lost: 08/06/1940
P/O G.P. Robertson PoW
Sgt J. Hounston PoW
Sergeant (W. Op./ Air Gnr.) Brian W. Burt, RAFVR 751659, 82 Sqdn., age 27, 08/06/1940, Lamotte-Buleux Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1705 from Watton to bomb fuel dumps NE of Abbeville. Shot down near Lamotte-Buleux (Somme), 7 km N of Abbeville, France. Sgt J.Hounston (also spelled Houston) was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.13107 P/O G.P.Robertson in Camps 12A/L3, PoW No.2268.

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Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: R3754, UX-?
Operation: Abbeville
Lost: 08/06/1940
P/O Percival
Sgt Dodrill
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) John Byatt, RAF 627950, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 08/06/1940, Uttoxeter Cemetery, UK
Airborne 1705 from Watton to bomb fuel dumps NE of Abbeville. Cause of loss and crash-site not established - site likely to be in the UK. It appears that P/O Percival and Sgt Dodrill were eventualy able to return safely to Watton.

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08/06/1940: Battle Area, F

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
Serial number: R3618, UX-N
Operation: Battle Area
Lost: 08/06/1940
P/O R.C.D. McKenzie PoW
Sergeant (Obs.) Joseph H. Cooper, RAF 580606, 82 Sqdn., age 20, 08/06/1940, Eplessier Churchyard, F
Sgt Crozier Inj, PoW
Airborne 1022 from Watton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Eplessier (Somme), 3 km NW of Poix, France, where Sgt Cooper is buried in the local churchyard. Sgt Crozier was confined to Hospital due injuries. No PoW No. P/O R.C.D.McKenzie was interned in Camps 9AH/L3, PoW No.1248.

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09/06/1940: ?

Sergeant (Obs.) John C. Phipp, RAF 581159, 82 Sqdn., age 19, 09/06/1940, Chingford Mount Cemetery, UK

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13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F

Panzer columns were reported to be refueling in the Forêt de Gault. 12 Squadron, 21 Squadron, 82 Squadron, 88 Squadron and 142 Squadron were sent to attack.
12 Squadron (Fairey Battle) lost 3 planes
21 Squadron (Blenheim Mk IV) lost 2 Planes
82 squadron (Blenheim Mk IV) lost 3 planes
88 Squadron (Fairey Battle) lost 1 plane
142 Squadron (Fairey Battle) lost 3 planes

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
Serial number: P6910, UX-X
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
F/L J.C. Breese DFC PoW
Sgt H.H. Williams PoW
Sergeant (W. Op. Air) Kenneth H. Harris, RAF 530943, 82 Sqdn., DFM, age 23, 13/06/1940, Courgivaux Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1504 from Watton. cause of loss not established. Crashed at Courgivaux (Marne), 5 km WSW of Esternay, France. F/L J.C.Breese was interned in Camps L1/L3/21B/L3. PoW No.91. DFC Gazetted 22Nov40. Sgt H.H.Williams in Camp 357, PoW No.30663. DFM Gazetted 22Nov40.

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Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
Serial number: P6925, UX-Z
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
P/O R.E. Williams
Sgt D. Carbutt
Sgt A.S.Beeby
Airborne 1504 from Watton. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. It is presumed that this crew were eventually able to return to their Squadron.

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Type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk. I/IV
Serial number: L8829, UX-P
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
Sergeant (Pilot) Albert E. Merritt, RAF 523851, 82 Sqdn., age 22, 13/06/1940, Sage War Cemetery, D
Sergeant (Obs.) Neville W. Carlile, RAF 581270, 82 Sqdn., age 23, 13/06/1940, Harlingen General Cemetery, NL
Sergeant Leslie D. Nineham, RAF 551747, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 13/06/1940, missing
Airborne 1504 from Watton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed in the sea. Sgt Nineham has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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25/06/1940: Training, UK

Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV
Serial number: N3621, UX-?
Operation: Training, UK
Lost: 25/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Eric J. Keeble, RAF 41711, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 25/06/1940, Worthing (Durrington) Cemetery, UK

Hit mast of target ship moored om Wainfleet Ranges and crashed. No other casualties except P/O Keeble mentioned.

Sources: CWGC and Graham Warner, Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. 2nd Edition. (Manchester, U.K.: Crecy Publishing, 2005) - with thanks to Amrit.

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27/06/1940: NW Germany

Type: Bristol Type 143L, Blenheim Mk.1V
Serial number: R3731, UX-Y
Operation: NW Germany
Lost: 27/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Ralph A. Percy, RAF 42640, 82 Sqdn., age 21, 27/06/1940, Zeist (Woudenbergseweg) General Cemetery, NL
Sgt A A. Stanley PoW
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Andrew M. Clark, RAFVR 749331, 82 Sqdn., age 22, 27/06/1940, Zeist (Woudenbergseweg) General Cemetery, NL
Airborne from Watton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Zeist (Utrecht), 12 km SW of Amersfoort, Holland. The graves of the two man killed are marked by a private memorial. Sgt A.A.Stanley was interned in Camps L1/L6/357, PoW No.84.

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02/07/1940: Dortmund-Ems Canal, D

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
Serial number: P6895, UX-H
Operation: Dortmund-Ems Canal
Lost: 27/06/1940
Squadron Leader (Pilot) Hurll F. Chester, RAF 28214, 82 Sqdn., age unknown, 02/07/1940, Heerhugowaard (Veenhuizen) Churchyard, NL
Sergeant (Obs.) Herbert Histon, RAF 510387, 82 Sqdn., age 29, 02/07/1940, Heerhugowaard (Veenhuizen) Churchyard, NL
Sergeant (W. Op.) Robert J. McAllister, RAF , 82 Sqdn., age 27, 02/07/1940, Heerhugowaard (Veenhuizen) Churchyard, NL
Airborne from Watton briefed to bomb targets along the Dortmund-Ems Kanal in Germany. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Veenhuizen in the Commune of Heerhugowaard (Noord Holland), 21 km NE of Alkmaar, Holland.


Sources

Air Force POWs 1939-1945
British Military Aviation in 1940 (RAF Museum)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Rickard, J (26 June 2007), Bristol Blenheim Combat Record
Lost Bombers
Ron Ridgeway: Dimensions
Royal Air Force - Bomber Command - 82 Squadron
Royal Air Force - 82 Squadron
RAF Watton - History
War over Holland

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Books

W.R. Chorley, Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1, 1939/40, Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0 904597 85 7
See: www.rafinfo.org.uk/BCWW2Losses/ for updates.

Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
F Harbord 'Familiar Voices' (Able 1988)
Graham Warner, Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. 2nd Edition. (Manchester, U.K.: Crecy Publishing, 2005)

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Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Test Flying Memorial
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries



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This page is dedicated to the men of 82 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2007-2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html