Rear Gunner Sergeant Charles Henry Stothard

Lancaster LM. 274 'F' for Fox and Crew August 1944

Sergeant's Mess Peterborough 8th July 1945

Charles 3rd row up far left 21st August 1943

He commenced his training with No 3 Squadron at the Initial Training Wing (I.T.W.), based at Bridlington on the 4th August 1943. [Initial Training Wing No 19 was located at Bridgnorth and Bridlington from March 1943 until April 1944, also Initial Training Wing No 20 was also located at Bridlington and Usworth from May 1943 until March 1944.] This initial training consisted of an introduction to service life and discipline, together with elementary work on technical subjects such as navigation, armaments and signals.

On the 25th October 1943, he was posted to No 4 Air Gunners School at Morpeth, where he learned the skills to become an efficient Air Gunner. Also he flew in Anson aircraft, which initially added up to a total Flying time of 21 Hours, 35 minutes, which gave him an Exam result of 78.2%. His results from his Flying Log Book (see below) are recorded in some detail. His remarks about the exam were summarised as Theory, average, Air Firing, above average and general ability with experience should be a capable Air Gunner. He then would have received his Air Gunner Wings and promoted to Sergeant. His course commenced from the 3rd October until the 4th December 1943.

The second photograph on the above right shows Sergeant Charles Stothard, kneeling centre of front row, Flight Lieutenant Parker D.F.C. back row second from right. The other members of the crew are Sgt, R E Steele, Flt. Engineer, Sgt, H J Richardson, Navigator, Sgt, J H Wellens, Bomb Aimer, Sgt K G West, Wireless Operator and Sgt, K Smith Air Gunner no 1.

The fourth photograph shows I.T.W 4 Flight, 73 Course No 3 Squadron Bridlington, 21st August 1943.

From the 31st December 1943, Charles was posted to the No 17 Operational Training Unit, which was based at Silverstone, here he flew Wellington's Mark III and X, and continued his training along with the rest of the aircrew.

[OTU is where a crew received the final polish of their training, and did an "easy" operation at the end, before Squadron posting.]

Its here where he started to fly with a Pilot Officer Parker starting on the 10th January 1944, with a further 7 flights all in Wellingtons. Total time on the course was:- 'B' Flight, 24 Hours, 40 Mins. His last flight took place on the 29th January with Pilot Officer Parker.

He then was transferred to 'D' Flight, where he continued his training along with Flying Office Parker, again in Wellingtons.

By the 29th February 1944, his log book certifies that he had been instructed on the Wellington Mk III and X in the following:

1. Baling out Drill.

2. Ditching and Dinghy drill.

3. Oxygen Drill.

4. Procedure when lost at night.

5. S.B.A. Standard Beam Approach.

6. Fire Drill.

7. Petrol and Oil System.

Total flying time now was 73 Hours and 35 Mins, which included about 32 hours night flying, from the 75 day course he attended.

On the 18th April he was posted to the 1660 Heavy Conversion Unit at Swinderby and he started to fly in Short Stirlings, which was a four engine aircraft.

[HCU is training graduating from 2 engined to 4 engined aircraft].

Two new crew members, were now required, the Flight Engineer [Sgt, R E Steele] and a Mid-upper Gunner [Sgt, K Smith]. Other exercises including Fighter Affiliation and a Mosquito attack was also included.

"[After completion of flying training, the individual airmen were posted to an Operational Training Unit, where the new intake was paraded in a hangar and told to form themselves into 5-man crews of pilot, navigator, wireless-operator, bomb aimer, and one air gunner. Here they flew mainly Wellingtons and acquired team skills and did a lot of training, sometimes with an "easy" operation (dropping mines or leaflets) thrown in. After this, those destined for four-engined aircraft - which by late 1942 was almost every one of them - were sent to a Heavy Conversion Unit where the crew was joined by the flight engineer and a second air-gunner]."

"[At HCU instructors converted the crew onto the four-engined bombers, Halifaxes or Stirlings, and after a short course the crew was posted to an operational Squadron. Crews destined for Lancaster-equipped units did a very short course at a Lancaster Finishing School at Syerston (No 5 LFS) or Hemswell (No 1 LFS) before an operational posting. Most OTUs fed a particular Group - for example, 27 OTU at Lichfield fed No 1 Group]."

Charles' final training posting was at Lancaster Finishing School, No 5, based at Syerstone, here the crew learnt to fly the Avro Lancaster before their final posting to an Operational Squadron.

The aircrew now fully trained were posted to no 61 Squadron based at Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire at the beginning of June 1944, under no 5 Group.

Their first operational flight was on the 14th June 1944 to Aunay-sur-Odon. On the 23rd September the crew had flown a total of 36 missions and had accrued 203 flying hours, which meant they had completed their first Operational Tour of Duty. In those few short months the crew were to face quite heavy defences from a number of their targets including flak and fighters, on the last mission, four out of nineteen aircraft sent to bomb Dortmund-Ems canal did not return.

After an Operational Rest, he was posted to No 61 Squadron at Bardney for three days only. He then went to Peterborough and posted to the 7th Service Flying Training School (see third photo down on right) before ending up at Kirton Lindsey, where he was finally released on the 29th August 1946. He completed his service on the 14th June 1946. His Certificate of Service and Release records:- " A good NCO., Keen and Energetic."

Story supplied by Nick McKeown and Vickie with Thanks.

The following has been submitted by Simon Glancey: The 61 Sqn ORB (Operational Record Book) Form 541 has the following, which may be an interesting addition to Stothard's page:

August 29/30th 1944.
Op: Attack on Konigsberg
Met: Cloud base 9,000 feet, good visibility below.
Lancaster I LM274 QR-F
Up: 20.21
Down: 07.10

F/L PARKER bombed from 9,000 feet at 01.40 hours, MPI [Mixed Pattern Indicators] of red and green T.I. [target indicators]. Scattered fires seen on leaving the target due to the marking not being concentrated. Aircraft hit by light flak, starboard rudder shot away, damage to M/U [Mid Upper] turret, fuselage and tailplane.

F/L S. Parker – Captain.
Sgt. R. E. Steele – Flight Engineer.
F/Sgt H. J. Richardson – Navigator.
Sgt K. C. West – WOp/AG.
F/S J. H. Wellens – Air Bomber.
Sgt K. Smith – Air Gunner 1 (mid-upper turret).
Sgt C. M. Stothard – Air Gunner 2 (tail turret).

50th and 61st Squadron Association
RAF Bomber Command Bases mapped in the UK.
History of the 61st Squadron
Memorial to 61st Squadron
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