Melbourne

**Richard Drew** · 26-04-2011, 21:27

not sure.jpg Not sure what this is??

Memorial 2.jpgRunway light memorial on the main runway.

Memorial plate 2.jpgRunway light memorial plate

CT.jpg Control Tower Watch Office F.C.W.4514

**REF** · 02-05-2011, 00:28

Melbourne didn't have FIDO did it???

**pug** · 03-05-2011, 01:15

Melbourne didn't have FIDO did it???

Melbourne was FIDO equipped I believe. In one of the Yorkshire airfield books Im sure there is a pic of it in action at Melbourne.

**David Thompson** · 03-05-2011, 23:15

We have a FIDO thread here ; http://www.airfieldinformationexchan...highlight=FIDO
Mentioned in the thread is the book Flying Through Fire , Williams , Sutton Publishing in 1995 which has a chapter on all 15 UK FIDO equipped airfields including a plan and aerial photograph of the Melbourne installation . Also a lot of gen in Melbourne Ten .

**REF** · 18-01-2012, 00:54

Two photos from Nigel Bailey-Underwood that he took on 13 January 2012

**Richard Drew** · 03-09-2012, 13:44

The information I have been given is from the son, Mr Jackson.

He would like to know any details about his father. His mother re married some years later and Mr Jackson has very little to go on now.

"My father was in a Halifax MK –111 number NA114 ZA-K of tenthsquadron based at Melbourne in Yorkshire.
It took off for Hanover at 1649 hrs on the 5thJanuary 1945, It was hot down by a Night-fighter and crashed near Lemgo alarge town 10 kilometers north of Detmold.
On impact the bomber caught fire and there wasno survivors from the crew of eight, there were usually only seven but on thisoccasion they carried a mid under gunner for extra protection from fighters.
Bomber Command lost a total of 31 aircraft onthat raid.
My father was a Flight Sargent and about 20years not sure of his exact age when he died".

Can anybody help or at least point Mr Jackson in the right direction.

Thank you

Richard

**MikeO** · 03-09-2012, 15:16

For the father's RAF Career he needs, first of all, to get (as next of kin) his RAF Service record. This should track his entire service history as well as giving previous background. For his father's time in No 10 Squadron, he can download copies of the Operations Records Books, for the period in question, from the National Archives. The Service record will show the date of joining the squadron and so it should be easy to show how many operations, aircraft, targets and crew colleagues were involved. From The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website he can download a record of the burial place and a fine, commemorative record.

Here's a useful link - http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/document...-personnel.pdf. The RAF service records seem now to be held at the Cranwell address.

Let me know if I can help any further