Full listing of all known men involved with the RAF at Omaha Beach
Personnel of No. 21 Base Defence Wing (later Base Defence Sector)
Those shown in bold text wrote memoirs of their experiences with the Sector. These memoirs can be found elsewhere in full.
Surname | Initials | Rank | Notes |
Adair | C (Chrissie) | Muir Adair’s wife who was a GCI operator. She died in November 2012. | |
Adair | Fulton Muir | F/Sgt (RCAF) | Member of GCI 15082. |
Adderley | W. E. (Bill) | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit. |
Ainsworth | F.H. | Flt/Lt | |
Ainsworth | F.W.E. | Sqn/Ldr | Posted to 21 BDW for Tech Signals duties. |
Anderson | A.M. | Wg/Cdr | OC GCI 15082 landing party. Senior Radar Controller. |
Attrill | John Godwin | Signalman | Service number 14431405. Killed in action. Aged 19. |
Avery | F/Off | Attached to 21 Sector (Equip). | |
Baldry | Joseph James | Signalman | Service number 14535914. Killed in action. |
Barber | E.F. | P/Off | |
Barr | S. | Flt/Lt | Attached to 21 BDW from 60 Group. |
Best | Norman | Sqn/Ldr | Attached from 60 Group as Radar Specialist. |
Bigmore | L. | P/Off | Filter Duties. |
Boughton | A.R. | Flt/Lt | Attached to 21 Sector (Accounts). |
Brown | (John Laurence) | Wg/Cdr | Later killed at Arnhem. |
Chapman | W.H. | F/Off | Movement Liaison. |
Chapman | Flt/Lt | Recce to Tocqueville to find site to set up Sector HQ. | |
Clowes | I.C.D. | Flt/Lt | Adjutant of 21 BDS. |
Collier | F/Off | GCI Controller. | |
Cooke | S.D. | F/Off | Intelligence Officer. |
Cottrill | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit | |
Cox | Mr | Recce to Tocqueville to find site to set up Sector HQ. | |
Crofts | Jack Henson | LAC | D-Day. Service Number 1678283. RAFVR. Unit BRSU. Killed in action. |
Crowley | A.P. | Sqn/Ldr | Signals Officer. |
Cubitt | John | LAC | Service Number 1775196. |
Davis | C.M. | P/Off | Filter Room Officer. |
Day | Francis Edward James | Cpl | D-Day. Service Number 632267. RAF. Unit 5158T M.S.U. Killed in action. |
Dobinson | Les | Veteran and author of “The D-Day Story that never made the headlines”. | |
Dyer | (Tubby) | Taken prisoner by Americans (who mistook RAF uniforms for Hun Field Grey), back to UK! | |
Eckersall | Reuben | F/Sgt | Service Number 978501. Gazetted for the award of Military Medal, London Gazette dated 14-11-1944, page 5210. |
Effinberger | Flt/Lt | Technical Officer with GCI 15082. | |
Elgood | H T. | Recalled by Muir Adair as being a Radar mechanic with GCI 15082. | |
Elias | F/Off | ||
Ellis | Peter Henry | Signalman | Service number 14649609. Killed in action. |
Emms | Sqn/Ldr | Attached from 309 MSSU to Sector HQ. | |
Evans | Flt/Lt | Arrived with advance party of the 2nd Echelon. | |
Ferguson | Fl/Lt | Adjutant of 21 BDS. | |
Firby | W. (Bill) | Cpl (RCAF) | Radar and Electrical Engineer, RCAF attached to the RAF with GCI 15082. |
Fisher | LAC | Appears to have been on a task list! | |
Fogg | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Forshaw | George | Landed on Omaha on D-Day. | |
Fountain | F/Lt | Recce to Tocqueville to find site to set up Sector HQ. | |
Fraser | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit | |
Fry | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit | |
Greenleaf | Arthur | WW2 People’s War article | |
Grotier | Leonard Christopher | Signalman | Service number 14513820. Killed in action. Aged 22 |
Guggenheim | O.A. | Wg/Cdr RAFR | Posted in to 21 BDW. Service Number 81524. |
Hague | R. (Reg) | In early 1944 was Technical Officer of GCI 15072. | |
Hamble | J.(Johnnie) | Sgt | Sgt Humble (Hamble?) reported as being blinded. |
Hankie | In early 1944 was Technical Officer of GCI 15081. | ||
Harding | Geoffrey Clarence | Sqn/Ldr (Rev) | Padre with 21 Base Defence Sector. |
Harrison | V. | Flt/Lt | Operations Officer. |
Hay | Ian Herbert Arthur | Wg/Cdr. (RAAF) | Posted to Sector (Operations) as replacement for casualties. Service Number AUS 250720. Awarded the DFC London Gazette, dated 26-10-1945, page 5235. |
Heathcote | Eric John | Cpl | Born 9/7/1920, Service Number 1264340. In first 21 BDS Echelon on D-Day. Died April 1990. |
Henderson | A.W. | F/Off | Posted to 21 Sector for Signal duties w.e.f. 13-6-1944. |
Henty | R.I. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Operations. Service Number 101672. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette dated 1-1-1943, page 42. |
Highfield | Douglas Charles | Flt/Lt | Former Flier who had been wounded and transferred to Radar as a result his injury. Killed in Action on Omaha Beach on D-day.Nickname ‘Hoppy’. |
Hitchcock | Edward Hamilton (Ned) | Flt/Lt (RNZAF) | Electrical Engineer. Born 6-11-1918. Attached as an Electrical Specialist from 60 Group. |
Horsley | J. (Jim) | Trained at RAF Chigwell which was stated to have been an RAF Radar School. | |
Ingham | A. | Lt.(RNVR) | Attached to 21 BDW for liaison duties. |
Ingham | B. | Wg/Cdr | Attached to 21 BDW for Wg/Cdr Flying duties. |
Jarrett | Flt/Lt | Attached to 21 BDW for Equipment duties. | |
Johnson | A.M. | F/Off | Posted in to 21 BDW (Accounts), w.e.f. 20-5-1944. |
Jones | P/Off | Posted in to 21 Sector for GCI Controller duties w.e.f. 12-9-1944. | |
Kelly | Chris | D-Day Veteran. | |
Lee | R.E. | P/Off | Posted to 21 BDW for Operations ‘B’ duties. |
Love | Radar and Electrical Engineer. | ||
Lovell | Sqn/Ldr | Posted to 21 BDS from Middle Wallop for Controller duties. | |
Madder | B.J. | Lt | Visit from 16 Air Formation Signals. |
Mallett | S. (Stan) | D-Day. He and a colleague captured two ‘Jerries’, who said they had had enough and threw away their rifles. | |
Mansfield | F/Off | Posted in to 21 Sector for GCI Controller duties w.e.f. 12-9-1944. | |
May | F.Off | Controlling GCI 15081. | |
McCarthy | Flt/Lt | Posted to Wing as Adjutant. | |
McGrath | Sqn/Ldr | Controlling GCI 15082 | |
McKenzie | P/Off | ||
McLeod | Alexander Gordon | Flt/Lt (RCAF) | OC and Unit Technical Officer of GCI 15073 Convoy. Embarked at Portsmouth, landed Omaha 9-6-1944. |
Melrose | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Michaelson | S. (Steve) | Sgt | Operations Sergeant (but studied medicine in France) |
Michelin | Cpl | Appears to have been on a task list! | |
Middleton | Eldred Francis | Cpl | D-Day. Service Number 1285110. RAFVR. Age 32. Unit 6205 B.D.F. Killed in action. |
Mills | Lt | Controlling GCI 15072. | |
Miskin | R.H. | Flt/Lt | Posted in to 21 BDS (A&SD) w.e.f. 21-5-1944. Service Number 84240. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette dated 1-1-1945, page 70). |
Moore | John | ||
Morgan | C. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Movement Liaison. |
Moseby | William George | Gp/Capt | Arrived Church Fenton to set up 21 Base Defence Wing, (later Sector) |
Muggleton | Lewis George | Normandy veteran. | |
Newsome | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Newson | Stanley William | LAC | Killed on D-Day. Service Number 1612976. RAFVR. Unit GCI 15082. Age 22. |
Nodes | (Jerry) | Flt/Lt | Controlling GCI 15082. |
O’Mahoney | C.J. | Sqn/Ldr.(Rev) | Posted to 21 Sector. |
Owen | Douglas Charles | ||
Palin | Arnold | Employed in Ground to Air Communications. Killed 11-5-1945 in Germany. | |
Pank | John Henry | D-Day Veteran. | |
Parr | Richard Croxton (Dickie) | LAC | Service Number 1527578. RAFVR. Unit GCI 15082. Killed on 6-6-1944 on Omaha. |
Patley | Sqn/Ldr | Posted to 21 Sector (Admin). | |
Peerless | G.R. | Flt/Lt | Posted in to 21 BDW (A&SD) w.e.f. 21-5-1944. |
Peckett | Stanley Walter | Signalman | Killed in action. Aged 32. Service number 1692499. |
Pender | F.R. | Flt/Lt | Posted in to Church Fenton – Operations. |
Pilling | (Bill) | Landed on Omaha Beach on D-day. | |
Pine | F/Off | Signals Officer. Could this be Pyne? | |
Preece | F.R. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Movement Liaison. |
Pyne | F.C. | F/Off | Posted to Church Fenton for Ops ‘B’ Duties. See Pine (above). |
Ratcliffe | Archie | AC | Service Number 1037824. Landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. |
Reeves | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Reid | J. (John/Jock) | LAC | Commended by his MO for work carried out as Orderly during Beach landing on D-Day. |
Rimins? | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit | |
Robertson | John (Jack) | LAC | Service number 1365501. Landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. |
Rogers | W.T. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Fighter Control. |
Rose | B | P/Off | Posted to 21 Sector for Filter duties w.e.f. 3-7-1944. |
Ross | Sqn/Ldr | Controlling GCI 15081. | |
Routledge | Alan Bertram | AC1 | Killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Service Number 1798971. RAFVR. Unit 5132C MSU. |
Rowberry | (Tubby) | Landed on Omaha on D-Day. | |
Rowe | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit | |
Rycroft | Richard Noel | Flt/Lt | Posted to 21 Sector (Medical Officer). |
Samter | George | Spoken of remove and consequent disappointment. | |
Sanderson | (Dad i.e. father) | Landed on Omaha on D-Day. From Manchester. | |
Sanderson | (Curly) | Landed on Omaha on D-Day. From Manchester. | |
Saunter | C.F. | Flt/Lt | Posted in to Church Fenton – Movement Liaison. |
Scott | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Sharman | Fl/Lt | Controlling COL 15074. | |
Shaw | A.T. | Lt/Cdr.(RNVR) | Attached to 21 BDW for liaison duties. |
Simpson | W.E. | Cpl | Operations Watch Corporal. Promoted to Sgt when Sgt Michaelson posted away from 21 BDS just before unit’s de-commissioning. |
Slade | A.K. | P/O | Posted to Church Fenton for Ops ‘B’ Duties. |
Smith | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit. | |
Smith | Fl/Lt | Controlling GCI 15081. | |
Sparks | I.A.W. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Operations. |
Spears | T (Tommy) | Sgt | Regular RAF SNCO in charge of General Duties. |
Spurgeon | Sqn/Ldr | Posted from 25 Sector to 21 Sector for Signals duties. | |
Stevens | J.G. ( John/Jack) | Cpl (RCAF) | Helped to salvage ‘drowned’ equipment with F/Sgt Adair and Bill Firby. |
Sullivan | A. (Dick) | Landed on Omaha on D-Day. From Brighton. | |
Symonds | G.T. | Sqn/Ldr | Posted in to Church Fenton – Signals. Possibly G J Symonds (Technical Branch). |
Tasker | Flt/Lt | Posted to Sector (Ops ‘G’) as replacement for casualties. | |
Tothill | Sqn/Ldr | On recce near Carentan. | |
Trollope | Frederick Joseph | Sqn/Ldr | Senior Controller of GCI 15082. |
Turner | P.M.R. | F/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Fighter Control. |
Twining | Fl/Lt | Attached to COL 15074. | |
Urry | E | Flt/Lt | Posted to Church Fenton for Ops ‘B’ Duties. |
Wakeford | Peter Frank Travers | Flt/Lt | Attached to 21 BDW for Ops ‘G’ duties. Service Number 40446. Awarded the OBE (London Gazette dated 1-1-1945, page 21. Wounded on D-Day (at St Valery?). |
Wakelin | Capt | Attachment to 21 Sector ceased. | |
Walford | R.T. | P/Off | Posted in to 21 BDW. (A&SD) w.e.f. 21-5-1944. |
Warren | H.J.M. (Harry) | Cpl | Landed with a radar unit on Omaha beach on 3/7/1944. Service Number 1610898. |
Webster | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit. | |
Widdup | Cpl | Photo – The Corporals, 15082 Unit. | |
Williamson | G.F. | P/Off | Posted in to Church Fenton – Tech (Signals). |
Wilson | Appears to have been on a task list! | ||
Wilson | G. | Lt.(RNVR) | Attached to 21 BDW for liaison duties. |
Wiseman | William Douglas (Bill) | Flt/Lt | Service Number 82719. Posted to Sector (Ops ‘G’) as replacement for casualties. |
Wrake | Lee | Sgt | D-Day story. |