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 | First name / 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 | Alexander Melvin | Wg/Cdr | Service number 75893. 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. |
| Birch | Charles Francis | Flt/Off | Intelligence Officer. |
| 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 | Cpl | 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! | ||
| Forrest | William George Grieve | Meteorologist. Landed on Omaha on D-Day. | |
| 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. | |
| Kibble | Tom | LAC | Service number 1627934. Landed on D-Day. |
| 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. |
| Rhodes | Thomas Arthur | LAC | Service number 1456234. Landed on Omaha Beach 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. |
I believe my Step Father was in this group, H.R. Williamson. THe film D-Day was playing on the T,V. when they mentioned Omaha Beach, my Dad looked around, then said, “didn’t much look like that when I went through there. His unit was a mobile R.A.F. Radar Unit, they were there because the U.S. did not have radar.
Just wonder if there is any way to find that history?
Everything we currently know about the RAF at Omaha Beach is on this website, Dave. If you want to research your stepfather’s military history, I suggest the first step is to locate his service number. If you have that, you can apply for his service record. The more information you can unearth, the more likely it is that museums like the Imperial War Museum can help. Local newspapers of the time may also have detail. David
I understand that my grandfather, Thomas Kay was there on D-Day. I interviewed him as part of a school project in the 1990s and he stated that he was a radar operator posted with the 29th Infantry on Omaha. think he said he laded late afternoon which seems to tie in with the reports. I believe my mother sent information to the IWM at this time following our research etc. but am struggling to find much information at present. Seems a similar experience to the above.
Thank you very much for your comment, Mike. What nationality was your grandfather? Do you still have a copy of your interview with him? If so, could you send us a scanned copy? (It’s one of the most authentic sources we can have, some 80 years on.) Does your family have photos of your grandfather – before, during and after the war? The badges on his uniform tell their own story. Have you ever tracked down his service number and record? Finally, do you have a copy of the metrial your mother sent to the IWM? We would love to have copies of any of this. Please send them direct to me at david.heathcote@mac.com