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At the outbreak of the Second World War young men volunteered from around the globe to help fight the Nazi menace.
578 Squadron received its fair share of airmen from overseas fighting alongside the aircrew from the United Kingdom.
Many came from Canada and Australia but 578 also had aircrew from New Zealand the United States and even Poland amongst its ranks.
It is also sad that for many their ticket to Britain was only one way and they were destined never to return to their homelands. In addition to the 186 United Kingdom airmen lost, 578 squadron lost 9 Australians, 21 Canadians, 2 New Zealanders and 1 airman from Poland.
The first Commanding Officer of 578 Squadron Wing Commander D S S Wilkerson stated:
“Anybody who is prepared to leave the comfort and safety of his home and travel half way round the world to support us at the time of desperate need, is indeed the Salt of the Earth.”
Over the coming months we hope to list those who were prepared to leave their homeland and fight with 578 Squadron.
65 Australians flew with 578 Squadron. Killed in action : 9 Crashed but survived as Prisoners of War : 6
BEETSON Kevin G : P/O : Pilot : 34 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 158 Sqdn.
BODEY L R : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 7 ops : 13/8/44 crashed at Chapelle-a-Oie, survived as PoW
BURNETT W J : F/Sgt : Air Gunner : 18 ops : 9/10/44 wounded
CARMICHAEL J B F/Sgt : Air Gunner : 1 op : 5/2/44 posted to 51 Sqdn.
COCKERILL Albert J DSO : F/Sgt : Pilot : 12 ops : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn.
COOKE A L : F/Sgt : 10 ops : Wireless Operator : 15/3/45 posted to 51 Sqdn.
COLE J H F/Sgt : Pilot : 1 op : 28/1/44 flew as second pilot
CORRICAN L : F/Sgt : Pilot : 5 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 466 Sqdn.
CORUM T S : Pilot : 5 ops : 11/9/44 crashed at Gelsenkirchen, survived as PoW
DAMM A J : F/Sgt : Air Gunner : 15/3 45 posted to 466 Sqdn.
DAY H R : F/Sgt : Navigator : 11 ops : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn.
DENLEY I : P/O : Pilot : 8 ops : 21/2/45 crashed at Lake Lister, survived as PoW
FERRY Victor J DFC : P/O : Pilot : 41 ops : 6/10/44 posted to 1658 CU
FLEMING M J : P/O : Air Gunner : 36 ops : 24/11/44 posted to 1669 CU
FORD D J : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 8 ops : 21/2/45 crashed at Lake Lister, survived as PoW
FRANCIS A L : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 20 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 78 Sqdn.
GREEN L : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 4 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 466 Sqdn
GREY P J DFC F/O : Air Gunner : 39 ops : 30/8/44 posted to 20 OTU
GRIFFITH John Bryant de Burgh :F/Sgt : Air Gunner :9 ops :13/6/44 killed Mailly Raineval : Age 20
HALLIDAY G A : P/O : Air Bomber : 10 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 466 Sqdn.
HANNA W H DFC : P/O : Navigator : 40 ops : 17/10/44 posted to 1663CU
HORGAN John Byrne W/O : Pilot : 1 op : 15/2/44 killed Tribholm, 10km south of Reinburg : Age 27
HUTCHINSON Ross DFC : P/O : Pilot : 35 ops : 10/1/45 posted to 96 Sqdn
HUTCHINSON R K : P/O : Air Gunner : 37 ops : 31/10/44 : posted to ACAC
JOHNSTON C J : F/O (AF/L) Air Gunner : 4 ops
JOHNSON D J DFC P/O : Air Gunner : 38 ops : posted to 1658 CU
KEIGHTLY K R DFC : P/O : Air Bomber : 40 ops : 31/10/44 posted to ACAC
LEIPER W J Sgt : Air Gunner : 15/2/44 killed Tribholm, 10km south of Reinburg
LEWINS Allen : P/O : Wireless Operator : 33 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 158 Sqdn.
LOVE William John F/O : Pilot : 5 ops : 24/2/44 killed at Unter-Altertheim : Age 20
MALONEY Robert Leonard : P/O : Pilot : 30 ops : 17/1/45 killed near Shoppenstedt : Age 22
MARSHALL A C : P/O : Air Bomber : 42 ops : 24/11/44 posted to ACAC
MacPHILLAMY Owen Scott : F/O : Pilot : 10 ops : 13/8/44 killed at Chapelle-a-Oie : Age 21
MARSHALL R S : F/Sgt :13 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 77 Sqdn.
MARTIN J A ; P/O : Pilot : 9 ops ; 11/11/44 posted to 51 Sqdn.
MATTHEWS John D DFC : P/O : Pilot : 15/3/45 posted to 2 FDC for overseas draft to India
MELLAR R L : P/O : Wireless Operator : 32 ops : 10/1/45 posted to 96 Sqdn.
McDONALD Donald A DFC P/O : Pilot : 37 ops : posted 20 21 OUT
McGREGOR K : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 7/10/44 posted to 51 Sqdn.
McQUEEN Norman :W/O : 22 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 51 Sqdn.
MEDWAY B J F/Sgt : Air Gunner : 22/8/44 : posted to 462 Sqdn
MITCHELL David Sneddon : F/Sgt : Air Gunner : : 9 ops : 13/6/44 killed Mailly Raineval : Age20
MOON Donald A : P/O : Wireless Operator : 34 ops : 27/2/45 posted ACAC.
MOORE C T : F/Sgt: Wireless Operator :29 ops : 7/1/45 crashed near Shoppenstedt, survived as PoW
NICHOLLS R E Sgt : Air Gunner : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn.
NOONAN P DFC : P/O ; Navigator : 35 ops : 10/1/45 posted to 96 Sqdn.
O'CONNOR P J DFC F/O : Air Gunner : 36 ops : 24/11/44 posted to 1669 CU
PARKER G T : W/O : 26 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 51 Sqdn.
POLLOCK G H : P/O : Air Gunner : 34 ops : 17/1/45 posted to ACAC.
PRIEST E C DFC P/O : Air Gunner : 3 ops : 23/3/44 posted to 43 Base
REVELL E A F/Sgt : Air Bomber : 20 ops : 22/8/44/ posted to 462 Sqdn.
ROBERTSON G W : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 20 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 51 Sqdn.
ROBIN Phillip Rollo Aloysius : F/Sgt : Navigator : 9 ops : 13/6/44 killed Mailly Raineval : Age 20
THOMAS R J F/O : Pilot : 1 op : Flew 25/2/44 as second pilot
TRIGGS T W W/O : Pilot : 17 ops : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn.
SAXBY E A : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 11 ops : 22/8/44 : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn
SHEPLEY John Robert : F/O : Navigator : 12 ops : 21/2/45 killed at Hardenburg : Age 20
SLOANE S T : F/Sgt : Navigator : 2 ops : 11/9/44 crashed at Gelsenkirchen
STARKOFF Victor DFC P/O (act.F/O) : Pilot : 35 ops 18/7/44 killed near Maidenhead : Age 33
THOMPSON I : F/Sgt : Air Gunner : 1 op :
TRUEMAN K R DFC : Wireless Operator : 38 ops : 31/10/44 posted to ACAC
WATSON D J :F/O : Pilot : 3 ops : 15/3/45 posted to 466 Sqdn.
WOODGATE G J : F/Sgt : Wireless Operator : 11/9/44 crashed at Gelsenkirchen
WORRALL K A F/Sgt : Navigator : 16 ops : 22/8/44 posted to 462 Sqdn.
WILLIAMS W M :F/Sgt : Air Bomber : 6 ops : 2/1/45 posted to 10 Sqdn
3 Airmen from New Zealand flew with 578 Squadron 2 were killed on operations.
Connop Donald: F/O : Pilot : 14/1/45 Crashed at Dulmen Germany : Aged 30
Mathias Vincent : Pilot : 30/11/44 : Collided with a 429 Squadron Hlaifax at Altweeter Heide in the Netherlands in poor visibility : Age 28
Given Maurice : F/O : Bomb Aimer
source: ‘Maureen Leach ' (Australian Aircrew), 'Hugh Cawdron'