Flight Lieutenant – DFC

Decorated for ‘much valuable work in Middle East’

Born: Guyana, 1920

[Source: TDA]

110952 – Flight Lieutenant – KIA 22/6-1943 (at 23) – Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK

[Source: CG, CWGC]

Name: INCE, CLARENCE DESMOND
Initials: C D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 7 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 22/06/1943
Service No: 110952
Awards: D F C and Bar
Additional information: Son of Clarence Winston Ince and Isa Elaine Ince, of Barbados, British West Indies.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 192.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Henk – Stirling I – serial R9266 – hit by Flak, crew – except the pilot – baled out. Stirling crashed on land of Mr Höckels, Gladbacher Strasse (name of a street) near Büttgen, 5 km W of Neuss, Germany.

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

[photograph from Concise & Illustrated Military History of Barbados 1627-2007 by Major Michael Hartland]

128618 – Flying Officer – 83 Sqn – DFC – KIA at age 22 on 22 June 1944 (see details on website 207 sqn and the International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database)

Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Coll. grave 7. B. 8-13.

Son of Maj. Donald Norman Albert Fairweather, M.B.E., and Ethel Louise Fairweather, of Belize (former British Honduras).

[Source: CG, CWGC]

128618 – F/O Fairweather G.W. (DFC) Missing – G.D. Branch (Obs) – attested 16.941 – commissioned 1.9.42

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Flying Officer Gilbert Walter (Dick) Fairweather DFC Navigator Pathfinder and Flight Sergeant Roy Farr – Roy Farr also was killed in action.
[Photo courtesy Nadia Catouse]

[Source: Unknown pulication, courtesy Nadia Cattouse via Audrey Dewjee]

Flight Lieutenant – DFC – navigator – Halifax – 102 Sqn, Pocklington – retired from RAF in 1963

[Source: CG, AD]

605486 – J.J. Blair – Jamaica – attested 28.10.42 – P/O Navigator UK 15.2.44
55629 – F/O – commissioned 28.1.44

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876]

[Photograph: IWM]

Pilot Officer J J Blair (right) from Jamaica signs in to the Colonial Centre at 17 Russell Square for the night. He is receiving his ticket for a cubicle (costing half a crown) from the reception clerk Mr Alfred Stanismore, from British Honduras. According to the original caption, a bed in a dormitory would have cost him 2/-. The original MoI ‘background story’ caption for this sequence of photographs reads: Colonial Centre, a London residential club for men from all over the British Colonial Empire, is housed in an old Georgian mansion overlooking Russell Square. Here a man can get a bed for 2/- a night, a good three course meal, in a restaurant to which he can invite his friends, for 1/9. Opened by the Duchess of Gloucester on March 9th, 1943, the club has already become headquarters of much of the social life of the students, war workers and men in the forces who live, or spend their leaves in London.Further Information: The original MoI ‘background story’ caption for this sequence of photographs reads: Colonial Centre, a London residential club for men from all over the British Colonial Empire, is housed in an old Georgian mansion overlooking Russell Square. Here a man can get a bed for 2/- a night, a good three course meal, in a restaurant to which he can invite his friends, for 1/9. Opened by the Duchess of Gloucester on March 9th, 1943, the club has already become headquarters of much of the social life of the students, war workers and men in the forces who live, or spend their leaves in London.[Source: IWM]

Flight Lieutenant John J. Blair in 1960’s

Jamaican RAF volunteers in 1942 – John Blair is 2nd from right in the back row

John Blair and crewmate in Halifax III in 1945

John Blair in 1943

VE-dinner, London 1995, from left: John Blair, John Ebanks and an unidentified veteran. [Photographs courtesy Mark Johnson]

The Black RAF by Mark Johnson Mark Johnson talks about his great-uncle John Jellicoe Blair, one of almost 500 Black Caribbean air crew in the RAF during the Second World War. [Link courtesy Mehdi Schneyders]

1384445 – R.P. Rubie – Jamaica – attested 3.2.41 – Pilot – F/L – commissioned 30.11.43 – DFC

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Flight Lieutenant – DFC

[Source: CG]

Service no. after Commission  159564

[Courtesy AD]

My father, Alec Unsworth, was trained as a Bomb Aimer during 1942 and the information that I offer about Rob Rubie comes via Alec’s service record. As a boy I knew that Alec had flown with Rob but I  only learned any details after Alec died in 1997. The detail comes mostly from Alec’s Flying Log book – which includes all his flights with Rob, which began in early 1943. After September 1943 they went their separate ways – in February 1944 Alec went into Heavy Conversion Unit and subsequently flew with a new crew in Halifax IIs and IIIs.  I have no more detail about Rob’s wartime career.
Alec kept in touch with Rob and I remember meeting Rob and his wife in 1962 or 1963 when they made a visit to the UK, looking up Rob’s old haunts and former comrades.  I was 13 or 14 at the time.

I enclose a photo of Rob’s crew taken in Newquay, Cornwall, in March 1943 when they were based at nearby RAF St Eval and flying Whitleys on anti submarine patrols.  They are, left to right, Alec Unsworth (Bomb Aimer) Charlie Wood (Rear Gunner), Rob Rubie (Pilot), Sgt Packer and Sgt Morison. Alec never mentioned Packer and Morison to me but they must have been Wireless Operator and Co-Pilot. [Click op pictures to enlarge!]

I have also attached 5 scans from Alec’s Log Book, covering the flights that Rob Rubie made with my father as part of his crew.

1399189 – F/O – P.L.U. Cross – Trinidad – Ach/P. – attested 19.11.41 commissioned 20.10.423 – DFC 29.6.44

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Squadron Leader – DFC, DSO – Observer – 139 (Jamaica) Sqn – Mosquito Received the DSO in recognition of his ‘fine example of keennes and devotion to duty’ and ‘exceptional navigational ability’ Born 1917, educated CIC, enlisted 1941; Bomber Command; 8 Group; Pathfinder Sqn; 80 missions; awarded DFC June 1944; DSO Nov 1944 Appears in Hornet Flight by Ken Follet

[Source: CG, CMHA, MOD]

Black Hornet Squadron Leader Philip Louis Ulric Cross, DSO, DFC (Trinidad & Tobago) 139 (Jamaica) Squadron RAF Bomber Command Squadron Leader Ulric Cross was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1944 for his gallantry during the Second World War. While serving as a Pilot Officer with 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, he participated in bombing attacks across occupied Europe. In 1945 he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in recognition of his ‘fine example of keenness and devotion to duty’ and ‘exceptional navigational ability’. [MOD] Squadron Leader Ulric Cross was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1944 for his gallantry during the Second World War. While serving as a Pilot Officer with 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, he participated in bombing attacks across occupied Europe. In 1945 he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in recognition of his ‘fine example of keenness and devotion to duty’ and ‘exceptional navigational ability’.

[Source: www.WW2chat.com] World War II airman Ulric Cross recalls ‘The day I almost died’ 139 (Jamaica) Squadron Pathfinders

Picture right: A mixed group of RAF-officers.

A group of colored RAF-officers. Front row, from left: [1] unknown, from Jamaica or Belize; [2] Dusty Miller, from Guyana; [3] S/L Corbett (liason); [4] Ulric Cross, from Trinidad; [5] Johnny Smythe, from Sierra Leone; [6] Vivian Rivero, from Trinidad; (previously erroneously identified as: Mark Walker, from Trinidad);
Second row from left: [1] E.A. Gordon from Jamaica; [4] Percy Massiah, from Trinidad; [5] possibly his brother C.A. Massiah from Trinidad; [6] Vivian Thomas from Manchester, Jamaica; [7] Jellicoe Scoon from Grenada. Third row from left: [1] E.R Braithwaite from Guyana? The rest are as yet unknown to us. We invite our visitors to share the names of any person they recognise. [Names courtesy P.L.U. Cross a.o.; Photograph courtesy Audrey Elcombe, copyright unknown – click to enlarge] [Photographs: MOD (left) and AE]

Here is a photo of the legendary Squadron Leader (139 “Jamaica” Squadron)  Phillip Louis Ulric Cross, DFC, DSO, of Trinidad. He later held the position of Chief Liaison Officer for Demobilization of all Colonial Forces, ably assisted by Jamaican born Flight Lieutenant Dudley Thompson. Squadron Leader Cross is alive at 91 after having served as a Judge in Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania and Trinidad. Later he served as ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Germany, France, Norway and High Commissioner to the UK.  Amazingly, he still writes opinion and is as lucid and aware as can be imagined. I am in regular contact with him and we are trying to bring him to the US for interviews preliminary to a documentary. [Picture below copyright Ean Flanders]     Phillip Louis Ulric Cross, DFC, DSO World War II Royal Air Force Squadron Leader (139 “Jamaica Squadron”) Excerpt of April 2008 interview of by Gabriel J. Christian – For King & Country (Irving Andre & Gabriel Christian) After high school [at St. Mary’s Port of Spain], I worked for a while with the  [Trinidad] government on the railroad. But by 1941, Britain stood alone. Dunkirk had been a defeat for Britain and Hitler had conquered all of Europe. The world was drowning in fascism and America was not yet in the war, so I decided to do something about it and volunteered to fight in the RAF.  We took the ship Strathall for twelve days days, straight to Greenock. A lorry awaited us and took us straight into the uniform of the RAF and training. So from November 1941 to November 1942, I trained at Cranwell on the wireless, did meteorology, bomb aiming, navigation and Morse code. I graduated as a Pilot Officer and was assigned to Bomber Command I served as a navigator in the Pathfinder section of 139 squadron; the famous “Jamaica Squadron” of the RAF.  The pathfinders led the way on bombing raids and marked the target; a most dangerous task.  Our unit flew the famous Mosquito bomber, which was made mainly of wood. Jamaica had paid for many of the planes of 139 squadron, hence the name.  There was also a Trinidad Squadron, where Trinidad had paid for those planes. I was the only West Indian on my squadron. I was lucky to have served at fixed pre war bases such as Marham, Wyton and Upwood. The fixed bases were more comfortable. There were many other temporary bases which had been scattered across the United Kingdom.  I flew 30 missions over Germany and occupied Europe. After 30 missions one earns a rest and can divert to teaching other pilots etc. However, I was interested in continuing the mission. At 50 missions, they again asked me to take a rest. I declined and flew 80 missions over Germany and occupied Europe before the war ended.  I did 22 missions over Berlin and made it through much flak; but one had to focus on the mission. My most harrowing mission was when one of the engines of our Mosquito fighter-bomber was shot up over Germany and we came down to 7,000 feet from 35,000 feet. We struggled back to England and crash landed in a quarry. It was a narrow escape but we made it out alive. The navigator is key, as we are the ones who tell the pilot how to get to and from the destination or target.   I ended the war as a squadron leader and was then sent to the Colonial Office to act as liaison for all colonial forces. It was there that I was phoned and advised that I was awarded the DSO. A plane was sent for me and I was given the award and we had a party. In all 250 Trinidadians flew in combat in the RAF during the war and 50 died in action. Many hundreds more, maybe more than a thousand, served with other West Indians, as ground crew. I knew the Jamaican Vincent Bunting; he was a fighter pilot and I believe he flew in the Battle of Britain. I met him in England. Julian Marryshow of Grenada was also a fighter pilot and he is still alive, I believe.  Osborne (should read Osmond, see remark below) Kelsick of Montserrat was a fighter pilot. I met Michael Manley of Jamaica in London, still in the uniform of the Royal Canadian Air Force and we became friends.  Billy Strachan of Jamaica was a bomber pilot.  Winston Racile and Gilbert Hubah came to England with me on the Strathall; they were both of East Indian origin and became RAF fighter pilots. Our Trinidadian contingent also had people of Indian, Chinese and European origin.  I knew Dyrample of Dominica (Edward Scobie) and would meet him when we went down to London.  Dudley Thompson of Jamaica was a flight officer and he was my assistant at the Colonial Office after the war. [Courtesy Gabriel Christian] ‘Hero’ is a movie on the life and times of Ulric Cross. It opened the 2019 Caribbean Film Festival at the American Film Institute, Silver Spring, Maryland on the evening of June 6, 2019. The highly acclaimed new film was shot in Trinidad, the UK, Ghana, and Canada. Cross is portrayed by the lead actor Nikolai Salcedo of Trinidad. Funded by Republic Bank of Trinidad & Tobago, the film boasts an all-star international and Pan African cast including Jamaican born Peter Williams, the UK’s Joseph Marcel, Fraser James, and Pippa Nixon; Ghanaian superstars John Dumelo and Adjetey Anang. Read more on Dominicanewsonline

1383396 – Osmund Randolph Kelsick – Montserrat – attested 30.12.40 – Pilot
149954 – F/O – commissioned 12.10.43 – Seriously Injured 12.5.43 (?)

Later Flight Lieutenant (26/06/1945)

Citation for DFC, London Gazette, 20 October, 1944:

Flying Officer Osmund Randolph KELSICK (149954) R.A.F.V.R.. 175 Sqn.
Flying Officer Kelsick has displayed great determination and keenness in the execution of his
assignments and has shown the powers of an outstanding leader. He has participated in many
attacks on strongly defended targets, during which much damage has been inflicted on the enemy.

[Courtesy AD]

O.R. Kelsick – Leeward & Windward Islands – attested 30.12.40 – Pilot
F/O – commissioned 12.10.43 – S.Inj. 12.5.43 (?)

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Flight Lieutenant – Fighter pilot – DFC

[Source: CG]

175 Sq – Hurricanes

[Source: Peter Howe]