John Edward's Story.
John was the son of James and Doris Dickinson of Crewe and attended Crewe Secondary School from 1928 to 1933.Prior to the war he was a police officer with Birmingham City police
In 1944 John was flying as a Navigator in Halifax aircraft operated by 102 Squadron RAF operating from RAF Pocklington in Yorkshire.
102 Squadron Halifax
102 Squadron Halifax with H2S radar dome
On 13 May 1944 he was promoted from Warrant Officer to Pilot Officer
On 13 November 1944 he was promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer.
On 17 November 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Entry in 102 Squadron Operation Record
Noteworthy Missions flown by John with 102 Squadron
22 May 1944 Orleans
Target Railway facilities.The Railway Station and Train Maintenance Workshop were successfully hit. Part of the preparations for D Day
Operation Record for Orleans mission
27 May 1944 Mining mission off the French Coast
This mission was of note because the mines had been loaded incorrectly and when the bomb bay doors were opened 2.5 minutes from the target the mines fell out into the sea giving the crew a shock
Operation Record for 27 May 1944
4 June 1944. Mission to attack beach defences at Bolougne
As part of Operation Bodyguard deception operation in preparation for D Day they bombed the beach defences at Boulogne. This was done to convince the Germans that the invasion was going to occur in Northern France not Normandy.
Operation Record for Bolougne mission
14 June 1944 Evrecy
This mission was to attack the SS Panzer unit that had stopped at Evrecy and were preparing to attack the Allied forces that were assaulting Caen. Tragically although the SS left as soon as the bombing started 90% of the village was destroyed and 130 of the 400 civilian inhabitants were killed.
Operation Record for Evrecy mission
Destruction of Evrecy by Allied bombers
6/7 July 1944 Mimoyecques V3 Site
Mission to attack the V3 site ( Supergun) site. 617 squadron dropped 12 Tallboy bombs later on the same day causing the structure to collapse underground emtombing around 400 German and foreign slave workers.
Operation Record for the V3 site raid
Halifax flying over the V3 Site
Destruction of V3 site
12 July 1944 Les Hauts Buissons
Mission to attack the secret V1 launch facility hidden inside a forest
Operation Record for the Hauts Buissons mission
In 1945 he was assigned to 78 Squadron RAF based at Istres in Southern France. In September 1945 the squadron was ordered to relocate to the Middle East. John was killed when Douglas Dakota IV No KP235 that John was assigned to as navigator crashed on takeoff from Istres. The plane was carrying 4 crew members and 20 of 78 squadron’s ground crew for relocation.
The aircraft was taking off at night in poor visibility and a thick mist beyond the end of the runway, the presence of which Flying Control did not warn the pilot. It is thought that the pilot saw the bank of mist ahead and, thinking it to be high ground, pulled the nose of the aircraft up and stalled. With insufficient height to recover, the aircraft struck the ground and was destroyed. All 4 aircrew including John ( who was navigator) along with 13 passengers. 7 other passengers were injured.
John's grave