The villagers were happy at his return and extended him a hearty welcome. His actual welcome to Oakley was delayed for a day or two as he had just before departure overseas married and left his wife in Thame. was the first to arrive after five years of captivity. The Prisoners of War Welcome Home Committee presented each man with a gift of £6 15s (£6.75) and the whole village was full of joy at their return. They all returned fairly well and full of praise for the Red Cross, who has looked after them so well with parcels of food, etc., during the long years of their captivity. June 1945 - Prisoners Return: - The village has had the privilege to welcome back six prisoners who either left here to join the Forces or have married and made a home here since joining up. May 12th 1945, during Operation Exodus Lancaster PB726 of 467 Squadron overshot Oakley’s runway. Flight Sergeant John Redpath, RNZAF, age 23, buried Oxford (Botley) CemeteryĪfter the end of hostilities in Europe, orders were received to clear the ‘B1’ hanger and fit it for the provision of refreshment and succour to tens of thousands of repatriated POWs brought to Oakley as part of ‘Operation Exodus’.Flying Officer John Nicholls, RNZAF, age 25, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flying Officer Jeffrey Millar, RNZAF, age 25, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flight Sergeant George Matthews, RNZAF, age 23, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flight Sergeant Arthur Hope, RAFVR, age 23, buried: Liverpool (Toxteth Park) Cemetery.Flight Sergeant Eric Hitchins, RNZAF, age 21, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flying Officer William Ford, RAFVR, age 24, buried Glasgow (Riddrie Park) Cemetery, Scotland.Flight Sergeant Samuel Ferneyhough, RNZAF, age 30, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Warrant Officer William Erskine, RAFVR, age 23, buried: Cambusland (Westburn), Cemetery South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Flying Officer Douglas Dickson, RNZAF, age 23, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flying Officer Colin Baker, RNZAF, age 22, buried Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Flight Sergeant Colin William Burt, RNZAF, age 24, (buried at Oxford (Botley) Cemetery.Nine men were from Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and three from Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve (RAFVR). Monday 16th April 1945 – Taking of at 00.30 hrs from Oakley for training Wellington X (LP 651) collided with another Wellington (LP 609) in the area, which was landing at 00.38 hrs, twelve airmen died in the incident, representing the OTU's heaviest loss of life in a single accident]. It successfully landed, but a soldier in the lorry was killed and four men were injured. A more distressing accident happened at Oakley in the early evening of June 9th 1944, Wellington LP252 was making a low approach to runway 025 when it touched a hedge and then a passing army lorry. At 02:30 on June 7th 1944, a Halifax was on its approach from the south when the crew baled out, then the bomber crashed near Benson. Being a fully-fledged bomber station by size and layout, diversions were accepted during night bomber operations, as on April 5th 1944 when eight Lancasters of 106 Squadron landed from Toulouse. During the final year of which most personnel were trained for overseas squadrons. Conversion training for bomber crews was Oakley’s primary role which continued to the end of the war. In autumn 1943, Hercules-engined Wellingtons came increasingly into use, later in the war, Martinets and Hurricanes (March 1944) reached Oakley. The OTU’s air gunnery training section was based at Oakley. The 11th OTU (Operational Training Unit) moved to Westcott in September 1942 Oakley became home to many Wellingtons 1C’s. Oakley Events Since 1942 (a history of events in Oakley dating back from 1942 to present day)ġ942 saw RAF Oakley becoming operational on 27th May 1942, initially as a satellite airfield for Bicester and then in August 1942 as Westcott’s satellite.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |