Lt. Andre Wilson -Lancaster pilot

[davem2]

All

Got a note from a friend in Poland-hopefully someone will have further info on Wilson.....

TIA
Dave


Some time ago I found remainds of Avro Lancaster I PB723 (9J-W) of 227 Sqn which was shot down near Gdynia in Poland (Kielno village) - 18 December 1944.

The only person who survived was a pilot Lt. Andre Wilson RNZAF. I know article about him (magazine in NZ, data 1965). He was PoW and after the war he returned to New Zealand and I am interested in what he is doing now if he is still alive.

I hope you can help to find any information (his photo) about him.

[Dave Homewood]

Hi Dave, perhaps the Prisoner of War Association can assist in tracking him down. I know that the association is no longer officially going though there is still an unofficial presence. However when they 'disbanded' a couple of yearts ago they gave all their records to the Army Museum at Waiouru, so they may have something among them.

I would assume he is meant to be Flight Liuetenant, not just Lieutenant, or was he maybe Fleet Air Arm?

[Dave Homewood]

By the way, if Waiouru is no help, the POW Association's last secretary was Ron Noice of Cambridge. You could try phoning him on 07 827 4600. If he cannot help, he'll probbaly know someone who can. Ron was himself shot down in a Lancaster, with all the crew surviving only to have one of the crew murdered by the Germans in front of his eyes after touchdown in their chutes, which is sad.

[davem2]

Dave

Ok, thanks I will try those avenues. I would also assume Fl. Lt.

[angelsonefive]

Took a quick look at the WW2 history of 227...
Formed Luqa, Malta 20/8/42 operating Beaufighters......
Flew from bases in Malta, Cyprus and Italy before being renamed 19 Sqn South African AF in August '44....
Reformed as a Lancaster squadron of No. 5 Group, Bomber Command in Lincolnshire in Oct. 1944...
Operated from RAF Station Balderton, aka RAF Snaith...
April '45 helped transport POW's back to the UK...
Disbanded Dec. 1945.
Agree that Mr Wilson's rank was probably Flt-Lt. Suspect also that the name was Andrew and not Andre.
Hope this helps..

[Andy Wright]

Hi Dave

I had a bit of a hunt around in my records but came up with nothing so did a google of the serial number of the Lanc. Turned this up from RAFCommands and a post by Errol Martyn:

www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=10506&forum=DCForumID6#1

Theo,
And regarding PB723.

Sole survivor, NZ424540 Fg Off A J R Wilson, RNZAF, was on his 16th sortie. The aircraft was heading out from the target area when it was hit by flak, a wing fuel tank exploding. (original source not yet identified.)

Errol

Doesn't help with your friend's request but Errol might be able to provide more detail.

Was recently looking into a chap who was referred to as an "RAAF Lt" in an American book. Took the RAAF bit with a grain of salt but the "Lt" and the surname ended up SAAF. Now I make sure if I see "Lt" I don't forget to think of the South Africans!