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MJ Wells
Jul 15, 2017 2:21:45 GMT 12
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Post by makarora on Jul 15, 2017 2:21:45 GMT 12
Hi I'm working on finding information on my daughter's great grandpa. Maurice Jamison Wells reg no.411961. He was based in wickenby with the 12th as a f/sgt and piloted lancaster ph"v"4990. Then we think he towed gliders before and after D-Day but I'm sure of were. He did come over with the group for the unveiling of the bomber command memorial and was mentioned in a book i think? But as with many he dident share much with his family and talking to Nova's grandfather knows very little. Any help would be very much appreciated. I can be reached at skotgillam@gmail.com.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 15, 2017 3:33:59 GMT 12
From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds – Honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923 – 1999: WELLS, Flying Officer Maurice Jamison, DFM. NZ411961; Born Christchurch, 8 Jan 1919; RNZAF 23 Mar 1941 to 21 Jun 1946; Pilot. Citation Distinguished Flying Medal (9 Sep 1943): [12 Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] As captain of aircraft, Flight Sergeant Wells has completed many sorties on targets which have included Berlin, Stettin and Spezia, in addition to four attacks on Essen. He has always displayed great coolness and presence of mind and can be relied on, oblivious of the strength of the defences, to find and bomb his objective accurately. Flight Sergeant Wells and his crew have secured photographs of the aiming point which have testified to their skill and determination. Fg Off Wells flew at least 26 sorties with 12 Sqn and then instructed on 18 OTU RAF (Wellington) for 17 months. If you have not already done so you can request a free copy of his RNZAF service record from Personnel Archives, New Zealand Defence Force. Details here: www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/Errol
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MJ Wells
Jul 15, 2017 8:47:12 GMT 12
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Post by makarora on Jul 15, 2017 8:47:12 GMT 12
Thanks heaps Errol. Yes I've asked today for his records. And thanks for the information regarding him instructing. That's a lead we'll chase up. At the moment we're in the uk. In fact we where at wickenby yesterday. And then down to coningsby for the afternoon- great to get some photos of my girl with their Lancaster as the base crew let us right in for a couple of mins! One smiley happy girl. Thanks again Scott.
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Post by pjw4118 on Jul 16, 2017 13:13:24 GMT 12
Hi Scott, I spent some time with Mauri Wells a couple of years ago and have interview notes and copies of his logbook plus the odd photo. Would some of this be of help?
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MJ Wells
Jul 17, 2017 20:46:14 GMT 12
via mobile
Post by makarora on Jul 17, 2017 20:46:14 GMT 12
Hi, those would be amazing! What's the best way to get them from you? -We're in the southern lakes area. My email is skotgillam@gmail.
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Post by pjw4118 on Jul 18, 2017 15:25:42 GMT 12
I will be in touch
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Post by msimpson on Jun 24, 2019 23:17:03 GMT 12
Hello there, I found this thread while searching for information about Maurice Jamieson Wells. I am currently making up a nominal index of 12 Squadron personnel and their sorties, using documents from the AIR27 series at The National Archives in London.As I am sure you are aware the O.R.B.for 12 squadron for April 1943 appears either to have been misplaced or indeed lost, and the O.R.B. for R.A.F. Wickenby only starts in May 1943, so I am attempting to reconstruct it from various sources.So far, with help from several people, I have found between a third and a half of the crews dispatched.M.J.Wells was with 12 Squadron from the end of March 1943 to the end of June.The existing O.R.B. records 19 sorties for him, one abortive and one a second pilot sortie .The recommendation for his D.F.M. as it appears in Tavender's Register lists 26 sorties.So I suspect that he may have completed around seven more sorties in April 1943, including two to Essen and one each to Stettin and Spezia, amongst others.Would anyone be able to confirm my suspicions and indeed provide any more details about his operational flying in April 1943, please? Scans of a log book would be ideal, but anything at all would be very helpful.I am currently some way through a project to construct nominal indices for all 1 Group Bomber Command squadrons and am happy to help with any inquiries regarding personnel in 100,103,458 (RAAF),550,625,150 (11/44 onwards) and 12 Squadrons. Many thanks , Mark Simpson.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jun 25, 2019 11:44:28 GMT 12
Hello there, I found this thread while searching for information about Maurice Jamieson Wells. I am currently making up a nominal index of 12 Squadron personnel and their sorties, using documents from the AIR27 series at The National Archives in London.As I am sure you are aware the O.R.B.for 12 squadron for April 1943 appears either to have been misplaced or indeed lost, and the O.R.B. for R.A.F. Wickenby only starts in May 1943, so I am attempting to reconstruct it from various sources.So far, with help from several people, I have found between a third and a half of the crews dispatched.M.J.Wells was with 12 Squadron from the end of March 1943 to the end of June.The existing O.R.B. records 19 sorties for him, one abortive and one a second pilot sortie .The recommendation for his D.F.M. as it appears in Tavender's Register lists 26 sorties.So I suspect that he may have completed around seven more sorties in April 1943, including two to Essen and one each to Stettin and Spezia, amongst others.Would anyone be able to confirm my suspicions and indeed provide any more details about his operational flying in April 1943, please? Scans of a log book would be ideal, but anything at all would be very helpful.I am currently some way through a project to construct nominal indices for all 1 Group Bomber Command squadrons and am happy to help with any inquiries regarding personnel in 100,103,458 (RAAF),550,625,150 (11/44 onwards) and 12 Squadrons. Many thanks , Mark Simpson.
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Post by pjw4118 on Jul 13, 2019 15:17:00 GMT 12
Here you go
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Post by msimpson on Jul 13, 2019 22:46:43 GMT 12
Hello there, Thank you very much for that, just what I was hoping for. To answer the queries at the bottom of the hand written page ,aircraft 'Z' was Lancaster W4794, lost 29-30/5/43 on Wuppertal-it would appear to have been coded 'V' and 'Z' before being lost with 'C' Flight coded 'GZ-D'.'T' was probably W4370, initially coded 'N' January to March 1943, then coded 'T' at the end of March , and then 'C' or 'C2' from May 1943 to the end of it's operational service with 12 Sqn when it was lost 5-6/9/43 on Mannheim. Thank you again, Regards,Mark Simpson.
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Post by pjw4118 on Jul 14, 2019 10:11:26 GMT 12
By the way , both the list and map were done by Mauri Wells , not me .
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Post by msimpson on Jul 14, 2019 13:22:51 GMT 12
I thought they may be but hoped the information might be of interest anyway. Thanks again, Regards, Mark Simpson.
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