Trafford

Warrant Officer - Bomb Aimer.

Killed in flying accident, repatriating prisoners of war.

299 Sqn was detailed to Shepherds Grove airfield, situated halfway between
Cambridge and Norwich, w.e.f. 25th January 1945, flying Stirling Mk 5's.

No.299 Squadron was formed at Stoney Cross on 4 November 1943 from a
nucleus supplied by C Flight of No.297 Squadron. Initially it was equipped
with Venturas but in January 1944 replaced these with Stirlings. Training
with the airbourne forces took up most of the squadron's time but on 5
April No.299 flew its first supply-dropping missions to France with
supplies for resistance forces. On D-Day twenty-four Stirlings of the
squadron took paratroops to Normandy before dawn and followed these by
sixteen aircraft towing gliders into dropping zones, losing two aircraft in
the process. Supply drops continued until the next major airbourne
operation, the capture of the bridges at Grave, Nijmengen and Arhem.
Between 17 and 23 September, the squadron dispatched fifty-four glider tugs
(on the first three days) and seventy-two re-supply aircraft to Arnhem,
losing five aircraft to concentrated enemy flax in the process. The final
airbourne landing of the war at Wesel during the Rhine crossing met with
little resistance and twenty-nine sorties were flown without loss. In May
1945, airbourne troops were taken to Oslo to disarm the German occupation
forces and after a period of general transport duties the squadron
disbanded on 15 February 1946.