A
little real research - My
Dad's story - Bob
Routledge - Bill
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1944, France - 44
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My Mum's Photos
My Mother, Irene Eleanor Sheppard as she was in the war years, was a Radio Telephony Operator in the WAAF. She was stationed at RAF Binbrook with 460 Squadron RAAF, and later at RAF Blyton.
Mum in WAAF Uniform c.1945
She met my Father during her time in the WAAF and they married in 1947. Their wedding photo is on my Dad's page.
During her time with the WAAF she was mysteriously nicknamed "Inky" (if anyone knows why, please get in touch) and from that time I have an album of photo's some of which are reproduced here. Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger version of the picture.
The easy ones have notes on the back saying who, when and where. Many have nothing. Any information on the people and places in the pictures would be much appreciated. Drop me an email if you can help to identify anyone in the pictures.
Note that all of the pictures on the main pages of this site are thumbnails. To view these full size, click on the picture in the text and the full picture will be displayed on a new page.
What is the collective noun for WAAFs? Mum is 3rd row 7th on from
the left.
Any idea what the course was and where?
RAF Binbrook
Ops at Binbrook I assume.
Can you confirm?
The back of the above picture.
Binbrook Dec 1944.
Pilot Mike Eaton, Navigator Ken Fyvie, Engineer Bob Malin, Wireless Op
Mac'Donald, Bomb Aimer Norm Long, Gunners Tom Cavanagh and Junior Greenbank.
Binbrook Nov 1944
Pilot Officer Eaton
Binbrook Feb 1945
"Snifter" - "Chopping's Beaut Kite"
"Love from Geoff J Oakeshott"
"Ted and crew, April 1944, RAAF" Any ideas?
Unknown crew, unknown date.
Unknown crew, unknown date.
Unknown crew, unknown date.
Unknown crew, unknown date.
Looking up at the pilot of a Lanc. Unknown crew, unknown date.
19/10/44 "Love always Doug xxx" Any ideas?
Unknown Aussie pilot. Any ideas?
Unknown Air Gunner. Any ideas?
WAAF's. Can you name any of the faces?
Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square
"The Engineering Section at Harry's farewell party, at Ouston Ferry -
19/7/44"
I believe Ouston Ferry is in Lincoln, can anyone confirm?
RAF Blyton
Out and about at Blyton
More good times
"Best of times in England were at dear old Blyton"
More good times
VE Day
This looks like a WAAF sports team of some sort, the ball says
Swinderby 1945-46. Mum is back row third from the left. Any ideas what the team
is or even the sport.
A triumphant sports team with their trophies. No clue at all on
this one. Football maybe? Was this a Blyton team?
My Mum's 21st Birthday card signed by her colleagues at RAF Blyton
The back of the card
Miscellaneous Pictures
"Love Bill" and "Sgt Watson (RCAF) 1942"
17/2/44 "To Rene, love Don"
I originally thought this was a 460 pilot but now know this is Don Irving of 101
Squadron based at Ludford Magna.
Don Irving and five of his crew, John Newman, George King, John
Noske, Norm Huggett and Frank Phillips (missing is Wally Adam).
The crew were reported killed when Lancaster I Serial LL861 Code SR-H from 101
Squadron took off from RAF Ludford Magna on the 30th March 1944 at 21.50 on ops
to Nuremburg and crashed at Lauterbach due to enemy action. (thanks to WWII ex RAF
for this information).
Mum's brother Dick Sheppard, who won an MC in Italy
Taken in Rome 1945, when he was a Lieutenant in the Tank Corps
A clipping from the local paper on Dick's MC headed "Modest
Hero"
"My pal Jack and I" Italy 1945
Mum in WAAF Uniform c.1945
Mum's release papers
460 Squadron RAAF Links
460 Squadron RAAF -
Laurie Woods' site, who was a member of 460 during WWII. His introduction says
it all. This web site is dedicated to the aircrew of Bomber Command, and to
all those mates who did not return, who served in the forefront of the war
against the enemy for six long years, in which the squadrons were never
withdrawn from operations.
460 Squadron RAAF -
Peter Dunn's site dedicated specifically to 460 Squadron.
Australia @ War -
Peter Dunn's comprehensive guide into how Australia was effected by WWII.
The Commonwealth War
Graves Commission - The place to look for information on the men that fell
during the two world wars with an excellent search facility.
Australian War Memorial - Remembering
Australians who lost their lives fighting in the two world wars including many
in the RAAF.
The WWII Nominal Roll - The archive of
the Australians who served with Commonwealth forces during WWII.
Please support the campaign for a permanent national memorial to the men of Bomber Command in any way that you can. Details can be found here.