Bernal Pape DFC RAF – 103 Squadron / 166 Squadron – 1943 - 86714
F/L (Acting S/L) Bernal Pape ( pictured above ) was posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington on the 3 July 1943 from 18 OTU to take up duties as OC A Flight
He then flew 4 operations with 166 Squadron all on Wellingtons
13 7 43 - Aachen - HF570
25 7 43 - Essen - HF570
27 7 43 - Hamburg - HF593
29 7 43 - Hamburg – HF570
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On the 23 August 43 Pape posted from 166 Sqn to 103 Squadron at nearby RAF Elsham Wolds as a Flight Commander. Presumably this temporary posting was for Pape to get some Lancaster experience before 166 Squadron converted to the type from Wellingtons. With 103 Squadron he flew one operation :-
05-Sep-43 – Mannheim - Point of Aim – Lancaster – JA704 – S/L B Pape.
The 103 Squadron ORB states that on the 21 September 1943 Pape was posted to 166 Squadron
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On the same date the 166 Squadron ORB states that Pape was posted from 103 Squadron ( A Flight Commander )
On his return to 166 Squadron Pape flew the following 8 operations, all on Lancasters:-
27 9 43 - Hanover - ED905
8 10 43 - Hanover - ED905
18 10 43 - Hanover - ED905
3 11 43 - Dusseldorf - W4376
22 11 43 - Berlin - W4376
23 11 43 - Berlin - W4376
26 11 43 - Berlin - W4994
16 12 43 - Berlin – W4376
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Pape was awarded a DFC gazetted 7 December 1943 which was noted in the 166 Squadron Operation Record Book. His final operation with 166 Squadron was on the 16 December 1943. Where and when he left the Squadron and where to is not noted.
Post war he is mentioned in the London Gazette in 1951 but other than the above I have no info other the 166 Squadron / 103 Squadron details. If anyone can add anything to this topic I shall be most interested to hear from them.
Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archiv
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