David Morgan Jones RAFVR and crew - 103 Squadron – 1941/42
David Jones ( pictured above ), known as Taffy, came from Ebbw Vale, Wales. He was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds in July 1941.
He flew 6 operations as co-pilot with P/O Wardhaugh as follows :-
24-July-41 – P/O Wardhaugh - R1452 – Emden
20-July-41 – P/O Wardhaugh – X9609 – Cologne
01-Aug-1941 – P/O Wardhaugh - ? - Hamburg
05-Aug-1941 – P/O Wardhaugh - ? - Frankfurt
07-Aug-1941 – P/O Wardhaugh - ? - Essen
14-Aug-1941 – P/O Wardhaugh – R1432 - Hanover
He was then made full captain and took over his own crew. See below:-
Crew
This crew flew with a number of different personnel listed below
P/O Jones,
Sgt Dainton replaced by P/O D P S Smith, Sgt Onions, Sgt Quested
P/O MacKenzie, Sgt Mills, Sgt Emery, P/O Eldridge
Sgt Edwards, P/O Churchward
Sgt Yates
Sgt Leake
They flew the following operations:-
28-Aug-41 – Ostend - Docks and shipping – Wellington – L7819 – P/O DM Jones - Unable to locate primary. Bombed docks at Rotterdam. This aircraft operated from Binbrook and returned safely
31-Aug-41 – Essen - Industrial area – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones – Did not take off
03-Sep-41 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – L7819 – P/O DM Jones - Aborted - General recall because of worsening weather
07-Sep-41 – Kiel - U boat yards – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones
12-Sep-41 - Frankfurt - Post office – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones - Engine trouble. Bombed primary. Landed at Honington.
16-Sep-41 – Karlsruhe – Communications – Wellington – X9609 – P/O DM Jones
30-Sep-41 - Hamburg - Railway station – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones - Abandoned primary owing to icing. Bombed railway bridge over River Zoutkamp
12-Oct-41 – Bremen - Point of Aim – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones - Bombed Cuxhaven.
13-Oct-41 – Dusseldorf - Point of Aim – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones - Bombed Krefeld
17-Oct-41 – Duisburg - Point of Aim – Wellington – R1217 – P/O DM Jones - Hit by flak. On return P engine caught fire. Followed a technical inspection aircraft was declared Damaged Beyond Repair.
31-Oct-41 – Dunkirk - Docks and shipping – Wellington – T2921 – P/O DM Jones
07-Nov-41 – Mannheim - Railway station – Wellington – T2921 – P/O DM Jones
09-Nov-41 – Hamburg - Point of Aim – Wellington – T2921 – P/O DM Jones - Combat. Attacked by night fighter. Unable to locate primary. Landed at Linton on Ouse after starboard propeller had fallen off south of Darlington.
28-Dec-41 – Wilhelmshaven - Point of aim – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O DM Jones
06-Jan-42 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O DM Jones - Hit by flak. Landed at Balderton owing shortage of fuel.
09-Jan-42 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O DM Jones - Unable to locate primary. Returned to base with bombs
10-Jan-42 – Wilhelmshaven - Point of aim – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O DM Jones - Landed at Coltishall with TR9 and intercom unserviceable
25-Jan-42 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – R1393 – P/O DM Jones - Starboard engine partially failed causing considerable difficulty in control.
28-Jan-42 – Munster - Point of aim – Wellington – R1393 – P/O DM Jones - Bombed Emmerich area
06-Feb-42 – Brest - German capital ships – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O DM Jones - Intercom trouble. Landed Exeter.
….......
David Jones middle with Arthur Roberts on his right
David Jones was posted to 18 OTU on the10th February 1942
Tragically this experienced and popular pilot was killed soon after in an accident
14th March 1942 – Wellington T2961 – RAF Bramcote – Training – 4 Killed and 1 Injured
Took off on night exercise but within moments of becoming airborne the aircraft crashed into a small building and some trees 200 yards beyond the airfield. It is believed the pilot retracted the flaps too soon or held the nose down for too long as he built up speed. The 3 Polish airmen killed rest at Nuneaton Oaston Road Cemetery
David Morgan Jones RAFVR – Pilot – 22 – 18 OTU - Son of Gwyn Oswald Lewis Jones and Lilian Mary Jones, of Beaufort – Beaufort (Carmel) Independent Chapelyard, Wales. Commemorated on the screen wall at Cardiff Western Cemetery, Wales
Compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive.
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