Basil A Templeman-Rooke DSO DFC and bar AFC
Basil ( or TR as he was sometimes known ) served with 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds from April 1944. He had already flown a tour with 100 Squadron at Grimsby in 1943 with Stan Slater and they both teamed up again with 576. Basil was promoted Sqn Ldr and appointed A Flight Commander in June 44.
Basil pictured at Elsham Wolds
He trained at 81 OTU with notable 103 Squadron pilots and crews, those of Doug Finlay, Forent Van Rolleghem and Horace England
81 OTU Whitchurch Heath Early 43.
The above is a good photo featuring Basil Templeman-Rooke on the extreme right. The others are - L to R Doug Finlay former 103 Sqn and POW, Horace England former 103 Sqn and Flight Commander and Florent Van Rolleghem former Flight Commander and 3 tour pilot with 103 Sqn.
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Templeman Rooke 576 Squadron tour
Crew
B A Templeman-Rooke
Sgt F N Ashton
F/S F R Strand
F/S W E Sellis
Sgt B G Holmes
Sgt J Boyd
Sgt F A West
He flew with this crew for most of his operations sharing it on occasions with W/C Boyd Sellick.
When this crew completed their tour TR flew his last few trips with a composite crew.
19/05/1944 – Orleans - Railway yards – NE115 – F/O BA Templeman-Rooke
21/05/1944 – Duisburg – NE115 – F/O BA Templeman-Rooke
22/05/1944 – Dortmund – NE115 – F/O BA Templeman-Rooke
27/05/1944 – Aachen - Railway yards – ND994 – F/L BA Templeman-Rooke
05/06/1944 - St Martin-de-Varreville/Crisbeq - Coastal gun batteries – LM594 – F/L BA Templeman-Rooke
12/06/1944 – Gelsenkirchen – Oil – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
24/06/1944 – Flers - V weapon – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
04/07/1944 – Orleans - Railway yards – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
05/07/1944 – Dijon - Railway yards – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
07/07/1944 – Caen - Army support – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
17/07/1944 – Sanneville - V weapon - LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
20/07/1944 – Wizernes - V weapon – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
24/07/1944 - Stuttgart – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
25/07/1944 – Bois-des-Jardine - V weapon – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
05/08/1944 – Blaye – Oil – LM594 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
13/08/1944 – Falaise - Army support – ME854 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
25/08/1944 – Russelheim - Factory LM294 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
10/09/1944 - Le Havre - Army support – LM294 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
16/09/1944 – Leeuwarden – Airfield – LM294 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
14/10/1944 – Duisburg - Operation Hurricane – LM294 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
15/10/1944 – Wilhelmshafen – PD309 - S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
27/10/1944 - Cologne - PA173 - S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
06/11/1944 – Gelsenkirchen – Oil – PD363 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
21/11/1944 – Aschaffenburg - Railway yards – NN749 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
12/12/1944 – Essen – NN749 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
28/12/1944 – Bonn - Railway yards NN749 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
02/02/1945 – Wiesbaden – SW276 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
07/02/1945 – Kleve - Army support – SW276 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
13/02/1945 – Dresden - Operation Thunderclap – SW276 – S/L BA Templeman-Rooke
576 Sqn transferred Fiskerton in Autumn 44 and in Feb 45 TR was promoted Wing Commander and appointed OC 170 Squadron at Hemswell.
During WW2 he was awarded a DSO and DFC and bar.
Basil Templeman-Rooke pictured giving a briefing whilst OC 170 Squadron at Hemswell. Screen capture from the film Night Bombers.
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After the war Basil became OC 210 Squadron of Coastal Command flying Lancasters from St Eval Cornwall. In 1951 he was awarded an Air Force Cross. After tours of duty in Malta, he commanded No 205 Squadron, flying Shackletons from RAF Changi, Singapore.
205 Squadron Shackleton Singapore
He retired from the RAF in 1971 and joined the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) with the rank of Major.
More info and pics about Basil here on the RAF Fiskerton website.
Item compiled by David Fell. TR photo on motor cycle courtesy of the late Stan Slater. The other 2 from my archive
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