Conversion
Training - 1656 CU - 3rd April 1943
RAF
Lindholme - Yorkshire
Lindholme
was built on the Hatfield moors about 5 miles east of Doncaster,
about 1 mile south of the small village of Hatfield Woodhouse.
Work began on this expansion aerodrome in the Spring 1938 taking
in approximately 400 acres of pasture for both airfield, camp
and support facilities. Several squadrons took up residence at
Lindholme including 50, 408 (a new Canadian squadron) and 304
& 305 (2 Polish Wellington Squadrons).
In
1942 Lindholme's runways were upgraded to concrete and in October
of that year No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit moved in with a few
Lancasters and Manchesters to serve 1 Group's conversion to Lancasters.
Other units joined 1656 HCU including 1667 HCU (June 1943) and
No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School.
Having
flown Wellington Bombers, the crew are now posted to 1656 Heavy
Conversion Unit for specific training on Lancasters. Sgt Alfred
Hales (Flight Engineer) and Sgt E. Southon (Mid Upper Gunner)
now join the original five crew.
I
visited the Public Record Office and viewed the original files
for this unit.
There
seemed to be very little detail about what happened at 1656 CU
apart from the following posting information...
Postings Out Aircrew
| |
Pilot
|
F/E |
A/B |
WO/AG |
Nav |
W/G |
R/G |
| 4.5.43 to 12 SQDN |
Sgt Forbes |
Sgt Hales |
Sgt Thomas |
Sgt Sneesby |
Sgt Matthews |
Sgt Southon |
Sgt Deaseley |
