Crew 5 of 462 Squadron, with Halifax MZ306 Z5-K (King)

Standing, L to R: Flight Engineer Laurence Beecher, Rear Gunner Alan Wenfred Orchard, Unidentified Ground Crew 1, Unidentified Ground Crew 2, Captain/Pilot Aubrey William Lane, Mid Upper Gunner Donald Charles Dunkley.

Sitting, L to R: Wireless Operator Robert Kimber Bradley, Bomb Aimer John Patrick O'Shea, Navigator William Edward Hughes.

This crew were posted to 462 Squadron Driffield from 466 Squadron.

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Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Joanna Rollinson.

 

Reverse of photo Crew 5, 462 Squadron, Crew 5 of 462 Squadron, listing their "Best known phrases". Transcription as follows ......

Standing, L to R:
Flight Engineer Laurence Beecher "All set for take off, Bill"
Rear Gunner Alan Wenfred Orchard "Test your lights!"
Captain Aubrey William Lane "Watch those engines – Mike's off"
Mid Upper Gunner Donald Charles Dunkley "Getting out of turret, Bill"

Sitting, L to R:
Wireless Operator Robert Kimber Bradley "More Window Larry"
Bomb Aimer John Patrick O'Shea "Overshoot! Going round again"
Navigator William Edward Hughes "Were a minute early"

Capt and Crew of "K" King "Original Joe for King"
September 3rd 1944, Driffield, 466 and 462 Squadrons.

Left: Private Alan Wenfred Orchard, V9143 (VE443665; VX105194), AIF. (Source National Archives of Australia, B883, VX105194)
Centre: Corporal Alan Wenfred Orchard, VX105194, AIF, on enlistment to the RAAF, 430583. (Source NAA, A9301, 430583)
Right: Air Craftman 2 Alan Wenfred Orchard, 430583, RAAF. (Source NAA, A9301, 430583)

 

Air Craftman 2 Alan Wenfred Orchard, 430583 RAAF, on the front steps of the family home at Geelong, Victoria. Photo dated sometime between 20 February 1943 and 24 April 1943, during his posting as AC2 to 1 Initial Training School (1 ITS).
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

On the left is Air Craftman 2 Alan Wenfred Orchard, 430583 RAAF, with an unidentified AC2 on the right. Location not known but taken during the same time scale as the photo to the left.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

In the centre is Air Craftman 2 Alan Wenfred Orchard, 430583, RAAF, with two unidentified AC2 on his left and right.
Using the Trove website and searching for the headline as shown, the newspaper in the airman's hand was identified as the Truth (Sydney), front page, with the date of Sunday 9 May 1943. Alan Orchard was promoted from AC2 to LAC on 10 May 1943. The photo was most likely taken during his posting to 2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park, Sydney, where he was posted from 24 April to 24 May 1943.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

Course # 61 for Air Gunners at Trenton, Ontario, Canada, with Leading Aircraftman Alan Wenfred Orchard and a group of fellow trainee air gunners. Alan is in the middle row, 2nd from right (circled).
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

Warrant Officer Alan Wenfred Orchard 430583 RAAF, sometime after his promotion on 1 April 1945. On 9 March 1945 he was posted to 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) as Instructor, so this photo may have been taken at Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

Info as written on the back of the photo. All Warrant Officers.
Back left: W H Rennick (Kriegie); back right L K Rahaley (Shuf);
Front left: Wesley Lewis (Horse), front right Alan Wenfred Orchard.
Leo Kevin Rahaley 434116 RAAF (R/AG Cuttriss Crew 7), Wesley Colwyn Lewis 419817 RAAF (R/AG Brophy Crew 3) and Orchard (R/AG Lane Crew 5) had all been posted in their crews to both 466 and 462 Squadrons.
Former F/Sgt and R/AG William Herbert Rennick, 40974 RAAF, had been posted to 467 Squadron when his aircraft, Lancaster LM226, crashed on 12 September 1944 on an Op to Stuttgart. He became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 7 with his PoW number 807 - hence the nickname Kriegie.
Orchard was promoted to Warrant Officer effective from 1 April 1945. Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

Left: Bomb Aimer John Patrick O'Shea, 420708 RAAF;
Right: Wireless Operator Robert Kimber Bradley, 417792 RAAF.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Leigh Orchard.

 

Laurence Beecher, 1942 in North Africa, later Flight Engineer 548799 (55953) RAF posted to 462 Squadron.
Photo by Paramount Studio at Alex. (Alexandria, Egypt?)
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Joanna Rollinson.

 

Group photo of Officers at No. 30 Course, A.C.O.S., B Wing, 7 Squadron, C Flight. (ACOS – Assistant Chief of Staff training ?)
Pilot Officer Laurence Beecher 55953 RAF, (previously Sgt, 548799 at 462 Squadron) is in the 2nd row, 2nd from the left (circled).
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Joanna Rollinson.

 

Flying Officer Aubrey William Lane 22873 RAAF, DFC. Description of action on 27 August 1944 in Halifax MZ306 Z5-K on a daylight bombing Op to Homberg, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

FLYING OFFICER AUBREY WULLIAM (sic) LANE (AUS22873) of Brisbane. No.462
(R.A.A.F.) Squadron. One day in August, 1944, this officer was detailed
to attack the synthetic oil refinery at Homberg. Before the enemy coast
was reached the port outer engine failed, but although fully aware of the
risks involved, Flying Officer Lane flew on towards his target. In the
target area the bomber sustained damage, and a second engine was hit.
Being unable to identify his primary target, this officer made a
successful attack on a secondary objective. Flying Officer Lane has
displayed great determination to achieve success.

 

 

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