550 Squadron Photos

P/O R H Digby and Crew

P/O R H Digby and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f 28.2.45:

The pictures below show the P/O Digby crew, and others, at North Killingholme.

Click image Lancaster crew 1945
Top row, Left To right: Ron Digby (P), Johny Walker RAF (F/Eng), Ernie Lewis (Nav)
Bottom row: Don Crabtree RAF (W/OP), James Perrigo (MU/AG) with 'Ethel', Ray Hagar (R/AG)
'Ethel' was made for the crew by a bar maid in Killingholme and was an essential part of the crew
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo (son of James Leon Perrigo)
Click image Crew by the rear turret
Ray Hagar in the turret with 'Ethel'
Left to right: Ron Digby, an unknown member of the ground crew, James Perrigo, Donald Crabtree, Johny Walker
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image F/Sgt James L. Perrigo (MU/AG) in 1944
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image Donald Crabtree (W/Op), in training (no badge), age 18 in 1942/early 1943
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image Pilot Ronald Digby at far left in crop from May-1945 Squadron photo
The person sitting to Digby's left is believed to be Ernie Lewis (Nav)
Photo, and information, kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image James Perrigo and Don Crabtree at far right, third row up from May-1946 photo
Photo, and information, kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image Close up of James Perrigo and Donald Crabtree in crop from May-1945 squadron photo
Photo, and information, kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image Home on leave, Pudsey 1945.
Left to right: Donald Crabtree (my uncle), Royal Marine Commando John Richardson (cousin) living in Wales,
Sheila Perrigo (my mother) living in Ottawa, James Perrigo, Herbert Crabtree 8th Army (my grandfather).
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo
Click image J H Walker log book
Pilot's log book
Photo kindly made available by Chris Walker (grandson of John Herbert Walker)
Click image Last but not least, 'Ethel' 65 years and a few air miles later!
Photo kindly made available by Brian Perrigo

Finally, let's not forget Ethel's service record!