In loving memory, gratitude and respect for F/Lt Emrys Davies who was stationed at Ludford Magna with 101 Squadron from early 1945 until the end of the war.
Emrys (born Porth, June 1923) joined the Air Training Corps aged 17 before transferring to the RAF and trained as a bomb aimer at RCAF Station Rivers in Manitoba, Canada. He also spent a short period in America helping to sell war bonds.
Emrys (initially serving as P/O) joined F/Lt Ken Weightman’s crew at Ludford and flew a total of 21 operations between March and May 1945. His first operation was to Chemnitz on March 5/6 and further trips included Dessau, Potsdam, Kiel and Dortmund. His last bombing raid was to Heligoland on April 18.
There followed five Operation Manna drops around Rotterdam with the last being on May 7 and his active war ended with three Operation Exodus trips to collect POWs from Brussels and return them to Dunsfold, the final of which was on May 11.
101 Squadron soon moved up to Binbrook and Emrys switched from bomb aimer to navigator and was promoted to F/Lt before being demobbed in November 1946.
He married Nancy Evans while stationed at Binbrook and the couple had two children, Marisse and Elizabeth.
Emrys flew with the same six crew on each of his sorties: Pilot – F/Lt W.K. Weightman, Flight Engineer – P/O David Bond, Navigator – P/O J.D. Browne, Wireless Operator – Sgt R. Burtoft, Mid-Upper Gunner – Sgt A.P. Ainley and Rear Gunner – Sgt C. Amory.