Page 4 - Frank Wilson

Frank Wilson was born on Christmas day 1922 in Upholland, near Wigan in
Greater Manchester. He attended Ormskirk grammar school where he
captained the school rugby team in his final year. He joined the R.A.F.V.R as
an Aircraftsman in August 1941. Following a number of training courses and
postings in the UK he was sent to Canada to train under the British
Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

On returning to the UK in 1943 as a trained wireless operator and air gunner
he was commissioned into the RAF as a Pilot Officer in December of that
year. In June 1944 he was promoted to Flying Officer and posted to 576
Squadron operating Lancasters at RAF Fiskerton where he became a
member of Flying Officer Herbert Benson's crew.

Comprising:

Flying Officer H. Benson

Pilot Officer H. Woolstenhulme

Flying Officer H. G. Mather

Flying Officer P. C. Milner

Flying Officer Frank Wilson

Sergeant R. C. Griffithand

Sergeant R. Goldsbury

This crew completed a total of 9 bombing missions to various targets within
Germany during November 1944 to January 1945.

In January 1945 the crew were posted to 156 Squadron, part of No. 8
(Pathfinders) Group operating from RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire, and
then RAF Upwood. Pilot Officer H. Benson's crew flew a further 7 missions to
th
th
targets in Germany, the 7 being to Nurnberg on 16 March 1945.
On this mission they were attacked by a Luftwaffe ME 410 fighter and Flying
Officer H. G. Mather, Flying Officer P. C. Milner, Flying Officer Frank Wilson
and Sergeant R. C. Griffiths suffered injuries. The aircraft made it back to
base and the injured airmen were sent to the RAF hospital in Ely.

As a result of their injuries Flying Officer H. G. Mather, Flying Officer P.C.
Milner, Flying Officer Frank Wilson and Sergeant R.C. Griffiths were replaced
in Pilot Officer Benson's crew for the next fateful mission to Hamburg on 31
st
March 1945 when the aircraft was shot down with the loss of all crew.