Page 7 - Alan John Leslie Ridge

Jack was then via No. 31 Personnel dispatch Centre at Moncton, Canada repatriated back to the
UK to RAF Lindholme where he would meet up with his new crew. Records indicate he stayed at
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Lindholme until posting out to RAF Elsham Wolds with his crew on the 25 July, the crew
undertaking conversion to the four engine heavy bomber, possibly either the Handley Page Halifax
or the Avro Lancaster, although the Lancaster was in short supply at the time for training units.
Jack and his crew therefore undertook their heavy conversion with 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit,
Lindholme’s resident Conversion Unit.

After Conversion training the crew was posted to 576 Squadron, stationed at RAF Elsham Wolds,
near Scunthorpe, a No. 1 Group Main Force station and also the home to 103 Squadron.
576 Squadron was formed from ‘C’ Flight of 103 Squadron and four experienced crew’s from 101
Squadron stationed at Ludford Magna near Louth on the 25 November 1943.
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This process of forming a new squadron had by 1943 become Bomber Commands standard
method of creating new reserve squadrons to enlarge the Commands offensive capabilities which
by 1945 would result in some 62 Pathfinder and Main force Lancaster squadrons being formed
with a further 35 Handley page Halifax squadrons.
This ensured that by wars end Bomber Command could each day deploy some
1600 heavy bombers.
Elsham Wolds was also the Base Station (13 Base) controlling two satellite airfields at Kermington
(166 Squadron) now Humberside airport and North Killingholme (550 Squadron).

On October 10 1944, 576 Squadron took up residence at RAF Fiskerton, this airfield being
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located 4 miles east of Lincoln. Jack was promoted Flying Officer on the 18 November and he
completed his full tour of 30 operations by January 1945 and was awarded the DFC
on 22 May 1945.
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Having been granted leave after completing his tour of operations Jack was posted to No. 6
Lancaster finishing School at RAF Ossington, between Newark and Worksop in Nottinghamshire
for conversion training. This unit, part of No. 44 Group Transport Command formed on
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the 1 January 1945 was a joint venture between Training Command and B.O.A.C, it converting
crew’s from the Lancaster to the civilian version, the Lancastrian, for the England - New Zealand
route. No.6 LFS disbanded in November 1945 and from it was formed No.1 (Transport)
Conversion Unit, whose purpose it was to convert Lancaster crews to the Avro York for the long
distance transport role.
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Jack received his promotion to the rank of Flight Lieutenant on the 18 May 1945 whilst still at
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RAF Ossington. He was then on the 20 June posted from Ossington to No. 511 Squadron on
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Pilot duties. This squadron formed on the 14 October 1942 from No. 1425 Flight at RAF
Lyneham. The squadron continued the work of No. 1425 Flight operating regular transport
schedules to Gibraltar using the Consolidated Liberators. To extend the route from Gibraltar to
Malta the squadron also operated the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle. As the Second World War
progressed, 511 Squadron expanded its long-range transport role and it was the first squadron to
operate the Avro York transport (a transport based on the Avro Lancaster). At first the Liberators
and York’s were operated as separate Flights, but the Liberator Flight became 246 Squadron in
1944. The squadron continued to fly trooping flights, particularly between the United Kingdom and
India until the squadron was disbanded on 7 October 1946.
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Jack was posted onto No. 100 Personnel Dispatch Centre at RAF Uxbridge on the 20 May and
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was demobbed from the service on the 21 July 1946.

Post War Jack re-enlisted with the Auxiliary Air Force and converted to the single engine fighter,
joining 604 'County of Middlesex' Squadron flying the MK XVI American Packard Merlin powered
Spitfire, as a P2 (Sergeant pilot). The (P) ranking system was unpopular among aircrews and was
discontinued in 1950.
Another question that remains unanswered is why Jack on joining the Auxiliary Air Force not
retained his commissioned rank of Flight lieutenant, instead he taking the rank of Sergeant.