Page 5 - Reginald Croot

On 25 April 1945, the crew were posted to 576 Squadron at RAF Fiskerton
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to commence operations. The crew did not take part in Main Force operations
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over Europe, their first post war operation being on 7 May 1945
flying in ‘A’ Flight Lancaster ME492 L - Love to Rotterdam dropping food
supplies to the starving Dutch people (Operation ʻMannaʼ).

Further operations were undertaken on Operation ʻMannaʼ, Operation
ʻExodusʼ and ʻDodgeʼ (liberating Allied Prisoners of War from Germany and
Far East POW’s flown in to Italy by the U.S.S.A.F).

Operation Post ʻMortonʼ (the testing of captured German radars on Command
aircraft approaching the Continent).

Further operations dropping surplus Bombs into Cardigan Bay (Operation
ʻWastageʼ) and Units for disposal (Operation ʻJunkʼ).

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The Squadron being disbanded on 13 September 1945 found Reginald
being posted to RAF Sturgate near Gainsbourgh with 61 Squadron.

Promoted Warrant Officer in December 1945, Reginald continued in the RAF
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until 22 October 1946 when he left the service to fly commercially. Rejoining
the RAF on 26 Sept 1950 at RAF Cardington, Bedford, Reginald flew the
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B29 Super fortress as the second pilot (known in the RAF as the Washington),
and as pilot on Avro Lincolns.