Page 55 - William B. Lake

Bill’s Period in RAF 576 Operations at Fiskerton
12 April until 30 June 1945
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Posting to 576 Squadron (Fiskerton)

Bill had arrived and disembarked in the UK on 27 July 1944 and he eventually arrived at RAF
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Fiskerton on the 12 April 1945 following 8 months of pre-operations advanced training. Although
the crew would have completed their HCU cross-country training on four-engine bombers at their
previous sites, it was typical for the crew to be edged into Lancaster bombers prior to actual
operations. This would partly account for a delay prior to their first flight.
Bill was a member of the aircrew which was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Ron F. Worsdell.

From the RAF 576 Sqn daily flight records summary at Fiskerton reveals that Bill’s operations
period was late in the war. His first “Operations” involvement was with Operation Manna & then
with Operation Exodus; and finally with the RAF Post Mortem exercises (late in June). For a
description of these refer to the following pages.

Reflection on Bill’s RAAF/RCAF Service Leading to Operations

Bill’s recruitment into the RAAF was back in May 1942 and his initial aircrew training was
conducted in Sydney Australia at Bradfield Park. In October 1942 he arrived in Canada, where he
undertook his Bombing and Gunnery training at 8B&GS Lethbridge (Alberta) and then undertook
his Air Observer training at 2AOS Edmonton (also in Alberta). He completed his Air Observer
training with distinction and received a commission as a Pilot Officer.

Bill then undertook some further training at the RCAF Mountain View 6B&GS site in Ontario to
become an Air Bomber instructor. He was subsequently posted to the 2B&GS Mossbank RCAF
site in Saskatchewan. He worked at the Mossbank Site from 8 March 1943 until he embarked for
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the UK on 20 July 1944. At the time of his departure, he held the rank of Flying Officer.
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What followed for him in the UK was a series of advanced training mustering sites during which
time he specialised as an Air Bomber. Although he was trained as an Air Observer which involved
a significant navigation component, by the time he reached the UK the Observer role had been
effectively separated in two separate roles due to the development of the large four-engine
bombers. I have read about Observers having to choose between Navigator or Air Bomber roles;
in many cases the choice was made for them. In any event, it was a sensible outcome for Dad
because he had spent 17 months at the 2B&GS Mossbank instructing recruits in aerial bombing &
gunnery skills.

From Bill’s airgraphs to his parents, when he started training in the UK it was evident that he knew
he was in the process of significantly stepping up a level of knowledge and skill in aerial bombing
techniques & learning to use new bombing devices in order to be fully prepared for his Air Bomber
role in Operations.

REFER BELOW FOR BILL’S OPERATION PERIOD AT RAF 576 SQUADRON
FISKERTON STATION, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Note: This covers the period from 12 April until 30 June 1945

Note: The following describe flights mainly involving the Worsdell aircrew. However, there were
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Exodus flights on 11 May which were piloted by P/O J Everitt with Sgt B Gilbert as Navigator.