Jim Saunders, Air Bomber – Stevens crew

P/O James Harold Saunders RAFVR 1392219/196874 Air Bomber with Charlie Stevens crew.
© Nigel Saunders

Many thanks to Nigel for contacting me and passing on these 2 fantastic photographs of his Father, Jim Saunders, Air Bomber and member of Charlie Stevens crew. Having put together a starting crew list for the boys, the Op history shows a remarkable turn over of individuals – the positions of Wireless Operator, Mid Upper Gunner and Rear Gunner, at points in the tour changing on a raid by raid basis.

A fantastic picture of the Stevens crew. Charlie Stevens, Pilot in the middle of the picture. Far right Jim Saunders, Air Bomber and the the extreme left, Les Hoffert. The 2 chaps in the middle of the back row are thought to be Les Hall and George Giles, Navigator and Rear Gunner respectively.
© Nigel Saunders

F/S Stevens and crew arrive on base on 2nd January 1945 from No.31 Base.

6.1.45 War Ops – Attack Against Neuss
Lancaster Mk.I ME751 AA-M
F/S Charles Mackenzie Stevens RNZAF NZ4210535. Pilot
Sgt. Leslie Robert Hall RNZAF NZ429331. Navigator
F/S James Harold Saunders RAFVR 1392219/196874. Air Bomber
Sgt. W. Pugh RAFVR. Wireless Operator
Sgt.Les Hofert RAFVR. Flight Engineer
Sgt. William Jones RAFVR. Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. George Giles RAFVR. Rear Gunner

11.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Krefeld
Lancaster Mk.III PB132 AA-X
Same crew

13.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Saarbrucken
Lancaster Mk.III PB132 AA-X
Same crew

15.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Langrendeer (Recklinghausen)
Lancaster Mk.III PB132 AA-X
Same Crew

16.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wanne Eickel
Lancaster Mk.III PB132 AA-X
Same Crew

28.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Cologne
Lancaster Mk.I HK597 JN-N ‘Bad Penny IV’
F/L Alan Rhodes  replaces Sgt. Pugh as Wireless Operator
F/S Jim Murphy replaces Bill Jones as Mid Upper Gunner
F/S R. Muir replaces George Giles as Rear Gunner

14.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Chemnitz
Lancaster Mk.III PB421 JN-P
Sgt.Pugh returns as Wireless Operator
Bill Jones returns as Mid Upper Gunner
W/O Roderick Powell replaces Sgt. Muir as Rear Gunner

16.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.I HK653 ‘W’
F/S William Campin replaces Alan Rhodes as Wireless Operator
F/S T. Dewsbury joins crew as a Mid Under Gunner

18.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.I HK554 JN-Z
Bill Jones returns as Mid Upper Gunner
George Giles returns as Rear Gunner

19.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew

22.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Osterfeld
Lancaster Mk.I HK597 JN-N
Alan Rhodes replaces F/S Campin as Wireless Operator
Jim Murphy replaces George Giles as Rear Gunner
P/O Gwyn Duglan joins crew as a Mid Under Gunner

23.2.45. War Ops – Gelsenkirchen
Lancaster Mk.I HK563 JN-W
Sgt. W. Campin returns to replace Alan Rhodes as Wireless Operator
Sgt. Frank Watts replaces Jim Murphy as Rear Gunner
F/S T. Dewsbury returns to crew as Mid Under Gunner.

26.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Dortmund
Lancaster Mk.I NF935 AA-P
George Giles returns as rear Gunner

27.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Gelsenkirchen
Lancaster Mk.I HK591 ‘N’? (A/C does not appear in database?)
Same crew

2.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Cologne (ABORTED)
Lancaster Mk.I NG448 JN-P
Same crew

5.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Gelsenkirchen
Lancaster Mk.I NG449 JN-T
Same crew

6.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.I HK554 JN-Z
Same crew

17.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Auguste Viktoria
Lancaster Mk.I ME751 AA-M
Same crew

20.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Hamm Marshalling Yards
Lancaster Mk.I RF157 AA-X
Sgt. J. Tutty replaces George Giles as Rear Gunner

27.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Hamm
Lancaster Mk.I  RF127 ‘W’
Richard Urlich joins crew as 2^nd Pilot

4.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Mereseburg
Lancaster Mk.III LM728 AA-R
Bill Reay joins crew as 2^nd Pilot

9.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Kiel
Lancaster Mk.I RA127 AA-W
Same crew

14.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Potsdam
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
Same crew

22.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Bremen
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
Edward Plowman joins crew as 2^nd Pilot

7.5.45. Operation Manna –  Supply Dropping Delft
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
LAC Barnes replaces Jones as Passenger instead of Mid Upper Gunner

10.5.45. Operation Exodus
Lancaster MK.I HK561 AA-Y
Same crew

12.5.45. Operation Exodus
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
F/S A. Griffiths replaces Jim Saunders as Air Bomber

14.5.45. Operation Exodus
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
J. Crawford replaces F/S Griffiths as A/B