433 squadron, halifax bomber, beer is best crew

	Charles Appleton ( DFC ). Charles Appleton was born in 1920 Chesterton, Cambidgeshire, England where he attended St. Faith's Preparatory School and Leys Public School, where he played soccer, rugby and tennis. He also had a keen interst in wildlife and liked to do woodworking. He moved to Canada and settled in Toronto shortly before the outbreak of war and finished his formal education. He joined the 48th NPAM while working at the Imperial Bank. In early 1941 he enlisted in the RCAF. At No.10 E.F.T.S. at Mount Hope he learned to fly Fleet Finches, then onto Harvards at Dunnville S.F.T.S. where he earned his pilots wings. He proceeded to Central Flying School, Trenton and 16 S.F.T.S. Hagersville as an instructor on Ansons. Chuck received his commission in Febuary 1943. In July 1943 he was posted overseas eventually reaching O.T.U. Wellesbourne Mountford where he crewed up and commenced flying Wellingtons. After his tour with 433 Squadron he was posted to Topcliffe as an instructor and base test pilot on Lancatser MkI's and Mk III's. Chuck had a more favourable view of the Halifax - it being his first love. He also received the D.F.C. He remained with the RCAF until 1948 when he joined the Federal Department of Transport as a Civil Aviation Inspector. In 1960 he transferred to Ottawa and became Superintendent of Airways retiring in 1975. He and his wife Hazel moved to Peterborough Ontario and then to Burnaby, British Columbia. He died on 9th December 1998, not long after his great friend Murray Dobson.
	Terry Hobbs. Terry Hobbs was born in Alyesbury, England on the 27th March 1925. The only child of Oliver Hobbs ( known as Jack ), who was in the RAF, and Lillian Winfield. Terry's father died of blood poisoning in 1932 and so at the age of seven Terry started boarding school at Felixstowe. In 1943 he was called up and joined the RAF at Toplcliffe, where he formed a great friendship with Russell Whybro ( Rusty ) and Stan Self. Sadly Rusty went missing on the night of 28th/29th July 1944 on a Hamburg raid. Terry had originally been trained for operations on Stirlings at St. Athens. He met up with the rest of the crew at Topcliffe in March 1944. After a tour of 32 ops with ' The Porcupines ' his next tour was on Lancasters with 7 Squadron ( Pathfinders ) and then 49 squadron, before being demobed in 1946. He joined DeHavillands at the Broughton aircraft factory near Chester in 1951 as an electrical inspector then as deputy chief electrical engineer working on a large number of diverse aircraft which included DH Hornet, Mosquito, Vampire, Venom, Comet, Sea Vixen, HS748, HS125, HS146, Nimrod and Airbus - spending 35 years there before retiring in 1986. He has three children and now lives in Essex.
	Murray Dobson ( DFC ). Murray was born in Orillia Ontario Canada in 1918 and attended Normal School. Like his father Murray was a school teacher in Peterborough Ontario before joining the RCAF in July 1942 in Toronto. After receiving air crew instruction at No1 Air Operations School, Murray graduated on 25th June 1943. He received his commission as a Pilot Officer-Navigator in 1943. At OTU Wellesbourne Mountford he met his life long friend and crew pilot Charles Appleton.Terry Hobbs remembers Murray as as a sound, solid and reliable person, with a even speech and a calming influence in difficult days. He never panicked. After his tour with 433 squadron he was awarded the DFC and screened from operations to return to Canada. After the war he married his wife Dawn and settled in Ottawa where he worked for the federal Mines and Technical Surveys - his navigational skills came in very handy. He later transferred to the Treasury Board. In 1970 he went to Jamaica for four years on a four-man Canadian Development Agency team to help the revamp its public service. He also went to Libya on a United Nations project. Murray retired from work at Employment and Immigration in 1980. At age 64 he formed a seven-man band he called the 'Swamp Water Jazz', in which he played the guitar. Murray passed away in 1998 of lung cancer. His friend Charles Appleton said of Murray " It was magic when we joined at OTU England and became crew forever. But there comes a time for all of us to shut the hanger door. Murray has closed his".
	Ernie Dickson. Ernest was born in Toronto on March 3, 1924. He attended public school in New Toronto and then Secondary School in Mimico. He then took a business course which lead to employment with Anaconda American Brass. He joined the RCAF in Toronto in early 1943 and trained at No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto; No.4 Manning Depot, Quebec; ITS, Toronto; No.4 B&G School and Fingal; No.4 OAS Crumlin where he received his Air Bomber Wings in March, 1943. He was posted to the UK in April 1943. He trained at No.3 (0) AFU. Bobbington; No.24 OTU Honeybourne and No.1659 HCU Topcliffe. Ernie was then posted to 428 Squadron at Middleton St. George before joining 433 Squadron Skipton-on-Swale. Terry rembers Ernie as being an outgoing person and very quick in learning new things. He and Murray made a very good team, which included at times sharing the hot air tube to keep warm on those long cold trips such as Villeshaven. Ernie was demobbed in Toronto in April, 1945 and then followed a number of university extension courses in accounting, credit management, purchasing, salesmanship, personnel management and industrial factory management and others. He became office and plant and plant manager, and credit manager during his career with Anaconda American Brass. Ernie and Lorna Forrester were married in April, 1945. They raised three sons and a daughter, all now married, and they have six grandchildren. After 45 years in Port Credit, Ernie and Lorna sought the quiet life and moved to Cambridge. Ernie passed away in 1994.
	Vic Swimmings. Vic was came from Hamilton, Ontario and was highly regarded in his role as wireless operator. He hated looking outside of the aircraft during an operation, always going past a window with his head down. On one trip his dediction to his duties was very clearly demonstrated:- He was dispensing windows, strips of silver foil that interferred with the Germans radar, which were thrown out via a tube on a regular basis. On the return journey Terry noticed Vic's hand grabbing a bundle of windows to be thrown so hindering the enemy in tracking Beer-Is-Best. It was brought to Vic's attention that they were now flying over Chelmsford, the inhabitants may not have appreciated the thousands of pieces of foil descending apon their fair town. Like a lot of Canadians, Vic got a real appreciation of the English public house, 'The Busby Stoop' being the crews local, Vic resting his right elbow on the bar drinking a fine pint of Yorkshire beer, proving that Beer Is Best.
	Harold Edwards Eddie came from Nova Scotia and was a teacher prior to joining the RCAF. He became a highly proficient air gunner - becoming an instructor. Eddie is remembered as dependable, having a laugh that began low then changed gear into high pitch. He and Wally use to have hare shooting competions which often lead to the obliteration of the unlucky furry target.
	Roland Wallice. Wally was from Saskatchewan and was able to ride a horse from a very young age, the result of which was to make him rather bow legged. He was a quite man who suffered the conditions of being a 'Tail End Charlie' without complaint. Once when communication was lost with him he was found in the rear turret by Terry almost frozen solid, with icicles hanging from his oxygen mask. Like Eddie, Wally was also a gunnery instructor.
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