With the exception of Terry Hobbs, the Flight Engineer all the crew came from Canada - although Charles Appleton was born in Cambridgeshire England. Charles Appleton ( Pilot ), Murray Dobson ( Navigator), Vic Swimmings ( Radio Operator ), Roland Wallace ( Rear Gunner ), Harold Edwards (Mid Upper Gunner ) and the original Bomb Aimer Norm McEwen crewed up at OTU Wellesbourne Mountford near Warwick, Staffordshire and commenced flying Wellingtons. After OTU the crew spent two miserable weeks under the control of the British Army on a battle course at Dalton, then to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe Yorkshire. The crew were joined by a very young Flight Engineer Terry Hobbs who had originally trained for Stirlings while at St. Athens. Norm McEwen had to be replaced as B/A by Ernie Dickson on medical grounds. Thus the crew was formed and in early 1944 they were posted to Skipton-on-Swale North Yorkshire, which was to be their new 'home' for the next six months  and 32 operations the majority flown in Beer Is Best.

This photograph was taken at RAF Leeming when the crew were presented to the King and Queen.
Back row left to right. Harold Edwards ( Eddy ), Terry Hobbs, Vic Swimmings, and Rolland Wallice ( Wally ).
Front row. Ernie Dichson, Charles Appleton ( Chuck ), and Murray Dobson.
For more information relating to the crew and their operational experiences click here.