Here they flew a total of 26 hours and 8 hours - a mixture of flying Halifaxes (12 times) and Lancasters (9 times). In April 1943 the crew were posted to 1656 Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme in Yorkshire. The only obstacle left before joining an operational squadron was training and conversion to 4 engined heavy bombers. This they successfully carried out (over Lille, France) on the 23 March 1943 taking 5 hours. Reg partook in 22 Wellington MkIII flights which included Night Flying Tests, Day and Night Cross Country flying, Simulated Bombings, Circuits and Landings, and HLB's (?) - these culminated in a 'Nickel Raid' flying over enemy held territory at night and dropping propaganda leaflets. This course would last until 23 March 1943 and on ending flying time had increased to a total of 99 hours day flying and 35 hours night flying.
30 OTU based at RAF Hixon / RAF Seighford in Staffordshire. 30 Operational Training Unit - January to March 1943Īround the 23 January 1943 Reg and the other crew members were posted to No. On the 13, 15, 20 and 21 January 1943 Reg and Tom were also involved in Ferry Flights between Finningley and Hixon/Seighford. I believe 25 OTU closed at this time which would account for the crew moving to another operational training unit. By now flying time had increased to 73 hours. On the 28 November the pilot for the first time was Sgt Forbes, my Grandfather - I am not sure, but it is likely that the whole initial crew of 5 were now together. Reg flew in an Airspeed Oxford 4 times and Wellingtons 57 times including 6 flights all on the 22 November. Training started on the 11 November 1942. 25 OTU that Reg would have first met my Grandfather. 25 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Finningley near Doncaster, Yorkshire to start serious flying training first on Airspeed Oxfords (a twin engined advanced trainer) and then Vickers Wellington twin engined bombers. 25 Operational Training Unit - November to January 1943 Reg had so far amassed 10 hours flying time. The training here began at the beginning of September and ended on the 3 October 1942. 8 Air Gunners School at Evanton, Scotland. 8 Air Gunners School - September to October 1942 The course lasted from the end of July to 2 September 1942 whereby Reg qualified as a Wireless Operator. 4 Signals School at RAF Madley in Herefordshire.
Reg's first posting after joining up was No. 4 Signals School - July to September 1942 I have been very lucky and privileged to be loaned the log-book of Reginald Sneesby by his brother Wilfred and now know more about Reg's service career and also that of my Grandfather The 1939 Register lists Reginald (an apprentice dental technician) at home at 1 Portholme Road, Selby with parents Arthur and Emily and brother Wilfred. Son of Arthur William and Emily Sneesby, of Selby. Reginald trained with the original crew on Wellingtons at 25 and 30 OTU and Lancasters at 1656 CU Reginald was born on 17 January 1922 in Selby, Yorkshire. Wireless Operator - Sgt Reginald Sneesby (crew photo 1st on left and above) Leslie may have had two siblings Phyllis E (b. I think Leslie died in November 1994 in Enfield, North London. This building still survives - see the Google Street View link. The 1939 Register lists Leslie and Gladys living at 12 Powys Court, Southgate. The 1939 Register list his father Thomas Albert Matthews and mother Florence Victoria Matthews (nee Mathews) living at 22 Ashridge Gardens, Palmers Green. Leslie profession is listed as Company Director and his father was Thomas Albert Matthews. At the time Leslie was living at 22 Ashridge Gardens, Palmers Green. 29 September 1911) at the Methodist Church, Bowes Park (sp?), Southgate, Edmonton, Middlesex. On 17 September 1938 Leslie married Gladys Alice May Hutchins (b. He was taken to Stalag Luft VI (L6) at Heydekrug in East Prussia (now Lithuania) then Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel in Germany until April 1945 when he was forced along with many other allied POWs to march north until eventual liberation in May 1945. Leslie survived the crash and was taken prisoner at Les Sables on the west coast of France near St Nazaire approximately 50 miles west of Nantes. He enlisted on 22 September 1941 aged 28. Leslie was born in New Southgate, North London on 22 November 1912. Navigator - Sgt Leslie Albert Matthews (crew photo 2nd from right)
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