Jack Birbeck - Revision history

Smeeds: Full name

2023-02-16T10:05:00Z

Full name

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 16 February 2023
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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| honorific_prefix =		\| honorific_prefix =
	\| name = Jack Birbeck		\| name = John Thomas "Jack" Birbeck
	\| honorific_suffix =		\| honorific_suffix =
	\| native_name =		\| native_name =
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	}}		}}

	'''Jack Birbeck''' was educated at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1932-37). After school he joined the Post Office as a Trainee Telephone Engineer. He joined the RAF on 15 September 1941 and went on to flying training. He failed the flying training, unable to judge the height during landing because of a sight defect, and became a bomb aimer on [[Wikipedia:Avro Lancaster\|Lancasters]].		'''John Thomas "Jack" Birbeck''' was educated at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1932-37). After school he joined the Post Office as a Trainee Telephone Engineer. He joined the RAF on 15 September 1941 and went on to flying training. He failed the flying training, unable to judge the height during landing because of a sight defect, and became a bomb aimer on [[Wikipedia:Avro Lancaster\|Lancasters]].

	His pilot on Lancaster PMD<sup>2</sup> was [[Cliff Annis]], another BGS alumnus. They were shot down when nearing their target on a mission to [[Wikipedia:Nürnberg\|Nuremberg]] on 27 August 1943. Jack spent the rest of the war in [[Wikipedia:Stalag Luft III\|Stalag Luft III]] and, after [http://www.aircrew.org.uk/surrey/aircrew-stories/hookingsE2.htm the long march], Stalag Luft IIIa.		His pilot on Lancaster PMD<sup>2</sup> was [[Cliff Annis]], another BGS alumnus. They were shot down when nearing their target on a mission to [[Wikipedia:Nürnberg\|Nuremberg]] on 27 August 1943. Jack spent the rest of the war in [[Wikipedia:Stalag Luft III\|Stalag Luft III]] and, after [http://www.aircrew.org.uk/surrey/aircrew-stories/hookingsE2.htm the long march], Stalag Luft IIIa.

Smeeds: /* External links */

2020-11-21T14:40:54Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 21 November 2020
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	[[Category:Students]]		[[Category:Students]]
	[[Category:1930s]]		[[Category:1930s]]
			[[Category:See Also]]

Smeeds: /* Shot down over Germany */

2020-05-03T10:17:53Z

Shot down over Germany

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:17, 3 May 2020
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	''An article written by Jack Birbeck and published [[The Old Bostonian]], Issue 39 - Spring/Summer 2004. This article predates his book Birbeck's War by five years.''		''An article written by Jack Birbeck and published [[The Old Bostonian]], Issue 39 - Spring/Summer 2004. This article predates his book Birbeck's War by five years.''

	I was the Bomb Aimer in a [[Wikipedia:Avro Lancaster\|Lancaster]] crew with [[Wikipedia:No. 103 Squadron RAF\|103 Squadron]], based at [[Wikipedia:RAF Elsham Wolds\|RAF Elsham Wolds]] in North Lincolnshire. My pilot and skipper was [[Cliff Annis]], another Old Boy of BGS We had met at Operational Training Unit and had "crewed-up" together.		I was the Bomb Aimer in a [[Wikipedia:Avro Lancaster\|Lancaster]] crew with [[Wikipedia:No. 103 Squadron RAF\|103 Squadron]], based at [[Wikipedia:RAF Elsham Wolds\|RAF Elsham Wolds]] in North Lincolnshire. My pilot and skipper was [[Cliff Annis]], another Old Boy of BGS. We had met at Operational Training Unit and had "crewed-up" together.

	On the night of 27/28 August 1943 our target was [[Wikipedia:Nuremberg\|Nuremberg]]. Apart from difficulty in gaining height due to the under performance of one engine, the flight to within sight of the target markers had been uneventful. We had just turned on to the last leg and the bombing run when we were attacked by a German night fighter. The attack set fire to one of the port engines, but we managed to extinguish the fire, although in the process losing considerable height and the use of one engine. We resumed the bombing run and almost immediately after I had dropped the bombs were attacked again. This time the whole of the port wing was set on fire. The pilot lost control and gave the order to "abandon aircraft". My station in the aircraft was over the front escape hatch and according to the drill I had to be first out. I opened the hatch and went out and, as my parachute opened, saw our aircraft falling nose down in flames.		On the night of 27/28 August 1943 our target was [[Wikipedia:Nuremberg\|Nuremberg]]. Apart from difficulty in gaining height due to the under performance of one engine, the flight to within sight of the target markers had been uneventful. We had just turned on to the last leg and the bombing run when we were attacked by a German night fighter. The attack set fire to one of the port engines, but we managed to extinguish the fire, although in the process losing considerable height and the use of one engine. We resumed the bombing run and almost immediately after I had dropped the bombs were attacked again. This time the whole of the port wing was set on fire. The pilot lost control and gave the order to "abandon aircraft". My station in the aircraft was over the front escape hatch and according to the drill I had to be first out. I opened the hatch and went out and, as my parachute opened, saw our aircraft falling nose down in flames.

Smeeds: /* Notable POWs */

2019-04-29T09:37:35Z

Notable POWs

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 29 April 2019
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	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction: [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

Smeeds: /* Notable POWs */

2019-04-29T09:33:28Z

Notable POWs

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 29 April 2019
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	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

Smeeds: /* Notable POWs */

2019-04-29T09:33:08Z

Notable POWs

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 29 April 2019
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	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was ~~DAme~~ Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

Smeeds: /* Notable POWs */ John Casson correction

2019-04-29T09:32:53Z

Notable POWs: John Casson correction

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:32, 29 April 2019
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	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]]		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was DAme Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

Smeeds: Categories

2017-10-02T23:05:30Z

Smeeds: more wikilinks and other tidying

2017-10-02T00:05:21Z

more wikilinks and other tidying

Show changes

Smeeds: Wikilinks

2017-10-01T21:13:13Z

Wikilinks

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 1 October 2017
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	===Notable POWs===		===Notable POWs===
	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr Bob Stanford-Tuck Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of Dame Sybil Thorndyke and Sir Hugh Casson		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]]
	*F/Lt William Reid VC		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr Roland Beamont, expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters
	*Lt. Peter Butterworth Fleet Air Arm pilot who, after the war, appeared in the “Carry On” films		*Lt. [[Wikipedia:Peter Butterworth\|Peter Butterworth]] Fleet Air Arm pilot who, after the war, appeared in the “Carry On” films
	*Rupert Davies who went on to play “Maigret”, the television detective		*[[Wikipedia:Rupert Davies\|Rupert Davies]] who went on to play “Maigret”, the television detective
	*Cy Grant, a post war television personality		*[[Wikipedia:Cy Grant\|Cy Grant]], a post war television personality
	*James Pestridge later a regional TV presenter		*James Pestridge later a regional TV presenter
	*Len Whiteley, trumpet player in Billy ~~Cotton’s~~ band		*Len Whiteley, trumpet player in [[Wikipedia:Billy Cotton\|Billy Cotton]]’s band
	*Paul Brickhill, author of “The Great Escape”		*[[Wikipedia:Paul Brickhill\|Paul Brickhill]], author of “The Great Escape”
	*Aidan Crawley, politician and MP		*[[Wikipedia:Aidan Crawley\|Aidan Crawley]], politician and MP

	Shortly before I arrived W/Cdr Douglas Bader had been transferred to Colditz. Other OBs I met in Stalag Luft III were Reginald Van Toen ~~(mentioned in issue 38)~~, Arthur Staniland, and right at the end, in Luckenwalde, Phil Brown, an old form mate. There was also another Bostonian, Albert Boothby, although not an Old Boy of BGS.		Shortly before I arrived W/Cdr [[Wikipedia:Douglas Bader\|Douglas Bader]] had been transferred to [[Wikipedia:Oflag IV-C\|Colditz]]. Other OBs I met in Stalag Luft III were [[Reginald Van Toen]], [[Arthur Staniland]], and right at the end, in Luckenwalde, [[Phil Brown]], an old form mate. There was also another Bostonian, Albert Boothby, although not an Old Boy of BGS.

	===Belaria===		===Belaria===

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 29 April 2019
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	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction: [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 29 April 2019
Line 112:		Line 112:
	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Wikipedia:Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 29 April 2019
Line 112:		Line 112:
	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was ~~DAme~~ Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was Dame Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:32, 29 April 2019
Line 112:		Line 112:
	There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:		There were a number of people there who were well known then, or became celebrities after the war:
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Robert Stanford Tuck\|Bob Stanford-Tuck]] Battle of Britain fighter ace
	*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]]		*Lt/Cmdr John Casson, son of [[Wikipedia:Sybil Thorndike\|Dame Sybil Thorndyke]] and [[Wikipedia:Hugh Casson\|Sir Hugh Casson]] ''(Correction [[Lewis Casson\|Sir Lewis Casson]] was DAme Sybil Thorndyke's husband and father of John Casson)''
	*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]		*F/Lt [[Wikipedia:William Reid VC\|William Reid VC]]
	*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters		*W/Cmdr [[Wikipedia:Roland Beamont\|Roland Beamont]], expert at shooting down Flying Bombs and post war test pilot of first jet fighters

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:05, 3 October 2017
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Birbeck, Jack}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Birbeck, Jack}}
	[[Category:Students]]		[[Category:Students]]
	[[Category:~~Articles needing work~~]]		[[Category:1930s]]