Recomendations

[Matthew King]

Hi

I've just started researching my Grandfathers experiences in the war and was wondering if any one could recommend any books about the 48th Squadron.

Thanks

Matt

[stephen]

Hi Matthew:

I was honored to know several members of RAF 48 and correspond with them for a time. If you want to pass along your grandfather's dates of service and pilots that he flew with, I'll be glad to cross reference my material for anything that's pertinent to his career.

[Matthew King]

Hello Stephen

Thanks for the offer of any help.

My Grandfather Sgt Reginald Gordon Leslie White was an observer for the 48th Squadron.

What I know so far is he was shot down three times the pilots being
JB Cowan (31/8/18), EC Shurley (1/10/18) and G Thorton-Norris (25/10/18).
I don't know when he joined the squadron but as he was born Nov 1899 I doubt he was with them from the start.

He was also awarded the Criux De Guare avec Palms and the Medial Militere (supposdily for being in the first plane to fly over Brussels and the Germans retreated).

After the war in Europe he went to India with the squadron and suffered frostbite and malaria near the Kyber Pass

Any help would be gratefully recieved.

Thank you

Matthew King

[Frank_Olynyk]

Matthew,
I have a single combat report involving your grandfather. On Oct 3, 1918, with Lt. G Thornton-Norris, he/they claimed a Fokker Biplane, white fuselage, black&white tail, in flames, NW of Iseghem, at 1750 hours, in Bristol Fighter E2534. I only had his initials, as R L G White; I note that in your post above you give his name as R G L White, while on your website it is given as R L G White. The combat report is in the PRO, in Air 1/1829/204/202/22; this is a scrapbook for the period 6 August to 8 October 1918, with the combat reports pasted in. It is report # 586 of 48 Squadron (this is the correct notation, not 48th Squadron; you should correct it on your website).

Frank.

[Matthew King]

Thankyou very much for the information.

Yes it should be Reginald Leslie Gordon White, (to tell the truth I only found out my Grandfathers middle names a few weeks ago and keep getting them mixed up).

Thanks again

Matthew

[stephen]

I think I have something on J B Cowan... the name rings a bell. Not sure if it relates to your grandad or not but I'll give it a whirl asap. Still getting over being violently ill this past week. Yuk. Hang with me.

Originally posted by stephen@Feb 15 2004, 09:30 PM
[b] Still getting over being violently ill this past week. Yuk. Hang with me.

I thought "Off Topic" had been fairly tame for a few days. Here's wishing you a much better next week.

[stephen]

Thank you. Much better now. Will try to cause trouble again soon.

[Amy]

Hi Matthew:

There's a big ol' article on the 48th Squadron in the Over the Front (Summer 1989) journal written by Frank Bailey and Paul Chamberlin. Your grandfather as well as Thornton-Norris, Cowan (Australian), Shurley (Canadian), et al. are all mentioned. Besides the article itself, included is a roster of all members of the 48th Sqadron, their rank, pilot or observer role, and their fate. Also included is a chronological order of events for the Squadron from 1916-1918 and a list of the Bristol Fighters known to have been assigned to the 48th Squadron.

I think this article would be of great value to you. The darn thing is about 40+ pages long, which is too much to scan and email to you. If you can't get your hands on a copy of the journal, let me know and I'll photocopy the article and snail mail it to you.

Cheers, Amy

[Matthew King]

Thank you very much for the reference Amy, I have found the Over the Front website and will try and order a back issue.

Thanks again.

My research i