Personnel Index - Detail
The 'lucky' Sullings crew, survivors of a crash landing at Syerston LFS, and a head-on collision with a JU88, completed one of the quickest tours in 5 Group.....their final operation was 29th August 1944.
(Back row l to r);
Doug Simmons, rear gunner;
Jim Skidmore, wireless operator;
Johnnie Richards, flight engineer;
Charlie Wright, mid-upper gunner.
(Front row l to r);
Chris Christian, navigator;
Alan Sullings, pilot;
Edgar 'Eddie' Haines, bomb-aimer
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Edgar Haines is LHS on the back row.
It appears to be a visit by the local Brownie or Girl Guides Pack.
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Continuing his Post-War career he rejoined Bomber Command in 1949. He flew in Lincolns with the 214 Federated Malay States Squadron until his transfer to Training Command. Following an exchange posting to Canada between 1951-1953 he served at Haywarden in North Wales.
In 1958 he was posted to the Thor Missile Base in Tucson, Arizona and then the Thor Missile Squadron at Carnaby, near Driffield, Yorkshire.
The following year, while working in the MoD he was awarded the MBE.
Further postings to Kolsas, Naples, Manby, Finningley, Bawtry, Luqa and the MoD brought his RAF career to an end after thirty seven years of service. He finished with the rank of Wing Commander.
Wing Commander Haines welcoming Princess Alexandra to RAF Luqa in 1977.
Wing Commander Haines died in November 1993.