403 (Wolf) Squadron, RCAF

We are indebted to Richard and Angie Batson for this photo of 403 (Wolf) Squadron, RCAF, which was found among the possessions of Nancy Downey (nee Spinks) who sadly passed away in 2022, aged 90. Her family lived in Coulsdon and she was an avid collector of local ephemera but how the photo came into her possession remains a mystery.

It seems likely that it was taken at Headcorn or Lashenden between 27th August, 1943 and 3rd September, during S/Ldr. Frank Edward “Bitsy” Grant’s brief time commanding 403 Squadron, before he was killed in action on 4th September.

Caption for the 403 Squadron photo:

Back Row

• F/O Thomas A. Brannagan
• F/O John Hodgson
• F/Lt. Arthur C. Coles
• F/O Herbert J. Southwood
• Sgt. Norman V. Chevers
• F/O James Preston
• F/Lt. David Goldberg
• F/O Malcolm J. Gordon
• F/Lt. Harry A. Pattison

Middle Row

• F/O Livingston Foster
• F/O Robert G. Middlemiss
• F/O James F. Lambert
• F/Lt. Dean H. Dover
• S/Ldr. Frank E. “Bitsy” Grant
• W/Co. J. E. Johnson DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar
• F/Lt. Noel J. Ogilvie
• F/O Harry J. Dowding
• F/O John D. Browne
• P/O Paul K. Gray

Front Row

• F/O Joseph P. Lecoq
• F/Lt. Charles P. Thornton
• P/O John A. Wilson
• Sgt. Stanley Barnes
• F/O Stanley W. Matthews
• W/O1 Clinton F. Rae
• Sgt. James R. MacKinnon

Caption information from “Spitfire, The Canadians II” by Robert Bracken which contains a photo from the same series.