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Lost Crew

Vintage photograph repair can be a long process and challenging at times, but the reward of expanding a photograph’s lifespan is always a good motivator. While other forms of photography may get more attention or even have wider appeal, we all look after one of the most important visual documentary records – our family albums. It’s a social history not curated by a museum or gallery, but by us documenting our lives and passing on that archive from one generation to the next.

Occasionally a photograph turns up that is very significant and last year I had that very image appear in the shape of the Lancaster crew photograph seen above. The figure standing third from the left is my great uncle, Sergeant Thomas Davison, who was the bomb aimer on the 103 Squadron Lancaster bomber ED 701 PM-B2. The image was found during a search of the internet for the family tree and came complete with some very interesting history about the crew and the aircraft’s missions. Sadly it is highly likely that my Grandpa, who died in 1988, had no idea that a photograph of his brother with his crew ever existed.

Repairing the Past

A old photograph, even a poor quality one, is better than no photograph at all. The quality of the image is not great but I have seen far worse. The image above remains a repair work in progress but it is looking much better with some damage repaired and image quality enhancements. The next stage is a common issue with vintage photograph that of improving image quality. Finding the image and the information about this crew, however, was hugely important. It put a face to the names that I’d read about for nearly thirty years. Better still the photograph and casual pose of the crew gives a sense of being a close knit crew focused on the job. It is a wonderful photograph of them all.

Sadly the crew did not survive the war. The Lancaster was shot down during the night of the 22nd-23rd August 1943 by Oberleutnant Heinz Strüning, a night fighter ace who amassed a total of 56 victories before being shot down and killed by an RAF Mosquito on Christmas Eve 1944. The ramifications of Thomas Davison’s death lived with the family for some years, made worse by the close relationship my Grandpa had with his older brothers ,Thomas and Norman, before the war. His older brother Norman would die some ten years after the war due to head injuries received in combat.

The old photograph on the photograph repair page is of the Davison brothers Eric and Norman walking with their parents at Scarborough in the early to mid 1930’s.

Remembering

I’d like to dedicate this post not only to the memory of the Davison brothers, Eric, Thomas and Norman, but also to Thomas’ crew of the 103 squadron Lancaster ED 701 PM-B2.

W/O Kenneth Breckon DFM RAFVR – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Sgt William John Wearn RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

F/S Claude William Jones RAFVR – Navigator – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Sgt Thomas Davison RAFVR – Air Bomber – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Sgt John Harwood RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

Sgt Albert Edward Lefort RAFVR ( pictured above ) – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.

F/S William Henry Austin RAFVR – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn – Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.