Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Updates for Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan
Date Information
30/12/2015
30/12/2015
30/12/2015 Sergeant T.A.S. Buchanan died on 5th May 1943, age 24.
30/12/2015 The crew of the aircraft were : F/Andrew Peter Uditsky RCAF Pilot, F/Sgt Ernest Nixon Moore RCAF Air Bomber, F/Sgt John Theo Macksimchuck RCAF Navigator and Sgt Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan RAFVR Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.
30/12/2015 Sergeant Thomas Buchanan's aircraft allegedly shot down by OFW Karl Heinz Scherfling of 10 or 4 NJG1. It crashed at approx 01.50 hrs on 5th May 1943, between Houten and Schalkwijk, some 20 kilometres west of Arnhem Bridge. Other reports say a/c brought down by Flak (and finished off by fighter). All crew killed and buried in Vlagtwedde. The Aircraft code was AS-'P Peter'.
30/12/2015 Sgt Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve serving with the 166 Squadron.
30/12/2015 It was 27 January 1943 before the squadron re-emerged when detachments of No's 142 and 150 Squadron were amalgamated into No 166 (Motto: Tenacity) at Kirmington. Equipped with Wellingtons, it immediately joined the night bombing offensive, re-equipping with Lancasters in September 1943.
30/12/2015 The squadron reformed at Boscombe Down by upgrading 'A' Flight of No 97 Squadron on 1 November 1936. Initially equipped with Heyfords, these were exchanged for Whitleys in June 1939. However, in June 1938, the squadron had adopted a training role and this continued until 6 April 1940, when the squadron was merged with No 97 to form No 10 Operational Training Unit at Abingdon.
30/12/2015 No 166 Squadron's formation as a Snipe unit was proposed on 9 May 1918, for a deployment to France on 28 September, but these plans were cancelled. It eventually did form, but as a Handley Page V/1500 bomber unit. The squadron did not become operational, although it was 31st May 1919 before it was disbanded.
30/12/2015 Thomas Alexander Stuart Buchanan was the son of Thomas Alexander Osborne Buchanan and Ellen Elizabeth Howe Buchanan, of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Thomas was born about 1919.
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