30 ops whilst flying from Fiskerton.

He was: Flt. Sgt. Eddie Wise. RAFVR. He and his crew completed their tour of 30 ops flying from Fiskerton during 1944-1945.

Edwin James Wise was born on the 24^th of February 1914 in the London Borough of Lambeth. His Civil occupation was that of Plumber.

Marrying Edith Blackham from Dartford on the 11^th of February 1936, Eddie settled down to married life and had two sons, Martin and Terence.

On the 14^th of December 1942 Eddie now 28 years old decided to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at No1 Air crew Recruiting Centre, Euston in London.

His initial basic training in the Air Force was at No 14 Initial training Wing based at Bridlington in East Yorkshire.

Once Basic training was completed Eddie was posted on to No1 Air Gunnery School at RAF Pembrey in West Wales on the 3^rd of April 1943. Completing his

Gunnery course Eddie received his Air Gunners Brevet and was promoted Sergeant.

11^th June 1943 saw Eddie  posted again, this time to No 1 Air Armaments School at RAF Manby in Lincolnshire where he undertook training as an Air Gunnery Instructor.

September 7^th 1943 saw Eddie commence flying as a qualified Instructor of Air Gunnery. This position took him to RAF BallyKelly in Northern Ireland,

a Coastal Command Station then RAF Downham Market in Norfolk.

On the 23^th of May 1944 Eddie was posted to 28 Operational Training Unit at RAF Wymeswold, 3 miles east of Loughborough, Leicestershire.

This station, equipped with the Vickers Wellington Medium Bomber was the main aircraft at this period that novice crews trained on prior to moving on to the

Heavy Conversion Units of Bomber Command and conversion to the Avro Lancaster.

He did not stay with his O.T.U. crew on completion of this training but was instead on the 20^th June 1944 posted to RAF Bircotes on the

Nottinghamshire / South Yorkshire border some 10 miles South of Doncaster.

This station was the base that No 1 Group Communications Flight operated from supporting No 1 Groups Headquarters in the nearby town of Bawtry.

July the 29^th 1944 saw Eddie posted back to 28 O.T.U. as an Instructor but by August10th 1944 Eddie was once more posted, this time to RAF Lindholme (11 Base)

the Headquaters of No 1 Groups Heavy Conversion Units. The resident unit at Lindholme was 1656 H.C.U.

Lindholme had satellite stations at Sandtoft (1667 H.C.U.) and Blyton (1662 H.C.U.) with a beam approach flight at Sturgate (1520 B.A.T. Flight)

Converting to the Lancaster at Lindholme , Eddie with his new crew were finally posted to Fiskerton and operations with 576 Squadron on the 10^th of October 1944.

The crew were

Flying Officer “Herby” Herbert Pilot

Sgt Heller Flight Engineer

Sgt Thornwell Bomb Aimer

Pilot Officer Scott Navigator

Sgt Stephens Wireless Operator

Eddie as Mid Upper Gunner

Warrant Officer Turley Rear Gunner

Starting their first Operation on the 9^th of November 1944 to Wanne Eikel in the Ruhr, the target that night was the Synthetic Oil refinery in the town.

The crews last Operation was on the 30^th April 1945 to Delft airfield in the Netherlands dropping food parcels as part of Operation Manna.

June 13^th 1945 saw Eddie posted to the Air crew reception centre at RAF Scorton near Catterick in North Yorkshire. But demob was not to be and

Eddie by August 2^ndwas on the move again this time to No8 School of Technical training at Weeton near Blackpool.

October 11^th 1945 saw Eddie posted to No5 Personnel Despatch Centre at Lytham-St Annes some 5 miles South of Blackpool.

Moving to No 9 Personnel Dispatch Centre RAF North Weald and from there Eddie was posted overseas

to RAF Manipur On the 17^th of November 1945. This airfield is now in present day Pakistan.

Release from the RAF came on January 26^th 1946 Eddie returned to England and his family.

In early 1947 Eddie moved to Canada with the help of his Canadian Aircrew, Doug Thornwell and Johnny Stephens. The rest of the family following in

September 1947 on the Liner Aquitania.

The family moved to the United States in 1960.

Eddie passed away in 1969 aged 55 years and is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.