CAPTAIN: HENSON
LANCASTER
No specific Lancaster given; crew is that of the first op Henson flew with his own aircraft, 23/24 December 1943, Berlin operation
CREW
Pilot: F/O L.Henson
Flight Engineer: Sgt W.C.Whitbread
Navigator: P/O G.H.Parsons
Bomb Aimer: Sgt J.C.Nicholl (s)
W/Op: Sgt N (W?).Cohen
Mid-Upper Gunner: F/O W.Woods
Rear Gunner: Sgt M.Sharpe
LANCASTER
No specific Lancaster given; crew is that of the first op Henson flew with his own aircraft, 23/24 December 1943, Berlin operation
CREW
Pilot: F/O L.Henson
Flight Engineer: Sgt W.C.Whitbread
Navigator: P/O G.H.Parsons
Bomb Aimer: Sgt J.C.Nicholl (s)
W/Op: Sgt N (W?).Cohen
Mid-Upper Gunner: F/O W.Woods
Rear Gunner: Sgt M.Sharpe
CREW: L Henson, W.C.Whitbread, G.H.Parsons, J.C.Nicholl, W. Cohen, W.Woods, M.Sharpe,
Squadron Leader Leslie Henson RAFVR
DFC and Bar, served in 97 and 635 Squadrons
The following text is a slightly abbreviated version of research undertaken by Simon Muggleton. Following on from it are some minor corrections and interesting additions, made by Trevor Henson and Patricia Hodson, Henson's son and daughter.
Born in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire on the 10th January 1920, Henson attended the Guild Street and Burton Grammar School before being employed by the Post Office in Birmingham as a Senior Clerk and Telegraphist.
At the outbreak of the war he enlisted into the RAFVR on the 24th August 1940, and was sent to Babbacombe on the 27th September 1940 for a two week induction course, then finding himself being posted to No 6 Initial Training Wing at Aberwystwyth on the 11th October until January 1941.
He soon made it known that he wanted to be aircrew and LAC Henson found himself at No 16 Elementary Flying Training School at Derby on the 4th January, taking his first flight in a Magister three days later with Flt Lt Everett.
He must have been a natural pilot because one month later he did his first solo flight, and by March 1941 with only 24hrs solo flying was graded as 'Above Average' by the Chief Flying Instructor S/L M Hutchinson who also noted 'tends to be overconfident'.
On the 10th April he was sent to No 17 EFTS at North Luffenham to practise acrobatics and spinning in a Tiger Moth, one week later he was sent to No 15 EFTS at Kidlington to fly Oxfords polishing up instrument and night flying techniques. Finally on the 23rd June he was awarded his 'flying wings'.
On July 7th he was sent to No 2 Central Flying School at Church Lawford, flying Tutors and Oxford aircraft where he stayed until the 4th September being assessed as a Flying Instructor, (qualifying to instruct on elementary and multi-engined aircraft Category Q).
By now he had been promoted to Sergeant and on the 10th September he was sent to No 2 Senior Flying Training School at Brize Norton for nine months, where he would learn to fly in formation and take part in numerous navigation and night flying exercises, still flying Oxfords, (completing an attachment to No 1 Blind Approach School at Watchfield during October 1941, being assessed as 'above average').
On July 15th 1942 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation, and two days later posted to No 6 (P) Advanced Flying Unit at Little Rissington, Gloucester, where he would also fly Anson aircraft as well as the Oxford, taking part in low level flying and searchlight co-operation exercises.
On March 26th 1943 he was posted to No 20 (P) AFU at Kidlington (having been promoted to Flying Officer) where he completed many more flying exercises both night and day by the 15th October, being assessed as 'above average' as a flying instructor with over 1200 hrs flying time shown in his log-book.
During the month of November he was at No 19 Operational Training Unit at Kinloss, where he flew a Whitley Mk V, finally taking to the skies in a Lancaster Mk 1 on the 11th December from Upwood with S/L Sauvage as the 1st Pilot.
Flying Officer Henson would have to wait until the next day to become a fully qualified Lancaster pilot.
Just four days later, on the 16th December 1943, he would have his baptism of fire over Berlin as 2nd pilot to Flt Lt Pelletier of Lancaster JA 960 OF-E.
His regular crew would be:-
F/O G Parsons, W/O E JD Bill, Flt/Sgt N Cohen, F/O T Woods, Flt/Sgt M Sharp, and Flt/Sgt WJ Whitbread, who would fly with him on 10 of the 11 missions he undertook with 97 Squadron.
On the 20th March 1944, 635 Squadron was formed with 20 Lancasters at Downham Market, Norfolk from 'B' Flight of 35 Squadron and 'C' Flight of 97 Squadron, joining the Pathfinder Force(8 Group) under the command of W/C 'Tubby' Baker DSO DFC.
Flying Officer Henson and his crew were one of those selected for the new squadron being by now 'battle-hardened veterans', having visited Berlin on five occasions already.
Henson would carry out 43 ops with 635 Squadron from 24th March until 20th November 1944, being promoted to Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 14th November 1944. The original citation dated 19.8.44 from the Squadron Commander, W/C WT Brooks reading;-
'This officer and Captain of aircraft has carried out a large number of sorties against some of the most heavily defended German cities including Berlin. His courage, skill and determination in action have been an inspiration to his crew.' This was endorsed by the Station Group Captain the next day - 'A very steady captain who has always operated with determination.'
These observations were added to by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Commander of Pathfinder Force (No8 Group) on 28th August 1944 with the simple remark, 'Recommended'.
After two tours with the Pathfinders, Flt Lt Henson was rested from operations and was awarded a Bar to his DFC on the 23rd March 1945, the citation reading,
"Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Flt Lt Henson has completed his second tour of operations. He has participated in attacks against many heavily defended German targets, including Stettin and Frankfurt. Throughout he has proved himself to be an excellent pilot and by his cheerful courage and determination, he has won the admiration and confidence of his crew."
At the end of the war, Flt Lt Henson decided to stay on in the RAF but eventually left on the 20th August 1946 returning to work for the Post Office. After two years he decided that civilian life was not for him and he re-enlisted into the RAF, obtaining his old rank of Flight Lieutenant on the 27th May 1948 and being granted a Short Service Commission on the 30th December. He was appointed to a Permanent Commission as a Flight Lieutenant on the 1st October 1950, finally retiring at his own request on the 31st August 1960.
These career details of S/L Henson have been compiled with the assistance of Desmond Evans of the 97 Association and Ron Evans of the 635 Association along with the entries shown in S/L Henson's flying log-book, and the help of the RAF Personnel Centre at RAF Innsworth.
Simon Muggleton
Jennie Gray adds: In April 2008 I was contacted by Leslie Henson's daughter, Patricia Hodson, who wrote as follows:-
I am Leslie Henson's daughter Patricia Henson born 1951. I have been reading Leslie Henson's war record on your website. I also have his full RAF record which I obtained following his death in 1997.
Your last paragraph about the post-war years appears to be out of line with his RAF record and I would like to let you know of the events as per that document. Following the war he was initially seconded to British Overseas Aircraft Association then left the RAF to continue flying with BOAC based in Canada. His wife and sons returned to this country in 1947 after six months in Canada, and Leslie Henson followed them back to the UK and rejoined the RAF on 30th Dec 1948.
He finished his war service as a Flight Lieutenant and on rejoining the RAF he went in initially as a Flying Officer and then on 1/11/49 whilst with 297 squadron he was made a Flight Lieutenant again and continued in that rank until "placed on Retired List at own request" on 31/8/60. There is no record in these documents that state he was made a Squadron Leader.
The only other fact I know about the 1940's was that he was awarded the freedom of the City of London whilst with BOAC and I have the certificate for that.
It is interesting to note that his logbook suffered water damage. My father's bungalow was extensively flooded in the Towyn floods in the nineties and so it would seem the damage may well have occurred then and also interesting that he sold [the logbook and the medals] only fairly recently.
Trevor Henson added:
On the website it says that my father went back to the Post Office after the war. In fact he joined BOAC as a pilot of Constellations from Heathrow to New York and Montreal. Indeed he went back to the RAF after that in 1948 with various postings until 1960. I can supply his history since then until he died in 1998 of a heart attack aged 78.
DFC and Bar, served in 97 and 635 Squadrons
The following text is a slightly abbreviated version of research undertaken by Simon Muggleton. Following on from it are some minor corrections and interesting additions, made by Trevor Henson and Patricia Hodson, Henson's son and daughter.
Born in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire on the 10th January 1920, Henson attended the Guild Street and Burton Grammar School before being employed by the Post Office in Birmingham as a Senior Clerk and Telegraphist.
At the outbreak of the war he enlisted into the RAFVR on the 24th August 1940, and was sent to Babbacombe on the 27th September 1940 for a two week induction course, then finding himself being posted to No 6 Initial Training Wing at Aberwystwyth on the 11th October until January 1941.
He soon made it known that he wanted to be aircrew and LAC Henson found himself at No 16 Elementary Flying Training School at Derby on the 4th January, taking his first flight in a Magister three days later with Flt Lt Everett.
He must have been a natural pilot because one month later he did his first solo flight, and by March 1941 with only 24hrs solo flying was graded as 'Above Average' by the Chief Flying Instructor S/L M Hutchinson who also noted 'tends to be overconfident'.
On the 10th April he was sent to No 17 EFTS at North Luffenham to practise acrobatics and spinning in a Tiger Moth, one week later he was sent to No 15 EFTS at Kidlington to fly Oxfords polishing up instrument and night flying techniques. Finally on the 23rd June he was awarded his 'flying wings'.
On July 7th he was sent to No 2 Central Flying School at Church Lawford, flying Tutors and Oxford aircraft where he stayed until the 4th September being assessed as a Flying Instructor, (qualifying to instruct on elementary and multi-engined aircraft Category Q).
By now he had been promoted to Sergeant and on the 10th September he was sent to No 2 Senior Flying Training School at Brize Norton for nine months, where he would learn to fly in formation and take part in numerous navigation and night flying exercises, still flying Oxfords, (completing an attachment to No 1 Blind Approach School at Watchfield during October 1941, being assessed as 'above average').
On July 15th 1942 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation, and two days later posted to No 6 (P) Advanced Flying Unit at Little Rissington, Gloucester, where he would also fly Anson aircraft as well as the Oxford, taking part in low level flying and searchlight co-operation exercises.
On March 26th 1943 he was posted to No 20 (P) AFU at Kidlington (having been promoted to Flying Officer) where he completed many more flying exercises both night and day by the 15th October, being assessed as 'above average' as a flying instructor with over 1200 hrs flying time shown in his log-book.
During the month of November he was at No 19 Operational Training Unit at Kinloss, where he flew a Whitley Mk V, finally taking to the skies in a Lancaster Mk 1 on the 11th December from Upwood with S/L Sauvage as the 1st Pilot.
Flying Officer Henson would have to wait until the next day to become a fully qualified Lancaster pilot.
Just four days later, on the 16th December 1943, he would have his baptism of fire over Berlin as 2nd pilot to Flt Lt Pelletier of Lancaster JA 960 OF-E.
His regular crew would be:-
F/O G Parsons, W/O E JD Bill, Flt/Sgt N Cohen, F/O T Woods, Flt/Sgt M Sharp, and Flt/Sgt WJ Whitbread, who would fly with him on 10 of the 11 missions he undertook with 97 Squadron.
On the 20th March 1944, 635 Squadron was formed with 20 Lancasters at Downham Market, Norfolk from 'B' Flight of 35 Squadron and 'C' Flight of 97 Squadron, joining the Pathfinder Force(8 Group) under the command of W/C 'Tubby' Baker DSO DFC.
Flying Officer Henson and his crew were one of those selected for the new squadron being by now 'battle-hardened veterans', having visited Berlin on five occasions already.
Henson would carry out 43 ops with 635 Squadron from 24th March until 20th November 1944, being promoted to Flight Lieutenant and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 14th November 1944. The original citation dated 19.8.44 from the Squadron Commander, W/C WT Brooks reading;-
'This officer and Captain of aircraft has carried out a large number of sorties against some of the most heavily defended German cities including Berlin. His courage, skill and determination in action have been an inspiration to his crew.' This was endorsed by the Station Group Captain the next day - 'A very steady captain who has always operated with determination.'
These observations were added to by Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett, Commander of Pathfinder Force (No8 Group) on 28th August 1944 with the simple remark, 'Recommended'.
After two tours with the Pathfinders, Flt Lt Henson was rested from operations and was awarded a Bar to his DFC on the 23rd March 1945, the citation reading,
"Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross Flt Lt Henson has completed his second tour of operations. He has participated in attacks against many heavily defended German targets, including Stettin and Frankfurt. Throughout he has proved himself to be an excellent pilot and by his cheerful courage and determination, he has won the admiration and confidence of his crew."
At the end of the war, Flt Lt Henson decided to stay on in the RAF but eventually left on the 20th August 1946 returning to work for the Post Office. After two years he decided that civilian life was not for him and he re-enlisted into the RAF, obtaining his old rank of Flight Lieutenant on the 27th May 1948 and being granted a Short Service Commission on the 30th December. He was appointed to a Permanent Commission as a Flight Lieutenant on the 1st October 1950, finally retiring at his own request on the 31st August 1960.
These career details of S/L Henson have been compiled with the assistance of Desmond Evans of the 97 Association and Ron Evans of the 635 Association along with the entries shown in S/L Henson's flying log-book, and the help of the RAF Personnel Centre at RAF Innsworth.
Simon Muggleton
Jennie Gray adds: In April 2008 I was contacted by Leslie Henson's daughter, Patricia Hodson, who wrote as follows:-
I am Leslie Henson's daughter Patricia Henson born 1951. I have been reading Leslie Henson's war record on your website. I also have his full RAF record which I obtained following his death in 1997.
Your last paragraph about the post-war years appears to be out of line with his RAF record and I would like to let you know of the events as per that document. Following the war he was initially seconded to British Overseas Aircraft Association then left the RAF to continue flying with BOAC based in Canada. His wife and sons returned to this country in 1947 after six months in Canada, and Leslie Henson followed them back to the UK and rejoined the RAF on 30th Dec 1948.
He finished his war service as a Flight Lieutenant and on rejoining the RAF he went in initially as a Flying Officer and then on 1/11/49 whilst with 297 squadron he was made a Flight Lieutenant again and continued in that rank until "placed on Retired List at own request" on 31/8/60. There is no record in these documents that state he was made a Squadron Leader.
The only other fact I know about the 1940's was that he was awarded the freedom of the City of London whilst with BOAC and I have the certificate for that.
It is interesting to note that his logbook suffered water damage. My father's bungalow was extensively flooded in the Towyn floods in the nineties and so it would seem the damage may well have occurred then and also interesting that he sold [the logbook and the medals] only fairly recently.
Trevor Henson added:
On the website it says that my father went back to the Post Office after the war. In fact he joined BOAC as a pilot of Constellations from Heathrow to New York and Montreal. Indeed he went back to the RAF after that in 1948 with various postings until 1960. I can supply his history since then until he died in 1998 of a heart attack aged 78.
The Pathfinder Year - 97 Squadron at Bourn
Left: Leslie Henson's campaign medals, and far left his DFC and bar. The Pathfinder badge in pinned in the centre.
Below: Logbook entry for 635 Squadron
Link to Henson's flight on Black Thursday, with Jeff Pelletier