Aubrey was born in Lincoln on 9th September 1920. When he was 16, he joined the Territorial Army as a Bandsman. He played the clarinet and saxophone. In 1938 he joined the R.A.F, and the Cranwell College Band. The Bandmaster of the Lincolnshire Regiment wrote: “I am pleased to say that he is the most promising pupil I have ever had”.

Aubrey trained to be a Wireless Operator and a Air Gunner. Aubrey joined 106

Squadron in June 1943 at RAF Syerston, and completed a total of 23 night

operations, including raids on Cologne ,Hamburg four times and Milan.

Aubrey’s sister Bunty (my great Grandma) remembered that he told his parents not to worry, and said his Flying Officer Jacques Hoboken can get them out of anything.

During a raid on Kassel on October 22nd 1944 Aubrey’s Lancaster was attacked twice by night fighters, some members of the crew were wounded and the aircraft badly damaged. With one fin and rudder shot away, no hydraulics or intercom, two punctured tyres, two turrets inoperable and only three engines working, they made their way back home, only to find they were unable to land because of bad weather. The squadron record book records that eventually Flight Officer Hoboken landed at a different airfield. It took more than an hour for the rear gunner to be cut free from his turret. The Flight officer was given a medal for his courage after this raid.

In November 1944 Aubrey went on a night raid in Berlin - his plane was shot down.

His whole crew was killed. He was 23 years old.

Wing Commander Baxter, 106 Squadron Commanding Officer, wrote to Aubrey’s

parents and said: “He was a Wireless Operator of considerable ability and I know his Captain placed the greatest reliance

in his work”.

PICTURES OF AUBREY

My Great Great Uncle Aubrey