Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich)
Vernon Thomas Marshall Wilkes DFC (1921-2013)
Member of OASI 1972-99, Treasurer 1972, Trustee 1973.
Born, Stafford, 29 January 1921.
RAF P/O 56524, Avro Lancaster aircraft (airframe NG264, callsign IQ-B, nickname We Dood It Too) bomb aimer WWII. 150 Squadron. Flew 36 missions.
We dood it too was a catchphrase of Captain A(lastair) R(oger) P(lantagenet) Reilly Ffoull a character from the Just Jake strip cartoon in the Daily Mirror newspaper.
DFC citation: in numerous operations invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.
Married, 1953, Joan Sylvia Cooper (1920-2013).
Died, Ipswich, 02 May 2013, age 92.
Wilkes' militaria was auctioned:
Photographs of NG264 and her crew.
Paintings of NG264:
Report of foo fighters in OASI Newsletter 191 (December 1987), p.5.
Bill Barton, FRAS