wrote on March 31, 2014
In Memory of J H, Buck Rogers Wireless Operator, Death March 13, 2014 and Remembering the W H, Wally Phillips Crew. Geoff and Devon Phillips, son and daughter of Pilot Officer pilot W G Phillips, updated a tragic situation within the Rogers family. Deaths of three members within two years. Wife Lily /2012, son Richard February /2014 and Jim March 13th 2014.
Buck Rogers was the Wireless Operator on the Wally Phillips Crew. Their special friendship survived a war and lasted a lifetime. While serving with the Squadron during the war I witnessed family like relationships develop within 408 aircrews and it’s important to record Bucks death and their special relationship on the 408 Squadron Association Site.
This relationship is best described by Wally’s letter.
To the family of Buck Rogers - From Wally Phillips and family, Buck an I met in WW2 in Bomber Command’s 408 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire. Buck was our wireless operator and I was the Pilot.
Our time together in the air is highly memorable for all the members of our seven person crew. Each member of our crew realized that each contributed his abilities to keep the aircraft from getting into trouble. One of the aspects of Buck’s special abilities was his skill in finding, when necessary, a landing at another airdrome and keeping us in touch with them.
You might say it’s almost as though certain very specific skills of Buck’s came to the fore when the occasion required them. Buck was a popular fellow - after all, Buck had a nose for good food and it was a big dvantage for all of us. If we were going to be separated from our home base, Buck was not going to waste time sending us to a Base that did not offer better lodgings, and most importantly better food than ours! That proved to be an important skill that was not recorded in the history books !!.
After the war Buck and I lost touch for some years. Then Buck’s son Richard visited Canada and managed to locate me. Through Richard’s detective work, Buck and I were reunited. My wife Joan and I went to England to visit Buck and his wife Lily. Later Buck and Lily came to Canada. This was a very special friendship.
Most recently, Buck and I visited the airbase at Linton-on-Ouse togerther last June. We had a full tour, met with pilots in training, and also visited Beningbrough Hall where we were stationed.
The last meal Buck and I hasd together, was on June 25, 2013, in York at Brigantes Restaurant and Brassiere. Buck enjoyed his non-dietary approved meal with a pint, and seventy years later, he is still going out of his way to eat what he really wanted and not what he was supposed to be eating. I believe it was meat pie and mashed ! All this after a full English breakfast earlier that day !
Cheers to you Buck.