July 1944
News was received at 630 Squadron of the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to David Roberts in recognition of his highly successful first tour through the worst of the Battle of Berlin – the first tour to be completed by a 630 Squadron crew between November 1943 and late April 1944. By now instructing novice crews at No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit he received many signals congratulations.
Three recently arrived crews were completing their training preparing for Ops with 630 Squadron, the all NCO crew of 22 year old Flight Sergeant George Bowers[i] from Malvern Link, Worcestershire (below),
the all NCO crew of 21 year old Flight Sergeant Peter Dennett RAAF[ii] of Toorak, Victoria and an all British crew captained by 22 year old Londoner Alex Sargent[iii].
“Peter” Docherty’s crew wereby now fully established amongst their peers as the “Breeze Boys” after the front escape hatch became loose and jammed open allowing a howling gale to blow through the fuselage of their Lancaster until it could be refitted. Navigator Francis Bailey’s maps were retrieved, very carefully, from the Elsan chemical toilet.
Tuesday 4th July 1944, 307 Halifaxes of 4 and 6 Groups attacked the German Flying bomb storage depot which was sited in a large cave at St. Leu d’Esserent, north of Paris. 5 Group continued the attack with Six-thirty participating fully bombed-up with 11 x 1000lb MC, 2 x 500lb GP (025) and 2 x 500lb LD (8 hours) bombs.
4th/ 5th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Creil (St. Leu d’Esserent)
Take Off: at 23:01 hours “Sam” Weller in ME650 was the first off, behind him two of the experienced crews had Second Dickies aboard.
ND688-R S/L RO Calvert RNZAF (P/O AF Kemp RCAF)
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF (P/O WA McNeil)
ME867-N P/O RN Taft
LL966-P P/O E Docherty
ME845-Q P/O AR Kerr
ME796-S P/O AG Henriquez
LL972-T T/S W Adams USAAF
PA992-Y P/O GE Maxwell RAAF
ND949-Z F/S TS Fenning
ME650-B F/L JCW Weller
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
PB236-F F/O HH Long RCAF
JB290-C P/O DG Gamble
LM216-K P/O DH Simpson RCAF
LM637-V P/O RT Hayes
ND527-O P/O HE Wilson RCAF
LM117-J P/O BW Brittain RAAF
LM537-X P/O JH Bolton
LL949-E Sgt EP Mitchell
Over the target there were small amounts of cloud but it was mainly clear and the marking was punctual and seemed accurate. The original markers were well backed up and bombing seemed concentrated on red TI’s picked out by green TI’s. 630 Squadron attacked between 01:32 and 01:39 hours from 14,350 to 18,100 feet. Ground defences were less than expected but there was considerable evidence of fighter activity with combats on both outward and homeward routes and also through the target area. The main force lost 10 Lancasters, one of them from Six-thirty. Bombing photos show that the marker was probably accurate and ensuing bombing was around the marker.
At 01:52 hours in patchy cloud under a full moon at 9,000 feet a fighter flare lit up ME845 “Q” and a JU88 was sighted at 1000 yards on the starboard quarter down moving across to port quarter up as he tried to get into position. Alan Kerr immediately flung “Queenie” into a corkscrew as Sergeant Peter Yorston in the mid upper turret began hosing .303 rounds at the German joined by Sergeant Noble the rear gunner after he cleared an early stoppage. The German pilot followed Kerr’s Lancaster in its violent manoeuvre and staying with the bomber he opened fire at 200 yards but receiving numerous hits from the gunners’ return fire the night fighter broke off his attack. Sergeant Fraser the flight engineer saw pieces breaking off the JU88 between its fuselage and port engine and it dived away not to be seen again. 1,800 rounds were fired by the two gunners during the combat.
Sergeant Yorston (mid upper) trained at 12 AGS, 29 OTU. and 1661 HCU.
Sergeant Noble (rear gunner) trained at 43 AGS, 29 OTU. and 1661 HCU.
Aboard “Paddy” Fenning’s ND949 “Z-Zebra”mid upper gunner Sergeant JP O’Leary and rear gunner Jimmy Brown had been in combat with a JU88 which was recorded as damaged. No combat report appears to have survived.
Ron Hayes gunners found themselves in action again, this time aboard LM637 “V-Victor” and they also fought back when a JU88 attacked and claimed it damaged.
Sergeant Stead (mid-upper) trained at 14 OTU. and 1654 HCU.
Sergeant Graves (mid-upper) trained at 14 OTU. and 1654 HCU.
Technical Sergeant Bill Adams USAAF flying LL972 “T-Tare” returned thanks to alert gunners who fought off a night fighter shooting it down.
Sergeant Lough (rear guner) trained at 16 OTU. and 1654 HCU.
Sergeant Kiesow (mid upper) trained at 16 OTU. and 1654 HCU.
(picture thanks to Pjotr Forkasiewicz)
A Ju88 which manoeuvred to attack Gordon Maxwell’s PA992 “Y-Yoke” also came off worst when their new rear gunner “Paddy” Leary, who had recently joined the crew to replace Ron Peake after he’d been wounded in an attack by a night fighter in late May, displayed his rumoured superior night vision and “clobbered it” before it could open fire, the JU88 was rated probably destroyed.
The last to return safely to East Kirkby was Doug Simpson’s LM216 at 04:44 hours. One crew Failed To Return.
Lancaster III, ME867 (Codes LE – N)
Pilot – P/O Ralph Norman Taft. Age 22 †
Flight Eng – Sgt William John Goodyear. Age 34 †
Navigator – Sgt Harold Bradley. Age 20 †
Bomb Aimer – Sgt Frank Hartley. Age 20 †
Wireless Op – Sgt Eric Charles Day. Age 21 †
Mid Upper – Sgt Frederick Hubert Hard. Age 19 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt George Herbert Tyler †
Ralph Taft’s bomber crashed at Lannoy-Cuillere (Oise), 4 km north-west of Abancourt, it was quite possibly shot down by Unteroffizier Heinz Siebert of 2/NJG5 who claimed a “4 motor” bomber in that vicinity at 01:55 hours. Sgt Hard is buried in Lannoy-Cuillere Cemetery but the remainder of his crew lie for reasons unknown at Poix-de-la-Somme Churchyard.
(photo thanks to Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage, East Kirkby)
Friday 7th July 1944. 208 Lancasters of 5 Group following Mosquito markers again attacked St. Leu d’Esserent storage cave and an associated network of tunnels formerly used for mushroom farming in which the Germans had stored V-1’s and essential parts. “Six-thirtys” Lancasters carried bomb loads of 11 x 1000lb AN-M and 4 x 500lb LD (6 hours) bombs.
(photo thanks to Michael Williamson)
7th/ 8th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Creil (St. Leu d’Esserent)
Take Off: at 22:28 hours Arthur Kemp in ND797 (incorrectly shown as Kerr in ORB)
led the take off from East Kirkby.
ND688-R W/C WI Deas
ME650-B F/L JCW Weller
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
PB236-F F/O HH Long RCAF
JB290-C P/O DG Gamble
LL949-E P/O BW Brittain RAAF
ND554-A P/O HE Wilson RCAF
LM216-K P/O DH Simpson RCAF
ME739-D P/O JH Bolton
ND797-W P/O AF Kemp
ND527-O P/O WA McNeil
ME796-S P/O AG Henriquez
PA992-Y P/O GE Maxwell RAAF
LL966-P P/O E Docherty
ME845-Q P/O AR Kerr
LM537-X P/O RT Hayes
LM637-V F/S TS Fenning
Small amounts of cloud were present but visibility in the target area was excellent. Marking was completed aided by flares and at 01:16 hours the main force received orders from the Master Bomber to bomb the Red TI overshooting by 1 second. The squadron’s crews attacked from 01:19 to 01:29 hours from 11,350 to 15,000 feet. Bombing appeared well concentrated and there was soon a large fire burning 400 yards south of the markers. Ground defences were considerably stronger than previously and fighter activity was intense. Six combats were recorded by returning crews. Accurately placed marking and bombing closed off the mouths of the tunnels and destroyed the approach roads denying the German’s access to the site. John Bolton’s crew was the last to return to East Kirkby at 03:55 hours. It was soon obvious that the O.C. had Failed To Return.
Wing Commander Deas was flying his 69th operation. Squadron records contradict themselves in places where his first tour(s) is counted variously as 50, 56 or 58 ops, plus the number flown on his current tour. The record of the attack on Brunswick on 22nd/23rd May recorded that he had already completed 56+9 (ie: 56 ops on his first tour and 9 during his current tour), St.Valery-en-Caux on 27th/28th May recorded 58 + 10, Caen on 6th/7th June showed 50+11, Beauvoir on 16th/17th June stated 58+12 and his final op recorded 58+13. Since all of these numbers are handwritten it seems likely that human error has played a part. The op against Creil was actually his 14th with 630 Squadron.
The records of the squadron clearly state the feeling of sadness at the loss of a “most popular and efficient Commanding Officer a squadron could have” which was described as “the saddest blow and most grievious loss”. Adding to the loss was the fact that aboard the CO’s Lancaster were the Deputy Squadron Engineer Leader, the Squadron Bombing Leader and Squadron Signals Leader.
Lancaster III, ND688 (Codes LE – R)
Pilot – W/C William Inglis Deas DSO DFC&Bar. Age 29 †
Flight Eng – F/O Joseph Thomas Taylor DFC[iv]. †
Navigator – P/O Charles Norman Wright. Age 29 †
Bomb Aimer – F/L George Grafron Haig Farara DFC DFM.Age 26 †
Wireless Op – F/O Walter Thomas Upton DFM[v]. Age 23 Prisoner of War
Mid Upper – Sgt Leonard Augustus Alfred Page. Age 19 †
Rear Gunner – F/S Roland James Locke. Age 24 †
ND688 crashed at circa 01:30 hours just south east of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d’Oise) very probably the first night fighting victory of Oberfeldwebel Manfred Gromoll of 3/JG301 who claimed a Lancaster at 01:36 hours in the vicinity. The dead lie in Omerville Communal Cemetery alongside 6 of the crew of Claud Houghton AFM who had been lost a month previously. Former accountants clerk Wally Upton DFM from Eythorne near Dover, who had already completed a tour with 61 Squadron in 1942 (awarded the DFM London Gazette 29th December 1942), survived the loss of the bomber to be captured on landing by parachute. Wounded he was denied treatment and interrogated at a local Military barracks before being handed over to the SS and Gestapo and imprisoned at Fresnes Gestapo prison near Paris where he was kicked, punched and knocked to the floor. Passed next to the Wiesbaden Gestapo on 2nd September he was again illtreated and threatened with transfer to a Concentration Camp still being denied proper medical attention until he arrived at Stalag Luft I (Barth) on 10th September. Upton settled in Australia post-war and became a world recognised Orchid authority lecturing to fellow enthusiasts in most English speaking countries across the globe, he completed over 500 botanical drawings of orchids and registering over 165 orchid hybrids.Having being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia he sadly died in 2012.
Squadron leader Roy Calvert RNZAF the B-Flight commander assumed command of 630 Squadron temporarily with his deputy, Flight Lieutenant Doug Hawker, taking over B-Flight. Twenty-six year old Flying Officer Tom Cass DFM[vi] arrived to take up the role of Squadron Gunnery Leader, the married man from Lincoln was the proud father of a baby girl. He had enlisted in the RAF pre-war as an Air Gunner and flown a previous tour with 61 Squadron ending in late 1942 after which he’d been awarded the DFM and commissioned before being appointed Gunnery Leader at 5 LFS Syerston. Flying Officer George Arkieson[vii], Terence “Pancho” O’Dwyer’s 21 year old bomb aimer from Edinburgh became Squadron Bombing Leader.
After flying their 10th op with Six-thirty Doug Gamble and crew transferred to 83 Squadron becoming Pathfinders. This crew survived their extended tour at the end of which their captain received a DFC, navigator Bill Hallam a DFC and 35 year old Scots bomb aimer Frank Burn, a DFM. Burn was a married man, much older than the average aircrew and was lucky to return to his native Scotland, his wife and three small children.
Monday 10th July 1944. It appears that an op was planned to bomb St.Philibert Ferne but that it was scrubbed in the early stages. In response to Naval requests for sea mining in the area code named “Silverthorne”, a section of Kattegat Bay, regularly used in u-boat training and a known u-boat transit area. 3 aircraft of the squadron were detailed and the load for the night was 9 x Mk.VI and 2 x Mk.IV mines.
10th /11th July 1944 Night Mine laying in Kattegat Bay
Take Off: at 22:17 hours Ron Hayes in LM216 was the first away.
PB236-F P/O BW Brittain RAAF
LM216-K P/O RT Hayes
ME796-S P/O AG Henriquez
Alfred Henriquez Lancaster had engine problems and had to return early. The weather remained fair and with Datum Points established mining was carried out successfully. When Ron Hayes landed LM216 at 04:30 hours his crew were the last home.
Wednesday 12th July 1944. Squadron Leader (Acting Wing Commander) Leslie Blome-Jones[viii] arrived to take command of 630 Squadron. An experienced flight commander who had completed a 32 op first tour and had already flown 10 ops of his second tour with neighbouring 207 Squadron, he was more of “stickler for the book” than his predecessor had been. A pre-war regular officer commissioned in April 1936 at the age of twenty-four, Blome-Jones’s father and uncles were both Sheerness solicitors, his uncle also a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Kent Volunteers, Royal Garrison Artillery. In Blome-Jones’ crew was an outstanding navigator, Flight Lieutenant Jimmy Martin[ix], who quickly became Squadron Navigation Leader on arrival at Six-thirty. Martin had flown a tour of 32 ops from bases in Malta and the Middle East and then commenced a second tour with 207 Squadron.
Railway junctions received the renewed attention of the heavy bombers As part of the attacking force Six-thirty despatched Lancasters armed with 8 x 1000lb GP and 4 x 500lb GP bombs.
12th/13th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Culmont-Chalindrey
Take Off: at 21:42 hours Australian Wade Rodgers (ME739) led the take off, two of the Lancasters had Second Dickies aboard, newly arrived pilots Alex Sargent and Pete Dennett.
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF (F/O AJ Sargent)
LM637-V F/O DH Simpson RCAF
PB236-F F/O HH Long RCAF
ND554-A P/O HE Wilson RCAF
LL949-E F/S EP Mitchell
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF (F/O PB Dennett RAAF)
LL966-P P/O MA Swain
ND797-W Flt/O W Adams USAAF
LM537-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
PA992-Y F/O GE Maxwell RAAF
One or 2 fighters were seen at the French coast en-route to the target area. The weather on the outward journey and in the TA was good and clear but on the return flight it turned foul and squadron aircraft landed at airfields across England, but all returned safely. Marking was punctual and accurate and all crews received the Controller’s instructions clearly, 630 Squadron attacked between 01:51 and 01:58 hours from 5,400 to 7,150 feet. With virtually no opposition a successful attack was delivered. Landing at 06:30 hours the recently promoted Flight Officer Bill Adams and crew in ND797 were the last to return. Records are unclear about the Lancaster flown by Doug Simpson and crew, the majority however state that it was LM637 “V-Victor”.
Friday 14th July 1944. 242 Lancasters were despatched to bomb the railway marshalling yards at Revigny and Villeneuve-St. George. 630 Squadron aircraft were each armed with 16 x 500lb GP (025) and 2 x 500lb GP LD (72 hours) bombs.
14th/15th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Villeneuve-St. George
Take Off: at 21:56 hours the squadron followed ND554 (Alec Swain) into the air.
LL966-P W/C LM Blome-Jones
ME650-B F/L JCW Weller
ND554-A P/O MA Swain
JB290-C F/O BW Brittain RAAF
PB236-F F/O HH Long RCAF
PB211-H P/O RT Hayes
ME845-Q P/O AR Kerr
PB244-N P/O AF Kemp RCAF
LM637-V P/O WA McNeil
Excellent Weather conditions in the Target Area enabled bombing altitude to be maintained instead of attacking at low altitude as with some recent targets. The Controller ordered the attack to commence at 01:35 hours but ordered “stop bombing” at 01:38 hours and then at 01:45 hours ordered crews to attack the concentration of red and green TI’s, this was confirmed at 01:48 and bombing was accurate based on visuals of the nearby river. The squadron attacked between 01:44 and 01:56 hours from 6,000 to 7,650 feet. Ground defences were negligible but some fighters were seen in the TA. The railways were hit and the German lines of communication further disrupted. ME845 (Alan Kerr) was the last of the squadrons aircraft to land, at 05:18 hours.
Completing a tour of 35 ops the crew of “Sam” Weller were screened from Ops, they had more than “done their bit” and set a superb example to their fellow crews of “unflappability”. Already awarded the DFC in April for his spirit (London Gazette 11th April 1944) it is surprising that from the crew only Weller’s Canadian bomb aimer Andy Kuzma[x] was awarded a DFC (London Gazette 19th September 1944) suggesting perhaps that the highly restrictive “quota system” had prevented some well earned awards to other crewmen. After a well earned leave most were posted as instructors, “Sam” Weller to 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit where he was injured in the crash of Stirling KF266 on 4th November 1944, Andy Kuzma later to return to East Kirkby in a staff role.
On the 15th July one of 57 Squadron’s ground crew was found dead at East Kirkby’s No.4 Living Site Picket Post, a post mortem revealed that 18 year old AC2 Aubrey Nigel Gurney of Headington had died of natural causes. His funeral was at Oxford Wolvercote Cemetery. “B” Flight of 2785 (Anti-Aircraft) Squadron under Flight Lieutenant Ian MacDougall[xi] which protected RAF East Kirkby transferring to RAF Hawkinge in Kent on 15th July. The remainding members of 2785 Squadron were dispersed to other units.
Saturday 15th July 1944. Attacks on railway junctions continued and 222 Lancasters attacked marshalling yards at Chalons-sur-Marne and Nevers. Each of Six-thirty’s Lancasters were bombed up with 9 x 1000lb MC and 4 x 500lb GP bombs.
15th/16th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Nevers
Take Off: at 21:53 hours in ME650, Terence O’Dwyer led the take off.
LM216-K F/L CW Rodgers RAAF
ME650-B F/L TG O’Dwyer
PB211-H P/O DH Simpson RCAF
LL949-E P/O EP Mitchell
ME796-S F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
LM537-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
PA992-Y F/O GE Maxwell RAAF
ND797-W Flt/O W Adams USAAF
The weather was very clear with good visibility despite a slight haze over the river. The initial two red spot flares were inaccurate and yellows had to be dropped on them as a cancellation measure. Some bombing was however observed the result of contradictory instructions from the Controller at 01:58 and 01:59 hours. After re-marking properly the Controller ordered the main force to attack at 02:05 hours. 630 Squadron’s crews attacked between 01:59 and 02:14 hours from 4,300 to 5,050 feet. As bombers ran in and bombed a very large explosion seen at 02:09 hours. Tall trees in the target area could be seen and the bombs were landing well in relation to them.
Enroute home “Pancho” O’Dwyer in ME650 “B” jettisoned a 1000lb bomb at 03:48 hours as it had hung-up over the target just as the large explosion occurred Bill Adams crew aboard ND797 were the last to land at 06:10 hours..
Tuesday 18th July 1944. A daylight Op was ordered, the first by 630 Squadron. In preparation for “Operation Goodwood” – the planned push by the armoured forces of the British 2nd Army through the Caen area – 942 aircraft attacked fortified villages and the fortified steel works near Caen. 630 Squadron participated in the attack on the steel works at Mont Evelle all aircraft armed with 11 x 1000lb AN and 4 x 500lb AN bombs. .
18th July 1944 Daylight bombing Caen
Take Off: at 03:27 hours in ND554 Harold Wilson and crew were the first airborne.
LL966-P W/C LM Blome-Jones
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ME650-B F/L TG O’Dwyer
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF
ND554-A F/O HE Wilson RCAF
JB290-C P/O DH Simpson RCAF
LD949-E P/O EP Mitchell
PB236-F F/O HH Long RCAF
PB211-H F/O RT Hayes
LM117-J P/O BW Brittain RAAF
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
PB244-N F/O AF Kemp RCAF
ME845-Q F/O AR Kerr
ME796-S F/O GE Maxwell RAAF
LM537-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
LM637-V Flt/O W Adams USAAF
Commencing at dawn in clear conditions the Oboe marking was practical and accurate on both targets and very well controlled by the Master Bomber, Squadron Leader Keith Creswell DSO DFC[xii]. Crews in the early stages of attack could identify the River Orne and the steel works before smoke and dust lifted. The bombers attacked from 5,000 to 9,000 feet after Army batteries and Naval guns worked to suppress the flak batteries which would otherwise decimate the main force. Remaining flak was light and no fighters were seen. The squadron attacked between 05:43 and 06:13 hours from 6,000 to 9,800 feet. USAAF bombers also attacked and 6,800 tons of bombs were dropped in total, more than 5,000 tons by the RAF. The 16th Luftwaffe Field (Infantry) Division and the 21st Panzer Division both sustained serious numbers of casualties and were seriously damaged. At East Kirkby ME845 (Alan Kerr) was last to land at 07:46 hours.
Tuesday 18th July 1944. A second op was ordered within 24 hours and 630 Squadron were participating. The railway junctions at Aulnoye and Revigny were high on the priorty list of targets and were next attacked by 1, 3, 5 & 8 Groups. Lancasters of Six-thirty bombed up with 11 x 1000lb AM and 4 x 500lb GP (36 hours delay) bombs.
18th/19th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Revigny
Take Off: at 22:36 hours New Zealander George Joblin was the first off.
ND554-A F/O HE Wilson RCAF
ME650-B F/O MA Swain
PB211-H F/O RT Hayes
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
PB244-N F/O AF Kemp RCAF
ME845-Q F/O AR Kerr
PB236-F P/O AJ Sargent
LM117-J P/O BW Brittain RAAF
ME796-S P/O GE Maxwell RAAF
LM537-X P/O PB Dennett RAAF
Arriving in the Revigny area the attacking force found conditions clear with a slight ground haze. After some delay in getting the target marked and after the Controller had ordered the force to “stand by” he finally gave the instruction to attack the red spot flare at 01:43 hours. Some crews noted that it was actually on the railway tracks and bombing commenced with a major explosion seen 1 minute later. 630 Squadron crews attacked 01:44 and 01:54 hours from 7,300 to 9,300 feet. Defences were light but fighter activity on outward route and in the TA were intense and did not decrease until part way home. 24 of the force of 253 Lancasters were shot down by night fighters and several combats took place.
At 01:10 hours in hazy conditions whilst 6 miles to port of the main track the crew of PB244 “N-Nan” (Arthur Kemp) had observed a flare below them on the starboard bow just as the “Fishpond” early warning system plotted a fighter 1000 yards off their port quarter and almost immediately a second one on their starboard quarter. Kemp instantly began a banking manoeuvre to port and then back to starboard to provide his gunners with the best possible chance of locating the enemy. As the Lancaster levelled out a twin engined night fighter opened fire rom below on the port quarter and Sergeant JW Stirling the rear gunner fired a 600 round burst, strikes were seen across the starboard wing of the night fighter which caught fire. The German dropped back but went into a spin and dived into the ground where it exploded, several members of the crew witnessed the crash. Immediately tracer was seen coming in on the starboard quarter but the fighter was lost as the Lancaster dropped into a corkscrew. Claimed as Destroyed.
Sergeant Cameron (mid upper) had trained at 3 B&GS, 16 OTU and 1654 HCU.
Sergeant Stirling (rear gunner) had trained at 9 B&GS, 16 OTU and 1654 HCU.
Bombing destroyed the railway lines to the battlefront and reinforcements and supplies were denied to the German front lines. The last of the 630 Squadron Lancasters to touch down at East Kirkby was PB244 at 04:10 hours.
Lancaster III, LM117 (Codes LE – J)
Pilot – F/O BruceWilliam Brittain RAAF. Age Evaded
Flight Eng – Sgt Ronald Francis Gannon. Age Prisoner Of War
Navigator – F/S Stanley Robert Ashton. Age 20 Prisoner Of War
Bomb Aimer – F/S Ernest Couchman. Age Evaded
Wireless Op – F/S Gordon Edwin Beckhouse RAAF. Age 20 †
Mid Upper – Sgt Donald Andrew Grant RCAF. Age 19 Evaded
Rear Gunner – F/S Ernest Harold Wells . Age 22 Prisoner Of War
Homebound, LM117 was hit by flak near Vitry and crashed about 02:04 hours near Togny-aux-Boeufs (Marne) 13km south east of Chalons-sur-Marne.
(thanks to National Archives Australia)
The entire crew baled out but Gordon Beckhouse their RAAF Wireless Op landed safely only to be shot by the German sentry posted to protect the railway line beside which he landed.
22 year old Leicester Insurance clerk Ernest “Harry” Wells and 20 year old Stan Ashton from Hackney were captured near Sogny and saw out the war together in Stalag Luft 7 and Stalag IIIA. A local family helped Ernest Couchman to evade captivity and assisted by local resistance fighters nineteen year old Sergeant Don Grant of Lake Cowichan, British Columbia also evaded.
Lancaster III, ME796 (Codes LE – S)
Pilot – F/O Gordon Edward Maxwell RAAF. Age 27 †
Flight Eng – Sgt James Napier Howie. Age 31 †
Navigator – F/O John Francis Bush RAAF. Age 26 †
Bomb Aimer – Sgt William Edward Griffiths. Age 20 †
Wireless Op – F/S Stanley Arthur Hawken RAAF. Age 27 Evaded
Mid Upper – Sgt Albert Ernest DeBruin. Age 22 Evaded
Rear Gunner – F/S William Leary. Age Evaded
Gordon Maxwell’s crew were ordered to delay attacking by 5 minutes and to orbit to port. Whilst stooging around over the target and waiting for permission to attack “S-Sugar” was acquired by several searchlights, shot up by a night fighter which made a head on attack and may have been hit by the return fire of Paddy Leary but the bomber was then almost immediately hit by flak. Although blazing furiously Maxwell held the aircraft steady for his crew to bale out and then steered away from the village below for his bomb aimer to jettison their bomb load. The Lancaster crashed at circa 01:30 hours at Villers-le Sec (Marne) in which churchyard the four dead were buried. Rear gunner Bill Leary, Wireless Op Stan Hawken and Mid-Upper gunner Bert DeBruin all parachuted to safety and were hidden by French patriots.
(thanks to the BeBruin family)
Stan Hawken[xiii] wrote his story down in “Missing Presumed Dead” (published 1989 by Hill of Content, Melbourne). He and Leary were sheltered by a local family and later hid in forests with a resistance group. Albert deBruin was particularly unfortunate in landing in a forest beside the River Marne where after several days of dodging the frequent German patrols and living off the land primarily on berries he met a French Resistance group as they returned from a rendezvous with an RAF aircraft which had just flown in weapons and explosives to a secret landing ground. He had narrowly “missed the bus” and spent several months with the resistance before US troops liberated the district.
Lancaster III, LM537 (Codes LE – X)
Pilot – F/O Peter Buck Dennett RAAF. Age 21 †
Flight Eng – Sgt George Armstrong Alexander. Age 35 Prisoner Of War
Navigator – F/S Cedric Raymond Jerwood . Age 21 †
Bomb Aimer – Sgt Hume Paul Ritchie RCAF . Age Evaded
Wireless Op – Sgt William John Jarman. Age 20 †
Mid Upper – Sgt Reginald Arnold Hilborne. Age 35 Evaded
Rear Gunner – Sgt Joe “Geordie” Stones. Age Evaded
Peter Dennett’s crew were on their first op when they were struck by flak over Margerie Hancourt the Lancaster’s fuel tanks caught fire causing great streams of flame to trail beind the stricken bomber. LM537 crashed circa 01:30-02:00 hours at Chassericourt (Aube) where the dead were buried in Chassericourt Churchyard.
George Alexander a 35 year old motor engineer from Belfast evaded capture until 10th August when he fell into German hands near Troyes ending up in Stalag Luft 7. Shoe repairer Reg Hilborne also 35 years old, from Mitcham fortunately landed near Margerie-Hancourt in one piece despite fire damage to his parachute canopy and burned gloves but his face was quite badly burned. He evaded capture and a week or so later joined an SAS patrol operating behind enemy lines in “Operation Hardy”.
Lancaster III, PB236 (Codes LE – F)
Pilot – P/O Alexander James Sargent. Age 22 †
Flight Eng – Sgt David Drylie Moffatt. Age 23 †
Navigator – Sgt Kenneth Adams. Age 22 †
Bomb Aimer – Sgt Kenneth Nelson . Age 22 †
Wireless Op – Sgt David Withers. Age 20 †
Mid Upper – Sgt John Rae. Age 23 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt Norman Barker. Age 35 †
Before reaching the target Alex Sargent’s crew on their first op were shot down by a night fighter crashing at 01:21 hours at Neuvy (Marne) 15km west of Sezanne. Sargent and his crew lie together in Neuvy Communal Cemetery.
The attack is covered in great detail by Oliver Clutton-Brock in his “Massacre Over The Marne” (published by PSL).
During July the crew of F/O William “Peter” Sparks[xiv] arrived from Conversion Unit and began the program of cross-country, navigation and night bombing exercises to be completed by all new crews arriving with Six-thirty. Sparks was a 25 year old former Territorial Army soldier who had transferred from the Army volunteering for aircrew training. At 22:04 hours on the night of 18th July the Sparks crew took off for a navigation exercise in ME729 (probably aircraft letter “I”) an aircraft which had been grounded for some weeks due to recurrent technical problems. At 00:59 hours near Ayr in Scotland with two engines failing the crew baled out abandoning their Lancaster which crashed at a Mossdale farm at Dalmellington. It is unclear how three of the crew came to be killed but the two Canadians are buried at Dunure Cemetery and 38 year old Sergeant Helliwell in his hometown of Lancaster.
Lancaster I, ME729 (Codes LE – I)
Pilot – F/O William Angus Sparks. Age 25 Injured
Flight Eng – Sgt Frank Helliwell. Age 38 †
Navigator – Sgt Wilton Garnet Armour RCAF. Age 22 Unhurt
Bomb Aimer – Sgt Frederick George Brezina RCAF. Age 26 †
Wireless Op – Sgt. Wilfred Shillito. Age 19 Unhurt
Mid Upper – Sgt James Alexander Calder RCAF. Age 21 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt. George Rye. Age 19 Unhurt
After medical treatment the crew were reformed under “Peter” Sparks and shortly afterwards transferred out to 207 Squadron although they did returne once to 630 Squadron in late September to help make up the numbers on a night when the squadron had more Lancasters serviceable than crews to fly them. Returning to base after an attack on Harburg on 11th November 1944 sadly their 207 Squadron Lancaster (PB428) collided in circuit over Spilsby with 44 Squadron’s LM648 (P/O PAC Caryer) and all 14 airmen were killed in the crashes which followed.
Wednesday 19th July 1944. Attacks on flying bomb sites continued and a raid was detailed against 2 launching sites and a supply dump. Each 630 Squadron Lancaster was armed with 10 x 1000lb MC and 4 x 500lb GP long delay bombs.
19th July 1944 Daylight Bombing Attack on Creil
Take Off: at 19:20 hours Flight Commander, S/L Roy Millichap took off first LM216.
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF (extra Nav = F/S Fingland RCAF)
ND554-A F/O HH Long RCAF
PB211-H P/O DH Simpson RCAF
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
ME845-Q F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
ND797-W F/O MA Swain
PA992-Y Flt/O W Adams USAAF
PB244-N F/S EGW Bowers (W/C GP Gibson VC DSO*DFC*)
The Oboes and Red TI’s were reportedly late and somewhat inaccurate so the main force arrived at the target to find no markers in place, the target areas were partly cloud covered but, some crews orbited and bombed on target but bombing was generally scattered – the primary targets were believed to have been destroyed. 630 Squadron attacked between 21:20 and 21:38 hours from 14,300 to 18,000 feet. Moderate heavy flak was experienced from 30-40 guns but no enemy fighters were seen. Doug Hawkers “O-Oboe” and Joe Lennon’s “Q-Queen” both received more flak damage than was becoming more frequent and Hawker recalled that “Griff” Griffin his bomb aimer was shaken when the bomb sight was struck by a piece of flak as he looked through it. The crew of Flight Officer Bill Adams USAAF aboard PA992 were the last to return at 23:38 hours.
It is little known that Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC DSO & Bar DFC & Bar flew his very last Lancaster op with 630 Squadron before his loss on an operation in September 1944 flying a Mosquito. Gibson, who had led 617 Squadron on the famous Dams raid had been grounded permanently by Bomber Command HQ and was flying a desk as Base Operations Officer, utterly forbidden to fly on Ops.
(thanks to Imperial War Museum)
After the loss of Wing Commander Bill Deas, Gibson used his rank and position to wrangle an op and joined the “sprog crew” of Flight Sergeant George Bowers aboard PB244 “N-Nan” on their first op. The Station Navigation Officer Squadron Leader Alex St.Clair-Miller DFC (formerly of 44 Squadron) flew as navigator for the attack. The entry below shows Gibson’s log book entry. He recorded himself as pilot in place of Bowers and Wade Rodgers later commented that Gibson asked him to take Bowers as Second Dickey aboard “D-Dog” and to keep it to himself. The Squadron “Ops Record” shows Gibson as pilot although the “Operations Record Book” shows Bowers as pilot.
Thursday 20th July 1944. Maintaining the pressure on vital railway lines being used for bringing up reinforcements and materiel more railway yards were to be attacked. 302 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes of 1, 5 and 8 Group bombed the marshalling yards and a “triangle” railway junction at Courtrai. With its aircraft armed with 11 x 1000lb AN-M, 2 x 500lb GP (025) and 2 x 500lb GP long delay bombs 630 Squadron participated in the attack.
20th/21st July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Courtrai
Take Off: at 23:01 hours aboard ND527 (Kiwi Doug Hawker) and JB290 (Terence O’Dwyer) led the squadron into the air from East Kirkby.
JB290-C F/L TG O’Dwyer
ND554-A F/O HE Wilson RCAF
ME739-D F/O HH Long RCAF
LL949-E P/O EP Mitchell
PB211-H F/O RT Hayes
LM216-K F/O DH Simpson RCAF
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
PB244-N P/O AF Kemp RCAF
LM637-V F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
ND797-W F/O AR Kerr
PA992-Y Flt/O W Adams USAAF
The weather conditions were quite clear over the target and visibility excellent. Green TI’s were punctually placed within 100 yards of the aiming point by the Mosquitoes. The Oboe Red TI was also considered accurate. The resulting bombing was well concentrated on the Green TI’s and several large explosions reported by returning crews including a large oil fire near the end of the attack. The squadron attacked between 00:56 and 01:03 hours from 10,000 to 13,900 feet.
PB244 (P/O Kemp) was the last of the squadron’s Lancasters to return to East Kirkby at 02:38 hours. Buffetted by heavy flak at 13,500 feet while orbiting the target at 01:05 hours Geral Benson the Wireless Op of PB244 “N” shouted that “Fishpond” was warning of a fighter closing to attack. In a fraction of a section Arthur Kemp the Canadian pilot launched their Lancaster in a corkscrew to port just as fellow Canadian Sergeant Cameron in the mid upper turret called that tracer was coming in from the port quarter down and Sergeant Stirling in the rear turret returned fire in that direction. The German fighter was lost in the evasive action and not seen again.
Sergeant Cameron (mid upper) had trained at 3 B&GS, 16 OTU and 1654 HCU.
Sergeant Stirling (rear gunner) had trained at 9 B&GS, 16 OTU and 1654 HCU.
At 01:17 hours as they left the brightly lit target area F/L Doug Hawker’s ND527 “O” came under attack from an enemy they never saw, “Shortie” Adams in the mid upper turret instructed a “corkscrew port now” as tracer closed on the Lancaster from the port quarter up and as they dropped away both gunners returned fire at about 800 yards into the darkness and although the German followed them into the corkscrew and fired again he was unable to stay with the Lancaster and was lost into the night.
Sergeant Adams (mid upper) had trained at 14 AGS and 28 OTU and 1661 HCU.
Sergeant Miller (rear gunner) had trained at 14 AFU and 28 OTU and 1661 HCU.
With the benefit of photo reconnaissance Bomber Command reported this attack to have been “devastating” to the railway target.
Sunday 23rd July 1944. In the first major raid on a German city for two months 629 bombers including six aircraft of 630 Squadron were detailed to participate in an attack on the town of Kiel. Elaborate deception in form of minor diversionary and training sweeps by 180 aircraft over the North Sea, 27 Mosquitoes bombing Berlin, the surprise of a return to a German target and Radio Counter Measures (RCM) combined to confuse the German controllers who unable to get their forces in place so casualties were light. The six participating Lancasters of Six-thirty were each armed with 11 x 1000lb AN-M and 4 x 500lb GP long delay bombs
23rd/24th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Kiel
Take Off: at 22:45 hours Terrence “Pancho” O’Dwyer’s ND335 was first to lift off, they had a Second Dickie aboard to gain operational experience.
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer (F/S EGW Bowers)
JB290-C F/O JH Bolton
ME739-D P/O MA Swain
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
LM637-V F/O TS Fennng
LL966-P F/O E Docherty
The main force of 612 heavy bombers appeared suddenly from behind a “Mandrel” jamming screen which the local ground defences had assessed as a small force of mine laying aircraft. Pathfinder marking was punctual and the attack well controller by the Master Bomber whose instructions were clear and precise. In an attack lasting 25 minutes some bombing was believed to be scattered however several large fires were burning by the end of the attack and the glow from these fires could still be seen 100 miles into the return flight. The squadron attacked between 01:27 and 01:32 hours from 16,300 to 19,300 feet. Moderate heavy flak was encountered over the target and no fighters were seen although some horizontal tracer fire was observed.
German records show that all districts of Kiel were hit with particularly heavy damage in the port area, the important u-boat building yards and naval installations. Kiel suffered heavily in it’s first RAF raid since April 1943 and what would be it’s heaviest RAF raid of the war. The 500 plus “Long Delay” bombs, some set for 36 hours or more, coupled with unexploded duds paralysed the area for some days, there was no water for 3 days, busses and trains were out of action for 8 days and there was no gas for cooking for 3 weeks. Tom Fennng and crew aboard LM637 were the last to land at 04:13 hours.
Three more of Six-thirty’s aircraft formed half of force minelaying in Kiel Bay across transit routes believed to be used by surface patrol craft and new and repaired u-boats doing their sea trials. Each of Six-thirty’s three aircraft tasked for mine-laying carried 3 x Mk.3 and 3 x Mk 4 mines.
23rd/24th July 1944 Mine laying in Kiel Bay
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
PB244-N F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
PB211-H F/O RT Hayes
All of the mines were laid successfully after the Datum Point was established. Opposition from flak ships and shore was heavy. Ron Hayes’ PB211 Failed to Return.
Lancaster III, PB211 (Codes LE – H)
Pilot – F/O Ronald Thomas Hayes. Age 21 †
Flight Eng – Sgt William Wallace. Age 20 †
Navigator – WO Winston Kimberley Goodhew RCAF Age 27 Rescued
Bomb Aimer – Sgt James Francis Joseph Murray. Age 22 †
Wireless Op – Sgt John Alfred Helliwell. Age 22 †
Mid Upper – Sgt Walter Stead. Age †
Rear Gunner – Sgt Bernard Norton Graves. Age 28 Rescued
For reasons unknown “H-How” crashed into the sea just off Cromer on the North Norfolk coast when almost home. Two of the crew survived, W/O Goodhew and Sgt Graves were rescued by the RN minesweeper Courser after 7 hours adrift in a rubber dinghy. The bodies of the dead were not apparently recovered and therefore may lie in or near the wreckage of their aircraft, they are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing. Winston “Goodie” Goodhew was recommended for a DFC after flying on 29 ops and his recommendation includes :
“On the 23/24th July,
this officer was navigator of an aircraft detailed for mining operations over
Kiel Bay. In the return flight, while flying low, the aircraft hit the sea.
Pilot Officer Goodhew at once released the upper escape hatch, climbed out and
helped the wireless operator to follow. When they got into the dinghy it was
found that as it was not properly inflated it would not carry their combined
weight. Pilot Officer Goodhew left the dinghy to the wireless operator and swam
back to the aircraft. He clung to the wreckage with the pilot and air bomber
until it started to sink. He then cut the painter of the dinghy by rubbing it
against a jagged edge of the main plane, and the dinghy started to drift away.
Pilot Officer Goodhew, accompanied by the pilot and air bomber, started to swim
to the dinghy, but he was the only one to reach it. Despite his exhausted
condition, Pilot Officer Goodhew went back to the aircraft three times, which
had not yet disappeared, in an endeavour to find the pilot and air bomber, but
without success. On the fourth attempt he was seized by cramp and started to
sink, but he managed to return to the dinghy. Holding onto a rope from the
dinghy with one hand to keep afloat, Pilot Officer Goodhew worked continuously
for two hours trying to open the pack. This he accomplished, extracted the
Verey pistol, and fired Verey lights to attract attention. While he was doing this
the wireless operator died and disappeared under the sea. Pilot Officer Goodhew
was rescued by H.M. Minesweeper Courser seven hours after the aircraft hit the
sea. This officer displayed great courage, resource, tenacity and disregard for
his own safety from the time the aircraft hit the sea until he was rescued. His
conduct has set a most praiseworthy example to all other aircrew on the
station. Pilot Officer Goodhew is a first-class navigator, and he has shown
marked enthusiasm to operate on every possible occasion. He takes a keen
interest in the training of new navigators in the squadron, and by his efforts
he has raised the standard of navigation considerably. He is strongly
recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross”.
An RCAF official photo PL-33991 (dated 10 November 1944) is captioned: “Pilot Officer W. “Goodie” Goodhew of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a former shift boss with International Nickel at Sudbury, was one of two who survived when his RAF Lancaster crashed in the English Channel at 200 mph. His perseverance in opening Very cartridges with his teeth and firing the signal pistol while bobbing about in the water is credited with saving the life of Pilot Officer Bernard Graves, an RAF rear gunner. The signals were sighted by a British mine sweeper and the weak and numbed airmen taken aboard.
Monday 24th July 1944. 5 Group continued to split Six-thirty’s available aircraft and next tasked part of the squadron to participate in a general attack by over 600 bombers on a German target and the remainder to join a 5 Group “bash” on the oil depot at Donges (St. Nazaire) probably a part of the fuel supply network for the major u-boat bunkers nearby. Attackers for the Stuttgart raid were bombed up with 1 x 2000lb HC and 12 x 500lb J type cluster incendiary bombs
24th /25th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Stuttgart
Take Off: at 21:31 hours LM216 (Roy Millichap) was the first to get off the deck.
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ND554-A F/O HE Wilson RCAF
JB290-C F/O JH Bolton
LL949-E F/O DH Simpson RCAF
LM259-F F/O HH Long RCAF
LL966-P F/O E Docherty
ME845-Q P/O AR Kerr
PA992-Y Lt W Adams USAAF
John Bolton returned early when his mid-upper gunner Sgt JL Gurney) was taken ill, landing “C-Charlie” at 01:34 hours. Fighter activity mounted as the bombers closed on Stuttgart. Cloud over the target prevented marking with red TI’s and Wanganui flares were used. The squadron’s crews attacked between 01:56 and 02:02 hours from 18,300 to 20,300 feet. Crews bombing later in attack found the sky markers were extinguished and bombed on the glow of the markers from beneath the cloud, fires which seemed to be grouped around the ground markers. Ground defences put up moderate heavy flak in loose barrage form up to 21,000 feet, diminishing as the raid continued. Arriving back at East Kirkby, “Millie” Millichap was the last of the Stuttgart raiders to land, at 06:01 hours.
The attack was the first of three large raids in 5 nights on Stuttgart by the end of which central Stuttgart which lay along three narrow valleys and as such had escaped most previous attacks, was devastated. Virtually all public, bureaucratic and major buildings were destroyed.
630 Squadron had lost it’s “Yank” crew, only recently commissioned as Flight Officer by the USAAF, Adams survived but his USAAF mid-upper gunner John B. Kiesow of Hartford County, Connecticut and more recently Saskatchewan/Canada, died.
Lancaster III, PA992 (Codes LE – Y)
Pilot – Lt William Adams USAAF . Age 23 Evaded
Flight Eng – Sgt Trevor William Tanner. Age 21 Evaded
Navigator – Sgt Reginald Arthur “George” Toogood. Age Evaded
Bomb Aimer – F/O Edward Kennison Wood RCAF . Age Evaded
Wireless Op – F/O Arthur Sidney Woolf . Age Prisoner Of War
Mid Upper – Tech/Sgt John B Kiesow USAAF. Age 19 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt Ross William Lough RCAF. Age 23 †
PA992 crashed at about 01:30 hours between Tramont-Emy and Tramont-Lassus where Sgt Ross Lough lies in the Communal Cemetery. John Kiesow of Hartford, Connecticut was originally buried beside his Canadian crewmate but his body was exhumed on 28th January 1945 for repatriation to the US by American authorities.
(photo thanks to his neice Debbie Guzman)
Adams later recalled that hurtling towards the ground he couldn’t get to the escape hatch so he opened the cockpit side windows and dived out luckily not being hit by the propellers. It is possible that Bill Adam’s Lancaster was the bomber claimed over the Nancy area 3,300 metres by Oberleutnant Hans-Heinrich Breitfeld of Stab I/NJG 5 flying from St.Dizier although he recorded his attack at 02:31 hours. Twenty-one year old Cardiff lad Trevor Tanner a former Merchant Navy boy seaman evaded the Germans and hid up until Allied forces arrived in the area. Postwar he returned to Wales and joined the police force serving several years before enlisting with the RCAF in 1949, migrating to Canada with his wife and young family.
(photo thanks to Michael Toogood)
The seven of Six-thirty’s Lancasters detailed to participate in the 5 Group 104 Lancaster attack on Donges (St. Nazaire) were each armed with 11 x 1000lb AN-M and 4 x 500lb GP (long delay) bombs.
24th /25th July 1944 Night bombing attack on Donges/St.Nazaire
Take Off: at 22:00 hours Doug Hawker (ND527) was first off.
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
PB344 -R F/O TS Fenning
PB244-N F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
LM637-V F/O MA Swain
Arriving unopposed over the target the force suddenly encountered moderate to intense light and heavy flak bursting at 8,000 to 11,000 feet vertically into search light cones. There is also a report of rockets firing up search light beams with 15-20 search lights in action. All of 630 Squadron’s aircraft attacked between 01:45 and 01:48 hours from 8,300 to 10.700 feet and returned safely from Donges, George Joblin landed the last of them (ND797) at East Kirkby at 04:20 hours. Photo reconnaissance results shortly afterwards enabled the result of the attack to be rated as devastating.
Having re-joined 630 Squadron after their six week posting, the crew of Don Mallinson were back on the Battle Order for the next night attack.
Tuesday 25th July 1944. Continuing the onslaught on Stuttgart 412 Lancasters and 138 Halifaxes attacked. Six-thirty’s Lancasters participated and were each armed with 1 x 2000lb HC and 12 x 500lb J type cluster incendiary bombs.
25th /26th July 1944 – Night Bombing Attack on Stuttgart
Take Off: at 21:20 hours ND335 (Terence O’Dwyer) was the first airborne.
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
ND554-A F/O HE Wilson RCAF
JB290-C F/O JH Bolton
LL949-E F/O MA Swain
LM259-F F/O HH Long RCAF
LM216-K F/O DH Simpson RCAF
PB344-R S/L RO Calvert RNZAF (F/O WH Gordon)
ND527-O F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
PB244-N F/O DR Mallinson
LL966-P F/O E Docherty
ME845-Q F/O AR Kerr
NN703-X F/O TS Fenning
“Pancho” O’Dwyer returned on three engines at 03:30 hours after “L-Love’s”port inner engine failed and “X-X ray” – F/O Tom Fenning also returned early, due to technical problems. Broken cloud in various forms hung above the target but all crews saw red and green TI’s and heard the Master Bomber’s instructions. 630 Squadron’s crews attacked between 01:55 and 02:10 hours from 17,200 to 19,400 feet. Fires were started over an area of several square miles with a concentration around the aiming point. The glow of fires was still visible 100 miles into the return flight. Fighter activity was only encountered during the mid portion of the flight and ground defences were only moderate in the target area. Several crews expressed concern at being required to climb over enemy territory during the outward route as the increased exhaust flames were very visible for miles. At 06:27 hours John Bolton was the last to land back at base.
After squeezing 18 ops into 8 weeks the crew of Canadian Doug Simpson transferred to 97 Squadron Pathfinders to complete an extended tour which they were fortunate to survive. At the end of the tour DFC’s were awarded to their captain and to John Mollison their navigator.
Wednesday 26th July 1944. Returning to the mission of denying the German forces their ammunition, supplies and reinforcements 5 Group raided Givors South Marshalling Yards with 178 Lancasters and Mosquito markers. 630 Squadron aircraft were each bombed up with 7 x 1000lb AN-M65, 3 x 500lb GP (025) and 1 x 500lb GP LD (36 hours) bombs.
26th /27th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Givors
Take Off: at 21:05 hours Wing Commander Blome-Jones led his squadron in NN702.
NN702-J W/C LM Blome-Jones
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ND527-O F/O HE Wilson RCAF
LL949-E F/O HH Long RCAF
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
NN703-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
PB244-N F/O DR Mallinson
PB344-R F/O EGW Bowers
From approx position 0200E almost as far as the target severe electrical storms and driving rain was encountered in cloud, entailing pilots flying for 3 hours through storms of torrential raid and lightning. Weather in the target area was quite clear despite some haze and cloud just short of the target at 8,000 feet. The long delay in marking the target made the attack late and at 01:56 hours crews were ordered to stand by. Lancasters orbited in the TA with navigation lights on until 02:12 hours when the Red force was ordered to attack the Green TI’s and 02:15 hours when Green Force were also ordered to attack. The squadron’s crews attacked between 02:14 nd 02:26 hours from 5,600 to 7,550 feet. Wing Commander Blome Jones orbited the target for 32 minutes until Bob Foulkes his bomb aimer was satisfied with conditions and “hit the tit”. There was little fighter activity on the outward route and no enemy activity at the target but two bombers were seen to collide at 02:05 hours. George Bowers and crew were the last to return to East Kirkby at 06:40 hours.
Serious concerns over the fate of “J-Jig” (Wing Commander Blome-Jones) were harboured until it was learned that he had landed at Harwell short of fuel and returned to base after refuelling. However one of Six-thirty’s crews did Fail To Return.
Lancaster III, ND527 (Codes LE – O)
Pilot – F/O Harold Earl Wilson RCAF. Age †
Flight Eng – Sgt Frederick Robert Arnold. Age †
Navigator – F/O Ambrose Bain RCAF . Age 29 †
Bomb Aimer – F/O Alexander Lindsay RCAF . Age 26 †
Wireless Op – Sgt Percy Arthur Gilliatt. Age 27 †
Mid Upper – Sgt John Reginald C Gutcher RCAF. Age 27 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt David Jack Irvin Fontaine. Age 22 †
ND527 crashed at 02:45 hours at St.Ignat (Puy-de-Dome) 14 km east of Riom. The entire crew were buried on 27th July in Clermont-Ferrand (des Carmes-Dechaux) Communal Cemetery. Their Lancaster came down almost simultaneously with an 83 Squadron Lancaster ND856 which is reported to have exploded in the air near Surat killing Squadron Leader RK Eggins DFC and crew (with Wing Commander GF Georgeson DSO DFC aboard) and ND527 crash landed near the neighbouring village of St.Ignat but hit a row of trees including a large oak and caught fire, the entire crew were killed..
A nephew of the 630 Squadron pilot said – “F/O Harold Wilson was my father’s brother, the oldest of four siblings. The “one who had it all”, as my father has said, meaning he was smart, athletic and good looking. My father, the youngest sibling – now 90 years old still lives on the farm where he and his family grew up. My brother now farms there. Harold’s sister, 92 years old is also still living, in Toronto. A portrait of Uncle Harold, having recieved his pilot’s wings, still hangs on the wall of the farmhouse”.
Returning 5 Group
crews reported one or even possibly two collisions in the target area whilst
orbiting in filthy weather conditions, one at 02:05 hours (British time). Since
none of the returning aircraft reported a collision it seems quite possible
that ND856 and ND527 were involved in a mid-air collision. It is recorded that
inhabitants of Surat reported that during the fierce storm both aircraft were
flying very low, one jettisoning flares when the aircraft collided as they
emerged from low cloud. The 83 Squadron aircraft exploded in flight with
wreckage continuing on the flight path before it fell to earth cutting a trench
across the road to Pagnant finally coming to rest in a field some distance
further on. Harold Wilson’s Lancaster was crash landed with considerable skill
near St.Ignat but hit a belt of trees and caught fire, there were no survivors
from either Lancaster.
Friday 28th July 1944. George Patterson[xv] and crew joined Six-thirty. They had progressed via the establishedl route flying Wellington’s at OTU. (in this case 16 OTU.) progressing to Stirlings at HCU (in this case 1660) and finally Lancasters at 5 LFS and before joining the squadron. Born in Levuka/Fiji in 1921 George Patterson had spent 3 years in the 1st Auckland Regiment of the NZ Army before volunteering for aircrew duty and training in Canada. His elder brother Tom had died on Ops with 99 Squadron (Wellingtons) on 15th November 1941.
Taking part in the third of the series of attacks on Stuttgart Six-thirty joined a force of 494 Lancasters heading to southern Germany. Each of the squadron’s Lancasters were armed with 1 x 2000lb HC and 12 x 500lb J type cluster incendiary bombs.
28th/29th July 1944 Night Bombing Attack on Stuttgart
Take Off: at 21:51 hours S/L Roy Calvert was the first off.
PB344-R S/L RO Calvert RNZAF
ND797-W F/L GR Joblin RNZAF
PB244-N F/O DR Mallinson
LL966-P F/O E Docherty
LL972-T F/O AR Kerr
NN703-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
ND554-A F/O EGW Bowers
LM259-F F/O HH Long RCAF
LL949-E F/O TS Fenning
NN702-J F/O MA Swain
The forecast heavy cloud cover on the outward route was not as expected and intense fighter activity took place from 0500East to the target where moderate heavy flak became the opposition. Pathfinder marking was punctual and the majority of Green TI’s rated as accurate according to H2S. The Master Bomber ordered the main force to attack the Green TI’s and the main concentration of fires seemed to be underneath the clouds in that area. 630 Squadron attacked between 01:54 and 02:07 hours from 14,600 to 17,900 feet and the centre of Stuttgart was devastated with virtually all major buildings destroyed in the three attacks. At 06:17 hours Terence O’Dwyer’s ND335 landed at East Kirkby and it was soon obvious that ND797 (George Joblin and his veteran crew) had Failed To Return.
Lancaster III, ND797 (Codes LE – W)
Pilot – F/L George Russell Joblin DFC RNZAF . Age 24 †
Flight Eng – F/S William Albert (Ken) Butcher. Age 22 †
Navigator – F/O Donald Bell Lambton . Age 28 †
Bomb Aimer – F/O Williamson Charles John Beeson . Age 32 Prisoner Of War
Wireless Op – F/S George Edward Stenner . Age 23 †
Mid Upper – Sgt Robert Frederick Cousin. Age 19 †
Rear Gunner – Sgt Harold Raymond Spendelow. Age 19 †
George Joblin’s crew on their 29th op (their captain’s 30th) were caught by a night fighter and shot down about 02:00-02:30 hours between Magstadt and Sindelfingen just outside Stuttgart. It is possible that this is the bomber which was claimed by Oberleutnant Hans-Heinz Augenstein of 12/NJG1 15 km west of Stuttgart in an attack which commenced at 01:52 hours at 4,500 metres. Three members of the crew managed to bale out of the stricken bomber but sadly only F/O Bill Beeson survived, the former Transport Contractor from Radyr, Cardiff survived the war having spent time in Stalag Luft 3 (Sagan) and Stalag IIIA (Luckenwalde). “Ken” Butcher left behind a young widow and baby daughter Shirley. Originally buried at Magstadt the dead were later moved to Durnbach War Cemetery.
Already recommended for a DFC and right at the end of his tour George Joblin’s parents were later notified that he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and it was recorded in the London Gazette 18 September 1945, the award to be dated from 27th July 1944.
(Photo thanks to his daughter Helen Wilson)
Effectively Roy Calvert’s tour was over, he had flown his last Op with the squadron but remained in place as B-Flight Commander until his replacement arrived. His bravery and commitment was rewarded with the award of a 2nd Bar to his DFC, one of only sixty airmen to be so decorated. His French Canadian navigator Joseph Beaudoin[xvi], flight engineer Bill Mooney DFM[xvii] and wireless operator Alan Connor DFM[xviii] all received DFC’s for their service.
(photo thanks to Roy Calvert)
Sunday 30th July 1944. Back in support of the Allied ground forces in Normandy 692 heavy bombers attacked 6 German positions along a front about to be assaulted by American troops in the Villers Bocage-Caumont area. The target of 630 Squadron was to be Cahagnes – Aunay-sur-Odon with all of their Lancasters armed with 20 x 500lb MC (No.4 pistol fuse 2) bombs.
30th July 1944 Daylight Bombing Attack on Aunay-Sur-Odon
Take Off: at 11:20 hours Canadian Hazen Long (LM259) was first off the deck.
ND554-A F/O EGW Bowers
ME739-D F/L CW Rodgers RAAF
LM259-F F/O HH Long RCAF
NN702-J F/O MA Swain
LM216-K F/O JH Bolton
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
PB244-N F/O DR Mallinson
ME845-Q F/O AR Kerr
PB344-R S/L RO Calvert RNZAF
LM260-S F/O E Docherty
LL972-T F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
NN703-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
Dense cloud masked the target on arrival. The raid was assessed as a “most unsuccessful mission owing to bad and unexpected weather”. All aircraft returned to base with full bomb loads after the Master Bomber instructed “abandon mission” at 07:58 hours. The last of the squadron to return were Wade Rodgers and crew in ME739 at 05:31 hours.
About to commence their tours were the crews of Pilot Officer Bill Gordon[xix] which included as navigator Sergeant John Langston (later Air Commodore, CBE), that headed by 33 year old Pilot Officer Charles Faulkner[xx] a married man from Lambeth who had served in the Army before volunteering for aircrew duties and the all British all NCO crew of 23 year old Warrant Officer Steve Nunns[xxi] from Pontefract.
Monday 31st July 1944. Nine aircraft of Six-thirty were detailed to participate in a 127 Lancaster raid by 1 and 5 Groups on railway yards at Joigny-La-Roche all armed with 10 x 1000lb AN-M LD and 4 x 500lb LD bombs, with three more to join a force of 97 Lancasters of 5 Group in an attack on flying bombs sites at Rilly La Montague.
31st July 1944 Daylight Bombing Attacks Joigny-La-Roche and Rilly
Take Off: at 17:20 hours George Bowers (ND554) was the first away.
ND554-A F/O EGW Bowers
ME739-D F/O JH Bolton
LM259-F F/O HH Long RCAF
NN702-J F/O MA Swain
LM216-K S/L RE Millichap
ND335-L F/L TG O’Dwyer
PB244-N F/O DR Mallinson
ME845-Q F/O AR Kerr
PB344-R F/O WH Gordon
LM260-S F/O E Docherty
LL972-T F/L DE Hawker RNZAF
NN703-X F/O JW Lennon RNZAF
Both targets were clearly seen and were bombed
visibly with good results despite moderate flak defences but neither had
fighter cover. The Joingy railway yards were classified as successfully bombed
and at Rilly 617 Squadron used Tallboy bombs to cave in both ends of the tunnel
whilst the main force cratered the approach areas to ensure that repairs were
extremely difficult. 630 Squadron aircraft on the Joingy raid attacked between
20:26 and 20:27 hours from 12,750 to 15,750 feet and the three bombing Rilly
(O’Dwyer, Long and Swain) attacked between 20:19 and 20:21 hours from 16,500 to
17,500 feet. The return flight was very difficult due to filthy weather and the
squadron’s acrews landed mostly at Syerston but other stations too. Two
Lancasters were lost one being flown by F/L Bill Reid VC of 617 Squadron. John
Bolton brought back the last of 630 Squadron’s aircraft to East Kirkby at 23:26
hours.
[i] Evelyn George William Bowers (1575110, 178512), RAFVR. KIA (see text).
[ii] Peter Buck Dennett (A.418927), RAAF. KIA (see text)
[iii] Alexander James Sargent (1333723, 173311), RAFVR. KIA (see text)
[iv] Joseph Thomas Taylor (1136019, 143798), RAFVR. DFC LG. 14/09/43, 49 Sqdn. KIA (see text).
[v] Walter Thomas Upton (1254726, 157278), RAFVR. DFM LG. 29/12/42, 61 Sqdn. POW (see text).
[vi] Thomas Leonard Cass (745238, 137343), RAFVR. DFM LG. 29/12/42, 61 Sqdn.
[vii] George Kay Walker Arkieson (131133), RAFVR. DFC LG. 04/12/45, 630 Sqdn.
[viii] Leslie Milburn Blome-Jones (37760), RAF. DFC LG. 16/01/45, 630 Sqdn. (born 17/01/1912 Sheppey/Kent – died 02/05/2011 Cape Town/South Africa) Farmer in Southern Rhodesia.
[ix] James William Martin (921384, 128020), RAFVR. DFC LG. 08/12/44, 630 Sqdn.
[x] Andrew John Kuzma (J.24633), RCAF. DFC LG. 19/09/44, 630 Sqdn.
[xi] Ian David James MacDougall (103374), RAFVR.
[xii] Edmund Keith Creswell (902162, 107461), RAFVR. DFC LG. 06/11/42. DSO LG. 27/07/43, 35 Sqdn. Bar to DSO LG. 29/09/44, 35 Sqdn.
[xiii] Stanley Arthur Hawken (A.418663), RAAF. Evaded capture (see text). OBE LG. 15/06/74 as Councillor and JP for public service.
[xiv] William Angus Sparks (657867, 130251), RAFVR. Later killed 11/11/44.
[xv] George Vernon Bentley Patterson (NZ 421525), RNZAF. KIA (see text)
[xvi] Joseph Alcide Marcel Beaudoin (J,21913), RCAF. DFC LG. 08/12/44, 630 Sqdn.
[xvii] William Mooney (1501390,171182), RAFVR. DFM LG. 14/09/43, 50 Sqdn. DFC LG. 13/10/44, 630 Sqdn. Murdered in India by bandits 11/12/1945, buried at Calcutta.
[xviii] Alan William Gooderham Connor (A.400898), RAAF. DFM LG. 15/06/43, 50 Sqdn. DFC LG. 13/10/44, 630 Sqdn.
[xix] William Howard Gordon (1333881, 128951), RAFVR. DFC LG. 22/05/45, 189 Sqdn.
[xx] Charles Robson Faulkner (656908, 178519), RAFVR. KIA (see text)
[xxi] Stephen Arnold Nunns (1020024, 179592). DFC LG. 30/06/44, 630 Sqdn. Later awarded AFC.
No. 630 Squadron 