RAF Remembrance Day - remembering crew of ND360 - 100 Squadron.

In June 2013 I had the great pleasure to meet Derek Fenton, the younger brother of Bob Fenton, the sole survivor from cousin Jim Ives' aircraft ND360. Derek told me how the loss of his crew-mates and his own survival had deeply affected his brother Bob. I had managed to make contact with Bob himself early on in my research, at which time he was suffering with ill health, even so, he kindly recounted what had happened when their Lancaster had been attacked on their bombing run into Berlin by a German night-fighter.

As detailed in 'Does Life Hold Any More in Store?' another account of the loss of ND360 came to me via 100 Squadron veterans Douglas Hudson and Terry Cook.

Last year a fresh account came to me, by a somewhat circuitous route, with a satisfying connection to 625 Squadron. Iain Sutton, son of Reg Price's rear gunner Francis (Frank) Sutton, has business premises close by Alan Cornes' home, Alan being the younger brother of Jim Ives' flight engineer - Sgt Denis Cornes – quite a coincidence!

The account is the most detailed of Bob's three accounts as it was told so soon after the traumatic event. Bob had been incarcerated as a prisoner-of-war and had suffered the cruelty of the 'run up the road' incident and had survived where his crew-mates had not.

Very many thanks to Alan Cornes and Iain Sutton. The letters speak for themselves:-

W/O R G Fenton

NZ 414972

12 (RNZAF) P.D.R.C.

Grand Hotel 

 

24^th July 1945 Brighton

Dear Mr Cornes,

I Trust that you will excuse me for not having written to you sooner, but let me now send my deepest sympathy in your sad loss. I can only say that it was a great privilege to fly alongside your son Dennis, always one of the best of fellows. 

 

I can assure you that there was no suffering for any of my crew as everything took place over Berlin in a matter of seconds. There is an old saying with us RAF boys that “the good die young”, and I believe in that now. Although I have had a partial lapse in memory, I can remember certain details of 30^th Jan '44 enough to be able to tell you that the action took place over the north-west district of Berlin after an attack from a fighter.

I shall be returning to New Zealand about the end of August, but before I go I shall be hoping to hear from you. I only wish that I could have met you all, but time does not permit me. Before I return I am to be married to a Scottish girl, whom I became engaged to last week. On the other hand, if my repatriation to NZ is delayed in any way I shall do my utmost to visit you. I have a full list now of the crews' people if you would like a copy of it, just let me know! I wrote to Dennis' girl in the WAAFs, but so far have had no answer. If you have her present address at her home I would appreciate it very much.

I hope you will excuse this short letter, but then again I hope I shall be able to see you later.

All the very best, sincerely,

R G Fenton (Bob)

                                    *****                      *****                        *****

W/O R G Fenton

NZ 414972

12 (RNZAF) P.D.R.C.

Grand Hotel

July 31^st (crossed out) Aug 1st 1945 Brighton

Dear Mr Cornes,

Thanks for your reply to my letter, and I shall do my best to answer fully all you have asked for. The first indication any of us had of our danger that night was when the fighter fired at us. Apparently the gunners were caught unawares & usually the period of a fighter attack is no more than five seconds. I heard our wireless operator Don Savage, call out that we were hit, & as there was no word from the gunners, I gave immediate evasive action to the Pilot, but our controls must have been shot clean away as the plane just went into a tight spin. At this stage no-one had their parachutes on to my knowledge; the Pilot gave us orders to abandon the aircraft, and in a matter of seconds I had my chute on & had also jettisoned all of the bombs. I was then thrown out of the aircraft, right through the nose, & the last thing I remember was Dennis right behind me. I think he had his chute on, but I don't think he could have made it in time. I did not even see the plane after I came to, & I had no information given from the Germans to rely on. I landed in the centre of the city of Berlin & was taken prisoner immediately.

I 'passed out' twice before I left the aircraft & I can only surmise that the rest of the crew lost consciousness in the spin. When I left the aircraft we must have been up at 12 or 15 thousand feet.

I feel sure that you will hear later from the War Office as to where the boys are buried.

I shall have to close this letter now, but I shall write again later.

All the very best,

Bob. 

                                     *****                      *****                        *****

Denis Cornes, unknown, Harold Johnson, Don Savage

Bud Ruppel

Derrick Sissons

Bob Fenton

Jim Ives

RAF Bomber Command - Happy memories of Frank Law - 'The Count of Elsham Wolds' and his crew-mates.

Sincere apologies for having gone AWOL for a little while, but work has (thankfully) been dominating proceedings. I haven't been totally idle on the research front though and have plenty of new 'gen' lined up. My web-man 'the boy genius' is planning all manner of updates to the main website including the addition of many photographs - including cousin Jim's 'Arnold' pilot cadet class 42G which is getting its own gallery. If you have any links with 42G please get in touch, similarly let me know if you recognise any names, faces or postings mentioned in 'Does Life Hold Any More in Store?'.

 

Armistice Day is approaching rapidly – please donate generously for your poppies and spare a thought during the silences for all our servicemen, past and present, who have served to keep us all safe.

A recent contact regarding a gentleman's teenage memories of Frank Law's 103 Squadron crew not only enhanced Law's story but has opened up a fresh line of research.

*** *** ***

Mick was a lad of about fiftee

Frank Law

n years old when he first met Frank Law and his crew-mates. He recalls that the date was 13^th October 1943 when an entire bomber crew turned up at his sister's twenty-first birthday party – her friend knew one of the crew and invited them all.

'We were astonished when a full bomber crew came through the door ! Astonished and privileged I might say as we were well aware of the job they were doing. We would watch the bombers in their hundreds flying down the Trent valley in the evening.'

It was evident that the crew enjoyed the family's hospitality as whenever flying allowed they visited several times over the next few weeks and got to know Mick and his family pretty well.

'I think they enjoyed being able to be themselves'.

Mick remembers that Australian bomb aimer Les Kay seemed to be quieter than the others but kept an eye on the rest of his crew-mates although there was nothing more to watch over than high spirits. Ron Johnstone 'was the life and soul of the lads but Frank played his part also, being nicknamed "The Count of Elsham Wolds" because of the elegant cigarette holder he sported ! Happy memories!'

It says something about the tumultuous events of the time and the people involved, that those visits to Mick's family home, made over a few weeks during the winter of 1943/44 are still memorable over seventy years later.

'I was a lad of about 15 at the time and pretty impressionable I suppose. But I will never forget those brave lads.'

l-r in flying gear:-

Johnny Daniel – m/u, Dave Mackay - nav, Frank Law - pilot, Ron Johnstone - w/op, Cyril Plampton - r/g,

 Bert Stocks – f/eng, Les Kay - b/a

Very many thanks to Mick for sharing his memories of Frank Law and crew and for identifying who's who in the crew photo.

I would urge everyone to search family photograph albums for photos of relatives who served in the Second World War. That old flying log-book may contain answers to someone else's research – take a look at the postings listed on the inside cover and google them (other search engines are available of course) – they will be of interest to someone, somewhere.

WW2 RAF - Crossing paths, familiar names - Malcolm McKiggan, Fred Perry, Roy Gallop, Frank Wadge, et alia.

A little more has come to light about F/Sgt Albert Patrick Jones, mid-upper gunner in F/Sgt Roy Fennell's 166 Squadron crew. Many thanks to Ian for confirming that Sgt A P Jones, home address 77 Strathnairn Street, Roath Park Cardiff served with 40 Squadron in the Middle East. A quick check of squadron records places him in Egypt from August 1942 flying in the crew of 1^st pilot Sqn/Ldr F J Steel, operating Wellington medium bombers against the Tobruk battle area. Alan Jones also flew on occasions with Sgt F Perry's crew.

Incidentally – the initial 'F' may have been a typographical error or an example of the RAF penchant for rather unsubtle nicknames - as in Jim Ives' and Geoff Yates' cases - 'Ginger' and 'Curly' respectively- which carried through into the squadron ORB. 1177568 F/Sgt John Clifford Perry received the DFM, gazetted 22^nd January 1943 – for 'gallantry and devotion to duty in air operations' – Perhaps it was inevitable that Perry would be known as 'Fred' in homage to the tennis star. Fred Perry became a naturalised US citizen in 1938 having won Wimbledon in 1934, 1935,1936, US Open 1933, 1934, 1936, Australian Open 1934, French Open 1935. The 'real' Fred Perry joined the US Air Force in 1942.

Other familiar names on 40 Squadron at that time :- Sgt M McKiggan - who appears in Jim Ives' log book instructing at 27OTU, and RCAF pilot Anton Van Rassel who would later fly Lancasters with 405 Squadron where he was a contemporary of P/O Doug Hackett who died on the Berlin raid on January 30^th 1944 (who himself served in the Mediterranean with 424 Squadron).

Having completed his duty in the Middle East, Australian pilot Malcolm McKiggan returned to the UK for his stint as an instructor. He lost his life on the evening of 6^th November 1943 in a flying accident during a night cross-country exercise when Wellington 3637 of 27OTU and a Stirling of 1657CU, engaged on a 'bullseye' collided near the Essex/Suffolk border. A contemporary accident report suggests that the aircraft crossed each-others paths at about 7,000ft with the Wellington passing close beneath (presumably taking evasive action) the other, its tail fin hitting the fuselage of the Stirling and tearing away in the air, rendering the Wellington uncontrollable. P/O McKiggan, the novice crew of five men and two other screened instructors, all RAAF personnel, died when the aircraft crashed on farmland near the hamlet of Little Walden, Essex.

It is always fascinating to receive documents and photos which place certain airmen with others who have cropped up elsewhere - demonstrating how intertwined were the existences of Bomber Command aircrews.

Very many thanks to cousins Mike & Leslie for this photo dating from the end of March 1943 – of No9 Pre-AFU Course, 11EFTS, RAF Perth (Scone) which has the priceless annotation of names on the reverse. Leslie & Mike's uncle, Roy Gallop is the primary subject of interest - second from right, third row back. Gallop was skipper of 625 Squadron Lancaster JB122, another casualty of the 30^th January 1944 Berlin raid, his rear gunner was W/O Davey Johnson DFC, late of Jimmie Ives' crew.

Fourth from left, back row is F/Sgt Frank Wadge who would in February 1944 receive an immediate DFM award after a collision with a German night-fighter severely damaged his 100 Squadron Lancaster ED749. His aircraft lost a large chunk of wing, suffered major damage to propellers, fuselage and control surfaces, but F/Sgt Wadge brought his aircraft and crew home safely from the Stuttgart operation of 20^th/21^st February 1944. Very sadly on Wadge's next op - Schweinfurt 24^th/ 25^th February - he and the crew of ND593 were lost without trace over the North Sea.

Third from right, back row, Sgt (later P/O) Stanley W G Neighbour was a contemporary of Roy Fennell's at 166 Squadron, RAF Kirmington before being posted to 156 Squadron (8 Group, Pathfinders) in December 1943. P/O Neighbour died when ND454 was shot down, also on the Schweinfurt operation.

The clarity of the photograph (apart from a few blemishes on the print) really takes you to the moment it was taken, the expressions, new blousons, brevets and caps, collars up, proud and keen to get on with things.

I would be very grateful to receive information about any of the pilots and observers/ navigators in this iconic photo.

Many thanks.

letter from F/Sgt Jones' mother - 1944

The CWGC entry for F/Sgt Albert Patrick Jones records that he was the twenty-one year-old son of David and Margaret Jones and husband of Irene May Jones of Aberdeen. Jones was mid-upper gunner in 166 Squadron Lancaster ME624 of F/Sgt Roy Fennell, lost on the Nuremberg raid 30^th/31^st March 1944. A very sad record, but as ever, a little research tells more.

Genealogy records suggest that Albert Jones and Irene May Robson married on 1^st January 1944 in Aberdeen. The likelihood must surely be that Jones had been stationed at an RAF establishment in the proximity of Aberdeen with Irene living near at hand or perhaps, Irene had been in the forces – a WAAF maybe and it was she who was stationed in the Aberdeen area? Perhaps Jones had been instructing at RAF Lossiemouth (20 OTU) or RAF Kinloss (19 OTU) - hence his arrival without crew-mates at 166 Squadron for a new operational posting. Had the prospect of flying operations prompted their marriage? By 5^th January F/Sgt Jones A P found himself in the mid-upper turret of

Lancaster W4376 on his way to Stettin.

Albert Patrick Jones (birth records have him as – Patrick Albert) was born in June 1922 in Cardiff to Dai and Margaret Jones (née Griffin) – apparently the youngest of their four children. Soon after her son was posted missing Margaret Jones wrote to pilot Roy Fennell's mother from her home at 77 Strathnairn Street, Roath, Cardiff.:-

Dear Mrs Fennell,

I am Mrs Jones, I had the sad news

that my son F/Sgt Jones was killed

on 31^st March. He was on

the same Lancaster as your

son. He was a mid upper gunner.

Well my dear what news

have you had I hope it

is good. Will you please let

me know if you have heard

anything as I can't believe

it. Please excuse bad writing

as I am in a dream and

a muddle. I don't know

2

what I am doing. I will

close now awaiting some

good news from you.

I remain yours truly,

Mrs M Jones.

Many thanks to Wayne in Vancouver for the letter which I think completely encapsulates the feelings of a mother bereft at the loss of her son.

Can anyone supply more information about Albert Patrick Jones please?

WW2 English Lancaster bomber in Motzener See

Following F/Sgt Bill Allan's misdemeanour of 20^th October 1943 the mid-upper position in Jim Ives's crew was subsequently occupied by stand-in gunners. On the 22^nd October sortie to Kassel, Sgt Frank A Sugden, 21 year-old married man from Hackney, east London was pressed into service as Jim's mid-upper gunner. 

After the previous abortive sortie F/Sgt Ives, Sgt Bell, F/Sgt Goodrick, F/Sgt Yates, Sgt Hay, Sgt Sugden and W/O Johnson returned safely from Kassel in ED938 having successfully completed the operation – 'up 18.00, dn 00.10. Attacked 21.15hrs, 19,600ft, good visibility, bombing well concentrated in bombing area'.  Due to thick, low cloud and heavy rain over the Lincolnshire Wolds ED938 was diverted to RAF Blyton where foggy weather kept the crew stranded until the following day 24^th October when they made the 20minute return flight to Kelstern.

From available records it appears that 1943 had been a tumultuous year for Sugden. In the first quarter he had married Helen Beer who presented him with a son, Antony, in September. Frank's father Edward Victor Sugden is thought to have died in June. 

The year ended tragically for the family as Frank Sugden was posted missing in the early hours of Christmas Eve 1943 when Lancaster LM421 of 625 Squadron was shot down south of Berlin. The bodies of four of the crew were interred at Mittenwalde, the bodies of the three remaining crewmen were not apparently recovered.

Following investigation by the Missing Research Enquiry Service the remains of pilot Sgt Geoffrey Clark, bomb-aimer Sgt Arthur Naylor, and gunners Sgt Charles Harrison and Sgt Frank Sugden were exhumed and re-buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Berlin-Charlottenburg (graves 5.E.7 to 5.E.10). Flight engineer Sgt Ralph Parkinson, navigator Sgt Donald Walker and wireless operator Sergeant William Whitmarsh have no known grave.

In (about) 2012 a German diving group followed up a local story that a British bomber had crashed in Motzener See. 

A contemporary eye-witness report in a local museum pin-pointed the date to the eve of Christmas Eve 1943.  Mr. Herbert Siecke had at the time been a sixteen year-old messenger with the fire and rescue organisation, based at a community centre in the village of Motzen on the south-eastern shore of Motzener See. There was an air raid alarm that night and Herbert was sheltering in the safety of the centre's slit trench with warden Peter Rudolph and Fire Chief W Hahn. The weather was cloudy and windy. 

Suddenly they heard the sounds of aircraft above the clouds, volleys of machine-gun and cannon-fire – a night-fighter attacking a British bomber. The occupants of the trench crouched down as they heard loud whistling noises from above. The whistling was followed by a fiery inferno and explosion before the bomber disappeared into the Motzener Lake. Burning aviation fuel covered the crash area but soon afterwards, when the fire had died down the Rudolph, Hahn and messenger Siecke drove with others from the fire department to the village bathing site. There they found hundreds of dead fish, aircraft wreckage and an open parachute canopy being driven towards the shore. 

The fire brigade had access to a boat but the stormy weather and strong waves made it very tricky to recover the parachute. Eventually the parachute and pieces of aircraft wreckage were gathered up and taken to the fire-station. Four bodies were recovered and identified.

Herbert Siecke referred to that night as one he would never forget.

Lancaster LM421 had taken-off from Kelstern at a-quarter-to-midnight. It was intercepted and attacked, at an altitude of about 6000m at just after four o'clock in the morning of Christmas Eve by a night-fighter, thought to have been from 11./NJG5 flown by Lieutenant Georg Fenk. The bomber sustained serious damage and the fuel tanks ignited.  Sgt Geoffrey Clark apparently attempted an emergency landing but the Lancaster crashed into Lake Motzener.

When the divers began their search their initial dive was made based on an approximate map plot of the crash and a couple of pin-points on the shore. The cold and dark hour-long dive revealed a muddy lake bottom, swirling with sediment and the offering of a dark shape emerging from the mud and murk.

For the second dive information from the lake's fishermen as to where they'd fished out aircraft debris led the divers to the wreckage of Sgt Clark's 625 Squadron Lancaster on the lake bed.

Many thanks to the fascinating Easydive site - where you can see more about their work, also more photos of the remains of LM421.

http://www.easydive24.de/ziel_deutschland_motzenersee.php

If there are relatives of any of the crew of LM421 – please get in touch – post a comment here or visit www.jcproctor.co.uk and use the contact form.

Thanks to everyone who has visited the site this year, and especially to the 'Boy Genius' for all his continued hard work, Merry Christmas to you all !!

F/Sgt Roy Barton Fennell and crew -just doing their job? WW2 Bomber Command baptism of fire.

I haven't had to look very far to find Bomber Command airmen who displayed acts of selflessness and bravery in looking after their comrades – P/O Frank Law, P/O Norman Lyford, P/O Reg Price among others. It could be said that they were just doing their job.

Like the fighter pilots of 'the Few' – bomber crews were 'chucked in at the deep-end' – to sink or swim.

The 166 Squadron ORB Summary of Events records that on the Berlin raid of 18^th November 1943 the all-up weights of five of the squadron's Lancaster IIIs was increased to 65,000lbs. The trial was, thankfully for those entrusted with the additional bombs, a success – the aircraft 'took this weight and experienced no difficulties'.

On the following operation, on the 22^nd the older Lancaster Is received an increase of 2,000lbs – a total all-up-weight of 63,500 lbs. 'All took off successfully and had no difficulties with this increased weight, save for increased difficulty in making maximum height.'

Making his debut on this operation was 22 year-old pilot F/Sgt Roy Fennell aboard ED731 'T' as second pilot to Sgt Horsley. The sortie went without incident.

The next night Fennell and his own crew, who had arrived from 1656CU only a week previously, went to Berlin and back on their own account in DV365, Z², again unscathed. On 26^th Fennell's crew were again on the 'Battle Order', the target – yet again 'the Big City'.

The crew were:- pilot – F/Sgt Roy Barton Fennell

flight engineer – Sgt William Pettis

navigator – Sgt James Smyth

bomb-aimer – Sgt Ronald Moodey

wireless op – F/Sgt Douglas Harvey

mid-upper – Sgt Charles Cushing

rear- gunner – Sgt George Meadows RCAF

take-off – 17.25

bomb-load -1x4000lb, 1400x4lb incendiaries, 430x30lb incendiaries

route out:- southerly down the country and out across the south coast over East Sussex, crossing the French Coast in the proximity of Baie de Somme, then turning due east to pass just north of Frankfurt where the bomber stream split with 150+ Halifaxes and 21 Pathfinder Lancasters attacking Stuttgart and the bulk of the force – nearly 450 Lancasters turning north-east to Berlin.

The crew of DV365 experienced difficulties, Roy Fennell's log-book states :- 'Abandoned – attacked by single and twin engine German night-fighters. Sgt Moodey baled out. Sgts Meadows, Cushing, Harvey wounded. Landed at Ford.'

The German defences tracked the bomber stream from its landfall at the Somme Estuary and sent up 55 twin-engine night-fighters to cover Himmelbett boxes in Belgium, Holland and North-West Germany. Simultaneously twenty-nine night-fighters – twenty Bf110s, eight Ju88s and a He219, all equipped with SN-2 radar were scrambled as 'tame-boars' and were directed into the bomber stream over Southern Belgium. Bad weather over Southern Germany restricted numbers of night-fighters scrambled there to thirteen Himmelbett patrols and five aircraft on 'wilde-sau' duties.

166 Squdron ORB Record of Events expands on Roy Fennell;s log-book entry:-

'This aircraft was attacked head on by an enemy fighter over France, damaging our aircraft and wounding the rear gunner, and putting the mid-upper turret temporarily out of action. Almost immediately afterwards it was again attacked. A cannon shell burst in the front cockpit and also damaged the elevators, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable. Bombs were jettisoned and the Captain gave the order to abandon aircraft. Later, however, he regained control and cancelled the order but discovered that the Bomb Aimer had already left. The aircraft turned for home and was continuously attacked another 10 or 12 times before finally getting clear of fighters. In all this time the Rear Gunner, Sergeant Meadows, despite his injuries, continued to fight his turret. The aircraft finally landed successfully at Ford, badly damaged. The Rear Gunner was severely wounded and the Wireless Operator, Navigator and Mid-Upper Gunner slightly wounded'.

Combat reports were recorded for each separate action. Many thanks to Archie for providing extracts from partial reports for two of the several combats experienced. Although in a standardised format they still convey the tension and relentlessness of the exchanges:-

'Enemy aircraft attack from port quarter up to dead astern breaking away to port bow in shallow dive.

Our pilot corkscrewed to port as soon as enemy aircraft had committed himself to an attack at 600 yards range. Mid Upper gave the evasive order - corkscrew port go.

Enemy aircraft opened fire at 600 yards range firing two short bursts until breakaway, scoring hits on starboard mainplane and tailplane.

Both Mid Upper and Rear Gunners opened fire at 600 yards range firing long bursts until breakaway. Port gun became unserviceable in Mid Upper turret owing to being hit by cannon shell. Wireless Operator and Navigator injured - Wireless Operator in the back of the head Navigator in the left shoulder. Damage to enemy aircraft not observed.

Mid Upper fired 250 rounds. Stoppage in left hand gun due to damage by cannon shell. One of the left hand guns in the Rear Turret was also hit and put out of action after the Rear Gunner had fired 150 rounds.

Mid Upper 1615703 Sergeant Cushing. Rear Gunner R191205 Sergeant Meadows.

Monica warning received five minutes before attack. Pilot corkscrewed on warning but as no attack was made resumed course.

Enemy aircraft carried out a normal attack and the correct evasive action was carried out by our crew.

Enemy aircraft was first seen by Mid Upper at 800 yards range. The combat manoeuvre ordered by the Mid Upper was the corkscrew. Enemy aircraft opened fire at 600 yards range firing long bursts until the breakaway. No damage to enemy aircraft observed. Enemy aircraft scored several hits on our aircraft, starboard mainplane and also tailplane, Wireless Operator and Navigator wounded.

Third Combat:-

Night 26^th/27th November 1943 Lancaster I ZZ 166 Squadron DV365 Berlin.

Position between Charleroi and Caen Time between 1935 and 2030 hours.

Visibility hazy. No cloud.

One enemy aircraft Ju 88. No lights carried. Armament situated in nose of aircraft.

Mid Upper first sighted enemy aircraft at 400 yards on the starboard quarter slightly up.

One attack. Enemy aircraft attacked from starboard quarter up breaking away to starboard beam level.

Mid Upper gave the evasive order - corkscrew starboard Go on first sighting enemy aircraft.

Enemy aircraft opened fire at 400 yards firing one continuous burst until breakaway. Mid Upper opened fire until ammo in the right hand gun was expended. Left hand gun was out of action due to being hit. The crew are not certain if Rear Gunner Meadows opened fire on this attack or not as he is now in hospital wounded, no information can be obtained at the present time.

No claims of damage to enemy aircraft. No hits occurred to our aircraft. 100 rounds from the Mid Upper. Unknown from the rear turret.

Mid Upper 1615703 Sergeant Cushing. Rear Gunner R191205 Sergeant Meadows.

Monica - No warning given.

Enemy aircraft carried out a normal attack and the correct evasive action was taken. The Gunners were rather handicapped in the shooting having had some of their guns put out of action and also servo ducts damaged.

Enemy aircraft was first sighted by the Mid Upper at 400 yards range on the starboard quarter slightly up. The combat manoeuvre given was corkscrew starboard. Enemy aircraft opened fire at 400 yards range. Mid Upper opened fire with one gun firing until he ran out of ammo. No damage to enemy aircraft observed and no damage to our aircraft '

By all accounts there followed seven or more subsequent attacks by enemy aircraft. It must be assumed that as Sgt Cushing had now expended his ammunition Sgt Meadows must have played his part in subsequent combats.

For his part in the actions rear gunner Sgt George William Meadows RCAF was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The citation reads:-

'This airman was the rear gunner of a bomber detailed to attack Berlin one night in November 1943. During the operation the aircraft was attacked by a fighter. Bullets from the enemy aircraft hit and damaged the mid-upper and rear turrets, one bullet struck Sergeant Meadows in the back, which was deflected by the wiring in his electrically heated clothing, and came out in the groin. Another attack developed, and the mid-upper gunner, the wireless operator and navigator were wounded. Despite his injury, Sergeant Meadows remained in his turret and by his excellent co-operation with the pilot, together with his good shooting, beat off a further eight attacks by fighters. This airman showed skill, courage and fortitude of a high order.'

It transpired that bomb-aimer Sgt Ronald Moodey sadly did not survive the bale-out. It is understandable that he was the first to exit as the b/a's position is directly over the escape hatch. Sgt Moodey's remains were interred in Hotton War Cemetery - grave VIII. E. 1 although it is likely that he was originally buried in a cemetery in the locality his body was found.

Despite surviving what must have been a very harrowing experience F/Sgt Fennell was not destined to be one of the 'lucky' airmen who would fly on to survive his tour of operations. Having operated throughout the 'Battle of Berlin' Roy Fennell, James Smyth, William Pettis and Douglas Harvey were killed on the disastrous Nuremberg raid at the end of March 1943 – the last operation of the Berlin campaign, following which Bomber Command's attentions were concentrated on the build-up towards the Allied invasion of Europe.

Charles Cushing is thought not to have been one of Fennell's regular crew but arrived at Kirmington via 1662CU. Sgt Cushing was posted missing from the operation against Berlin on 16^th/17^th December flying with F/O Follett's crew, their Lancaster crashing at Diepholz.

Thirty year-old Canadian George Meadows, who came from the village of Bowsman, Manitoba, was immediately posted 'non-effective' because of his wounds and did not return to operational flying until April 1944. It appears that Sgt George Meadows CGM survived the war.

LAC Roy Barton Fennell - 19EFTS RCAF Virden

It is perhaps surprising that Fennell himself didn't get a medal for his part, however, he may have been put forward for a 'gong' but the rescinded order to abandon may have been a factor in his not being decorated.  After all - I guess that Fennell was just doing his job

Lancaster loses two engines on take-off - ww2 625 Squadron Bomber Command - original account

Just before 17.25hrs on the evening of 3^rd November 1943 Lancaster W4833 of 625 Squadron  lined up for take-off on a sortie to Dusseldorf. The crew were setting out on their second operation together, their first had been to Kassel on the 22^nd October when they had had a close call with an enemy night-fighter. Rear gunner Frank Sutton's log book recorded – 'ops Kassel. Expended 150 rounds. Damaged Fw190 in combat (1 attack).'

Pilot F/Sgt Reg Price had previously flown as 'second-dickie' with P/O Edgar Pickles and crew on 20^th October op to Berlin (and on the same night M/u Harry Powter had filled in for the absent F/Sgt Bill Allan in Jimmie Ives's crew on their abortive sortie). The other members of Price's crew were f/e Les Knowles, navigator Dudley Ball, b/a Jack Conley and w/op Jim Harris. Their bomb-load on this occasion included a 4,000lb 'cookie' fused to explode on impact and 12 SBCs (small bomb containers), canisters containing 2,800 incendiaries. Fuel-load for Dusseldorf and back was 1200 gallons. Take-off was renowned to be potentially the most 'dicey' part of any flight.

Sgt Sutton's log-book records the following entry 'inner engines u/s (Dusseldorf)' – for the trip which turned out to be short and eventful. Many thanks to Iain Sutton for allowing me to reproduce his father's account of what happened. I defy anyone not to be gripped by the following narrative, written soon after returning to base:-

('height 60ft Reg')

(for 'Doug' read 'Dud')

The squadron ORB records this version of events:- Lancaster W4833 - Target Dusseldorf – 'Aircraft 'J'. Up 17.25 dn 18.40hrs. 'Task abandoned. Both engines cut just after take-off. Course set out to sea but difficult to maintain height. Incendiaries and guns jettisoned to enable sufficient height to be gained to jettison 4,000lb bomb. Landed at base at 18.40.' 

back row :- Les Knowles, Jack Conley, Harry Powter, front row:- Frank Sutton, Reg Price, Dud Ball (Jim Harris absent)