30^th January 1944 – Berlin – 405 Squadron RCAF, 8 Group PFF .

”J” up 17.13, dn MISSING. Bomb-load 5×2,000 H C – Supporter

This aircraft failed to return from this operation and nothing was heard from this crew since time of take-off. This was Flight Lieutenant Roberts’ 9^th operation.

The crew :- F/Lt W A Roberts RCAF, F/O E S Guiton RCAF, F/O D Hackett DFC RCAF, W/O A Hazlehurst RAFVR, P/O J P R Boileau RCAF, P/O A B Schultz RCAF, Sgt I E Smedley RAFVR.

A list of names and ranks, which tells us little. What were they like? How well did they know one another? Mostly commissioned officers – an experienced crew probably – they were a Pathfinder crew – had they been posted in from a Canadian Squadron? – or perhaps they came together at the Pathfinder Navigation Training unit. Or had circumstances thrown them together?

The crew listed above had flown three operations together, to Berlin. Lancaster ND462 was shot down by a night-fighter, probably around 20.35 hrs on the evening of 30^th January, crashing in flames near Loburg, about 15 miles east of Magdeburg, apparently on the return route. It is likely that they bombed on time, about 20.13.

A witness to the crash interviewed after the war cited the night-fighter attack and that the Lancaster was in flames and exploded on the ground. Although the remains of the crew members could not be positively identified a watch belonging to Bennett Schultz was eventually recovered, associated with the crash site.

Who were these young men, all wrapped in a single parachute and buried in a communal grave in Loburg cemetery?

Warren Ainsley Roberts – date of birth July 4^th 1920. His father Joseph had been brought up on a small farm on Anglesey, Wales and emigrated to Canada in August 1910. He worked on the farm next to the Bowen family at Birtle, Manitoba and married Bessie Bowen on 21st April 1919.

Warren originally applied to join the RCAF in November 1939, attestation papers dated May 1940 being accepted into aircrew Special Reserve.

5’8 ½ ” tall – 142lbs – ruddy complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, chest x-rays confirmed no lasting problems from childhood whooping cough. Fitness category ‘A’

‘I am very anxious to learn to fly and have been trying to get into the air force for almost a year’.

Warren did become a pilot and applied for a commission as LAC (entitled to wings) dated March 8^th 1941 – ‘I am anxious to get a commission and have always wanted to make my career in the Air Force.’   He was commissioned to P/O rank 18/3/41.

Warren’s assessment:-

Appearance:- Healthy, rugged, medium height, refined, clean,

Dress:- conservative, clean and neat, smart.

Intelligence:- Quick, organised.

Personality:- Confident, mature, pleasant,

Honest, industrious, trustworthy.

Farmer’s son, Very fine type, Alert, Keen, Will improve with training.

Whatever ambitions he had Warren was earmarked as having potential to make a capable flying instructor – which he did – serving as an instructor to fledgling pilots at 11SFTS RCAF Yorkton, Ontario from June 1941 to September 1942 when he was posted to 2FIS (Flying Instructor School) Vulcan, Alberta, presumably to instruct instructors a posting which lasted until July 1943. So, two years and four months after graduating as a pilot Warren Roberts embarked for the UK and the prospect of operations.

In early October 1943 F/O Roberts arrived at 24OTU RAF Honeybourne – about 5 miles east of Evesham and on 1^st December was posted without a crew straight to PFF 405 Squadron. He was immediately on attachment to NTU (PFF Navigation Training Unit) – flying Halifaxes, apparently his conversion training to four engined, heavy bombers. Three days after Christmas he was returned to 405 to commence operations.  Pitched straight into the ‘Battle of Berlin’.

F/Lt Warren Roberts flew two ‘second-dickie’ trips with F/Lt G Bennett DFC and crew on the night of Saturday 1^st/ Sunday 2^nd and 2^nd/3^rd January, both sorties to Berlin in the role of Primary Blind Marker.

Wednesday 5^th/ Thursday 6^th – target Stettin – Roberts, Moore, Hackett, Stevens, Boileau, Reid , Pyke.

”H” up 00.04, dn 08.13. bomb load 4×2,000 H C – Supporter.

Visibility was clear at aiming point with half-moon setting. Load was released on a cluster of about 30 Red T I at Aiming Point which was recognised from a height of 17,500 feet at 03.41hours. On run-up attacked by Ju88. Evasive action was taken, and ran on to target with no damage to our aircraft and no claims made to enemy aircraft. Flares were seen lighting up target and two Green T Is were falling South-west edge of town. Some Green T I were on centre of town. No fires were seen. Landed base undamaged.

crew:-

Navigator F/O Randolph Derek Moore RAAF

b 27 Oct 1914 in London (England). His mother Mrs Violette Lilah Moore (nee Sabunjie) and Violette’s father – Ibrahim were Turkish (naturalised UK), his father Thomas W Moore had served with 11^th Bn Rifle Brigade Thomas died on 6^th April 1917 aged 27 at Havrincourt Wood near the village of Metz-en-Couture,

Randolph had emigrated aged 8 in October 1923 with his grandmother Ada K Sabunjie and aunt, Cecelia M Sabunjie on P &O SS Balranald to Fremantle.

F/O Moore disappears from immediate squadron records after this sortie. However, Randolph survived the war, returning to Australia.

F/O Douglas Hackett DFC RCAF – bomb-aimer

‘I have pleasure in certifying to the good character of Mr Douglas Hackett of Kingston, Ontario. He is a member of St Andrew’s Church of this city, and highly esteemed by all who know him as a young man of ability and integrity. I believe that he will make good in any work he undertakes.’ John W Stephen, Minister Emeritus, St Andrew’s Church, Kingston. April 12^th 1940.

b 4^th May 1920, father William Hackett, postal clerk, mother Ada (nee Moncrief) family home – 69 Ordnance Street, Kingston, Ontario.

Brothers – Stewart, Herbert (Herb), Kenneth and William, sister Laura.

Sports – Rugby (extensively), swimming (extensively), baseball, tennis, basketball.

Flying experience – 1 hour as passenger.

Attested May 15^th 1941

height 6’3”, 180lbs, fair complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair.

To No 3 ITS 25 July 1941 course #32 recommended for training as pilot – ‘very good appearance, pleasant personality, serious, dependable, mature, calm, fairly intelligent.’

No 4 EFTS Windsor Mills, Quebec – pass position in class 8, number in class 26 – recommended for training on twin engine aircraft.

Disappointingly for Doug he was ‘washed’ from pilot training and re-mustered as an air-gunner, but soon relented and re-trained as an Observer, graduating and commissioned to P/O 3^rd July 1942.

Doug Hackett disembarked in the UK 18^th August 1942, next stop No 3 (Observer) AFU RAF Halfpenny Green 26^th August 1942.

To 22OTU RAF Wellesbourne Mountford 13^th October 1942

To 424 Squadron, RAF Topcliffe 14 January 1943 operating Vickers Wellington mk III  with the crew from 22OTU:-

pilot: Sgt Donald F G Parker RCAF

navigator: P/O A H Brook RAFVR

bomb-aimer Sgt D Hackett RCAF

w/op, a/g Sgt N D MacDonald RCAF

a/g Sgt M G Anderson RCAF.

Operations started in early February 1942 with mine-laying and bombing European targets until mid- April when 424 Squadron was stood down to prepare for transfer to NAAF (Northwest African Air Forces) – proceeded overseas to North Africa 1^st June 1943 to operate against targets in Southern Italy.

Doug’s service was recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, effective 20^th September 1943 with the citation:-

‘Throughout his tour of operations this officer has displayed great efficiency as bomb aimer. He has completed a number of successful sorties, some of them attacks on highly fortified centres in Germany and has spared no pains to improve his skill, attaining a high standard of accuracy in bombing which has contributed much to the success achieved by his crew.’

Doug Hackett, far left, rear rank.

The crew returned to Britain ‘tour expired’ 8^th October 1943 and F/O Hackett was posted to 23 OTU RAF Pershore 23^rd October 1943 as an instructor. His ‘rest’ stint ended with a move to 405 Squadron at the beginning of December, attached to Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit 5^th – 19^th December 1943 when he returned to the squadron.

Sgt Reginald Ralph Stevens – W/op 5^th/6^th, 14^th/15^th January.

1393048 Sgt Reginald Ralph Stevens b o/n/d 1921, Greenwich. kia 21/1/44 age 22, son of (Frederick) Charles and Ada Mary Stevens of Hither Green.

Service number issued by Euston recruiting centre range August 1940 to December 1941.

The 1939 register places the Stevens family at 14 Woodlands Street, Hither Green,south-east London.

P/O Joseph Paul Roger Boileau RCAF – Air-gunner

 

At the beginning of January 1944 ‘Rogers’, as he was known held the rank of Warrant Officer, by the end of he month he had risen to P/O and had been appointed gunnery officer.

Rogers Boileau – French speaker, English moderately well.

Born 27^th February 1921

Parents – Ananias & Armande (nee Gingras)

brother – Jean Robert, address 44 Paré Granby, Shefford County, P.Q.

Single, occupation Mill hand/ carpenter at his Uncle Alfred Benoit’s joinery works at St-Pie-Bagot – ‘Je puis recommander hautement comme étant, honnête, travailleur, adroit, et ponctuel.’

5’7” 145lbs, fair complexion, blue eyes, blond hair.

date of enlistment 24/5/41

‘Keen, bilingual, Very anxious to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. Polite, well-mannered. Should do well as WOAg’.

At No. 1 Wireless School in Montreal Rogers encountered some disciplinary problems due to a couple of unauthorised absences, not an uncommon occurrance, which were sorted out by pack-drill, forfeiture of pay and detention. His training progressed at No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario where he gained his air-gunner’s badge and Sergeant’s tapes on 31^st March 1942.

Sgt Boileau disembarked in the UK on 12th May 1942 and after further training at No. 7 Air Gunnery School – RAF Stormy Down progressed to his next posting, at the end of July, to RAF Pershore in Worcestershire, where at 23 OTU he crewed up with Sgt pilot J J N Rivard RCAF. On completion of their OTU training, on 7^th October 1942, the crew:-

pilot Sgt J J N Rivard

nav F/Sgt R H Logan

b/a Sgt B Payette

w/op Sgt H H Douglass

a/g Sgt P R Boileau

were posted to 425 Squadron, an RCAF squadron composed mainly of French-Canadians and based at RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire. The squadron operated Vickers Wellington bombers, with the Rivard crew making operational sorties over the Bay of Biscay, Germany and Italy. When 425 Squadron were transferred to the NAAF on 1^st May 1943 the crew did not join them, but were posted to 432 Squadron and completed their operational tour from RAF Skipton-on Swale on 7^th August.

Rogers Boileau began a four-month stint as an instructor with 15OTU at RAF Harwell, Berkshire, under the auspices of 91 (Training) Group but looked forward to a return to ops, arriving at 405 Squadron on 14/12/43.

WO Gordon Ernest Reid RCAF – Air Gunner

Born January1915 in Toronto; moved to New York City where he became assistant manager of a Woolworth store.. Gordon enlisted in Toronto, 6^th June 1940 and trained at No.1 WS (graduated 24 November 1940) and No.4 BGS (graduated 10 April 1941). Sgt Reid embarked for the UK where he flew operations. Between 29^th August 1941 and 17^th May 1942 Sgt Reid had flown 12 ops including:

12th February 1942- Sea Search (Operation ‘Fuller’) attack on German Navy’s capital ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prince Eugen – ‘the Channel Dash’.

22nd February 1942 – Norway (5.15) 15 aircraft – 6 halifaxes, 5 Manchesters and 4 Stirlings bombed four Norwegian airfields in diversion for proposed Fleet Air Arm strike on Prince Eugen.

3rd March 1942 – Paris (5.30) Renault truck factory, Billancourt.

After a break of 20 months he resumed operational flying with 405 Squadron, with Roberts on the sorties of 5th January to Stettin (8.09), 14^th – Brunswick (5.24), 20^th – Berlin (7.16) and 21^st – Magdeburg (6.44).

WO Reid came off ops for a spell, then resuming on 22^nd April, and completing his tour on 18^th August.  Gordon Reid flew a total of 54 operations.

‘Warrant Officer Reid is a keen and reliable Air Gunner now on his second tour of operations. He has taken part in many sorties, which include such targets as Berlin, Stuttgart and Stettin. This Warrant Officer has always displayed a fine fighting spirit and determination to complete the most difficult tasks allotted to him. The excellent personal example set by the Warrant Officer has been an inspiration to all members of the squadron. Strongly recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’ Award effective 4 November 1944.

Gordon Reid survived the war.

Sgt Norman Pyke RAFVR – Flight Engineer 5^th/6^th January

b June 1943, the eldest son of Mr Herbert Arthur Pyke and Mrs Nora Pyke of 18 Newburgh Street, Winchester. Norman Pyke was educated at the Lion School and Peter Symonds’ School, Winchester, and he then joined the staff of Messrs William Dibben and Sons Builders’ Merchants at their head office at Southampton. His father is well known as the Winchester manager for the firm. Sgt Pyke volunteered for the RAFVR in 1943 when he was eighteen years of age.

It is probable that Norman Pyke joined Kenneth Wilson’s crew at 1658CU RAF Driffield in October 1943.

Pyke was available as a ‘spare bod’ on 5^th as Wilson’s crew were not on the Battle Order having suffered flak damage during the operation on 2^nd/3^rd January, which perforated the fuselage of ”T” and wounded navigator P/O Atkinson who received a shrapnel wound in the leg.

Friday 14^th/Saturday 15^th January – Brunswick – Roberts, Speyer, Hackett, Stevens. Boileau, Reid, Smedley

”O” up 16.56, dn 22.20. Bomb-load 1×4,000 H C, 6×1,000 M C, 4×500 M C (T.Inst.) – Supporter.

There was 9/10 cloud at 10,000feet in target area. Load was dropped on centre of area marked by 3 or 4 T I Green and and 3 Flares Red/Green, at 19.27 hours from 19,000 feet. On approach, found fairly good concentration of 3 or 4 T I Green (seen through cloud) and 2 or 3 flares Red/Green in a position corresponding to EA on target from earlier H2S fixes. Landed base undamaged.

F/O Lloyd George Speyer – Navigator 14^th /15^th January – Brunswick

Leon Loeb Speyer b 18^th April 1922, changed name to Lloyd George Speyer. Religion – Goel Tzedec Synagogue – Hebrew. Father Boris Mark, born Vilna Russia, had changed his name to Ben Mark Speyer, emigrated to Canada 1911, naturalised 1914 d 26^th Oct 1937.

mother b Austria – Etta Riva Prager emigrated to Canada 1891, married Ben 12^th Oct 1915

older brother Mark Speyer RCAF R214226

sister Debby.

Lloyd Worked at the Globe & Mail Newspaper, Toronto in the editorial department for 2 years .

5’3 ¾” fair complexion, brown eyes, fair hair.

Enlisted 22/7/41

‘clean cut lad, good education, well recommended, keen and alert,good appearance, will develop under training into Air Crew material.’

‘A very good practical navigator, fast, accurate and neat. Knowledge of theory good.’

‘Very young, but confident in a quiet way.’

Disembark UK 1-9-42

Lloyd appears to have been an accurate navigator as during his training in the UK he gained experience through Coastal Command and a short spell with a Ferry Training Unit:-

7OTU Coastal Command 28-9-42 RAF Limavardy N Ireland

303FTU (Ferry training Unit)RAF Stornoway 3-3-43

547 Squadron (Coastal Command) 24-3-43

TD at 1TRS 5/31-5-43 (tactical reconnaissance school)

TD to HQ CC (Coastal Command) 8/10-7-43

before being posted from 547 Sqn to PNTU 13-12-43

NTU to 61 Base 30-12-43 and then to 405 Squadron on 6^th January 1944.

Sgt Ivan E Smedley RAFVR – flight engineer from 14^th/15^th January 1944.

Sgt Smedley’s service number 1818902 – Birmingham Centre from July 1942 to October 1942.

Father George Edward Smedley, b 26^th Aug 1901 – police constable living at 101 Port Arthur Road, Sneinton, Nottingham, married to Florence b march 24^th 1898, nee Bennett, daughter Dorothy b june 1^st 1923 clerk Boots the Chemist, Ivan Edward, b July 1924 – known in the family as Ted,

Peter b 1933.

‘My brother Ted Smedley joined the RAF in February 1943 aged 19. After training at 14 Training Wing, then Rootes Securities and 1659 Conversion Unit in Yorkshire. To 405 Sqn November 1943.

On 30^th January 1944, 13 Lancaster aircraft were detailed for bombing raid on Berlin. A 25 minute air test was all that was carried out on the flying programme for the day as preparations for operations prevented further progress on the ground. Ten aircraft successfully returned but 3 were missing, including ND462′

Peter G Smedley.

Sgt Ted Smedley had not apparently flown any operations during November, December or until flying with F/Lt Roberts on 14^th/15^th January.

Continued in part 2…..