30th 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’ 9th 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?
Thursday 20th/Friday 21st January – Berlin – Roberts, Armstrong, Hackett, Hazlehurst, Boileau, Reid, Smedley
”U” up 16.18, dn 23.32. Bomb-load 5×2,000 H C – Supporter
There was 10/10 cloud at 14,000 feet in target area. Load was dropped on centre of 6 Wanganui flares at 19.34 hours from 19,000 feet. Circle of Wanganui flares was seen approximately five miles in diameter, which seemed from a distance to be a concentration. Some T ~I Red were seen bursting under cloud. No results observed. Landed base undamaged.
F/O Stanley William Armstrong DFC – Navigator 20th/21st January – Berlin
Regular navigator with F/Lt Harold Walter Augustus Trilsbach’s crew, filling in as ‘spare-bod’.
W/O Alan Hazlehurst RAFVR – w op/ ag 20th/21st January onwards.
Wireless operator/ air gunner Warrant Officer Alan Hazlehurst had been unable to fly with his crew on the Brunswick op on 14th/15th January 1944, it is thought that he was suffering from the influenza virus that was circulating RAF Gransden Lodge at the time.
Alan had been pilot Gordon Drimmie’s w.op since June 1942 when the pair crewed up together with Newfoundlander John Evans, their navigator at 17OTU. The threesome flew Bostons with 88 Squadron between November 1942 and the following March when their posting to 22OTU converted them to medium bombers and added another two members to their crew – b/a Gilbey who had operational experience from 405 and 427 squadrons, and a/g Peterson recently graduated from gunnery school. 1659CU followed where flight engineer Sgt E Lane and a/g Sgt D Smith made up the seven man crew who were posted to RAF Middleton St George to operate Halifax mk V heavy bombers with 428 Squadron.
F/O Drimmie and his crew flew 8 operational sorties during August 1943 before transferring to 405 PFF Squadron.
Between 15th/16th September and the end of November the crew flew thirteen more operations before John Evans left the crew for conversion to PFF Mosquitoes being replaced by F/O Rodger B Jarvie for the 3rd /4th December raid on Leipzig. They completed three operations in December. Sgt John Waddell from P/O Kenneth Wilson’s crew flew instead of Alan Hazlehurst on the mid-January Brunswick sortie.
Tragically for Alan his crew-mates did not return, their Lancaster had been shot down and crashed near the village of Uepsen about 30km south of Bremen, with no survivors.
Alan Hazlehurst – Born 16th February 1922 to Arthur John Hazlehurst and Olive Hazlehurst (nee Bell), Alan was their only child. Home 189 Curzon Street, Long Eaton, Derbyshire
Occupation – Local Government Officer
enlisted 18th July 1940 aged 18 years 5 months, accepted for wireless operator/ air gunner training 19th July.
To 2RC RAF Cardington – Service number 1181648.
to 9RC RAF Blackpool 27th July 1940
His wireless operator training took him to 10(Signals)RC Blackpool, commencing 30th September 1940, followed by 2 Signals School, RAF Yatesbury with a spell at RAF Bassingbourne for practical experience before returning to RAF Yatesbury, receiving his ‘sparks’ badge in May 1942. He received his ag brevet and Sergeant’s tapes when he graduated from his gunnery course at 8AGS RAF Evanton – Ross and Cromarty. His next posting in June 1942 took him to 17 OTU and crew-mates Drimmie and Evans.
Wireless op Sgt Reginald Stevens, navigator F/O Lloyd Speyer RCAF and f/e Sgt Norman Pyke were flying in P/O Kenneth Wilson’s crew on 21st/22nd January. The aircraft came down in the vicinity of Gommern, 15km south-east of Magdeburg, there were no survivors.
Friday 21st/Saturday 22nd January – Magdeburg – Roberts, Farb, Hackett, Hazlehurst, Boileau, Reid, Smedley
”B” up 19.59, dn 02.43. Bomb-load 1×4,000 H C, 3×1,000 M C, 7×500 M C – Supporter
There was 10/10 cloud cover over East half of target area at 9,000 feet. Load was released at 23.01 hours from 18,500 feet by H2S after approach from South-west. On run-in saw Green T I cascading. On arrival, a good concentration of T I Green was seen on the ground with a ring of hooded flares and several flares Red/Green above. Many incendiaries were burning on and around the T Is. Saw searchlight activity and red flares or T Is about 25 miles to South-east of target. Landed base undamaged.
F/O Herbert Reuben Farb DFC RCAF – Navigator – 21st/22nd Magdeburg
Navigator with F/O D E Biden’s crew, filling in as ‘spare-bod’. On 30th January Berlin op – Farb was one of four of Biden’s crew wounded by flak or Me110 hits. Herber Farb DFC survived the war.
Thursday 27th/Friday 28th January – Berlin – Roberts, Guiton, Hackett, Hazlehurst, Boileau, Schultz, Smedley
”B” up 17.48, dn 01.08. Bomb-load 1×4,000 H C, 11×500 M C (T Inst) – Supporter
There was 10/10 cloud at 7,000feet in target area. Load was released at 20.29 hours from 19,000feet, by H2S. Aircraft encountered intense heavy flak 3 or 4 minutes after bombing. Target area was fairly well lit up by searchlights and fighter flares. Landed base undamaged.
F/O Ernest Stuart Guiton RCAF Navigator – 27th/28th January onwards
Ernest Stuart Guiton – b 2nd June 1918, Montreal, son of James E Guiton of Dorval and Edna Guiton (Evans). James Ernest was born St Helier, Jersey.
Two brothers – James Gordon and Douglas Edward, sister Marjorie (Brown).
Ernest Stuart married June 27th 1942 to Patricia M Suttie – Valois, Quebec.
1940-41 while a signaller with the Royal Montreal Regiment, transferred to RCAF in August 1941 as trainee Observer.
5 AOS ”A young man with leadership qualities. Is keen and hard-working.”
Awarded Air observers badge 23/5/42
5’11½” tall, brown hair, brown eyes, ”clean cut, intelligent and respectful. An excellent type with above average ability. Good in air work and gives his best to all his work.” (at completion of 1 ANS).
He graduated 6th of 26 in his class, rated above average and recommended suitable to be an instructor. 3/7/42 – commission to P/O 3/7/42.
1 CNS (Central Navigation School) Rivers until 28/7/42
then to 5AOS (Air Observer School) Winnipeg as instructor until 31/5/43.
Disemb UK 1/7/43
3PRC 2/7/43
att HQBC 5/9/43
10 (O)AFU 19/10/43
to M.A.P. London (Ministry of Aircraft Production) 8/9/11/43 (Boscombe Down)
to NTU 8 Grp 30/11/43
to 405 Sqn 14/1/44
P/O A B Schultz RCAF – air-gunner.
Arthur Bennett Schultz dob 8th march 1921 adopted by Arthur W Schultz and Annie Victoria Schultz (Bennett) – known as Bennett Schultz
enlisted june 14th 1940
5’8 ½ ”, 132lbs tanned complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Single, english speaker.
‘I have always found him most reliable in every respect. Ambitious and at all times a perfect gentleman.’ – employer John Munro, Pictou, Nova Scotia.
4 B&GS Fingal a/g badge 22-12-41, T Sgt 23-12-41
3 PRC 21-1-42
#6 Refresher course RAF Manby 7-3-42
7AGS 29-4-42
15OTU 20-5-42
Posted to 70 Squadron in the Middle East 1st July 1942 operating Vickers Wellington medium bombers from LG224 (Landing Ground 224 Cairo – Gebel el Mansuriya)
crew:-
pilot Sgt J Woodman
2nd pilot Sgt R S Truman
observer Sgt G Johnson
w/op Sgt V E Cornish
f/g Sgt A B Schultz
r/g Sgt A Matheson.
In September the bulk of Woodman’s crew were posted to India, Bennett Schultz saw out the rest of his tour in the crew of F/Sgt Conquist.
pilot F/Sgt C W Conquist
2nd pilot Sgt B J Frew
nav F/O N H J Parent
w/op F/Sgt A Temple
f/g Sgt S W Payne
r/g Sgt A B Schultz
disembarked UK 26-2-43
to 23OTU RAF Pershore 18-3-43
detached from 23OTU to satellite 30-4-43 (RAF Atherstone on Stour)
commissioned 30-4-43
23OTU to 405 Sqn 14-12-43
det NTU from 405 Sqn 13-12-43 to 19-12
21st/22nd January P/O Bennett Shultz flew with crew of F/Lt H A Morrison filling in for a/g F/Sgt Waclas Kubiak.
Friday 28th/Saturday 29th January – Berlin – Roberts, Guiton, Hackett, Hazlehurst, Boileau, Schultz, Smedley
”J” up 23.57, dn 07.18. Bomb-load 1×4,000 H C, 11×500 M C – Supporter
7/10 cloud at 10,000 feet in target area. Load was released at 03.12 hours from 19,000 feet on H2S after timed run from Lake Muritz. Fighter flares on track on run in and out. Target area was well lit up by searchlights below cloud. Incendiaries were seen on ground through gaps but built-up area not seen. Intense flak and glow of promising fires seen soon after leaving. Landed base undamaged.
Sunday 30th/ Monday 31st January – Berlin – Roberts, Guiton, Hackett, Hazlehurst, Boileau, Schultz, Smedley
”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’ 9th operation.
These were all young men who had yearned to join the air-force.
For the Canadian airmen it was unlikely that they would return home until they had completed two tours of operations, had been seriously injured, or the war ended.
Apart from the flight engineers these were all long-term airmen who had either already flown a full tour of operations and/or had been tasked to prepare many more aircrew for operational flying.
They had the misfortune to be flying during the Battle of Berlin at a time when the ‘Big City’s’ defences were well organised and tenacious, the weather was atrocious and they needed good fortune to return home.
If you can spare a minute please look at their faces, and consider what people said about them, and about the prospects and potential they gave up.
Many thanks to Marion, Pierre and to long term Canadian friends Ron and Bill for information about and photos of their relatives Alan, Rogers and Doug. Snapshots of the lives of others named below have been gleaned mainly from the magnificent Ancestry Genealogy website and various other sources including various squadron ORBs – so thanks too to the National Archives collections.
As ever – if you are related to any of the aircrew mentioned please contact me. If you find errors – let me know and I’ll correct them.
