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Aaron,
Arthur Louis
Son of Benjamin Aaron, and Rosalie Marie
Marny (?-1980), of
Gledhow, Leeds, Yorkshire.
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05.03.1922
Leeds, Yorkshire
-
13.08.1943
Bone Hospital, Algeria
(DOW) [age 21]
[Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria, II.B.3] |
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Aircraftman RAFVR |
15.09.1941 [1458181] |
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Sergeant |
19.06.1942 |
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Flight Sergeant |
01.05.1943 |
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VC |
05.11.1943 |
over Turin 12.08.43 * |
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DFM |
19.10.1943 |
? |
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Education: Roundhay Secondary School, Leeds; Leeds
College of Architecture (1939).
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15.09.1941 |
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joined RAFVR |
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12.1941 |
- |
06.1942 |
No. 1 (British) Flying Training School, Terrell,
Texas, USA |
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06.1942 |
- |
? |
6 (Pilot's) Advanced Flying Unit RAF |
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? |
- |
? |
26 Operational Training Unit RAF |
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? |
- |
04.1943 |
1657 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF |
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17.04.1943 |
- |
13.08.1943 |
pilot, 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF (Downham
Market, East Anglia) (VC, DFM) |
Literature:
Chaz Bowyer, Arthur Louis Aaron. In: For valour : the air VCs
(1978), p. 335-341. |
| * On the
night of 12th August, 1943, Flight
Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a
Stirling aircraft detailed to attack Turin. When approaching to attack, the
bomber received devastating bursts of fire from an enemy fighter. Three engines
were hit, the windscreen shattered, the front and rear turrets put out of action
and the elevator control damaged, causing the aircraft to become unstable and
difficult to control. The navigator was killed and other members of the crew
were wounded. A bullet struck Flight Sergeant Aaron in the face, breaking his
jaw and tearing away part of his face. He was also wounded in the lung and his
right arm was rendered useless. As he fell forward over the control column, the
aircraft dived several thousand feet. Control was regained by the flight
engineer at 3,000 feet. Unable to speak, Flight Sergeant Aaron urged the bomb
aimer by signs to take over the controls. Course was then set southwards in an
endeavour to fly the crippled bomber, with one engine out of action, to Sicily
or North Africa. Flight Sergeant Aaron was assisted to the rear of the aircraft
and treated with morphia. After resting for some time he rallied and, mindful of
his responsibility as captain of the aircraft, insisted on returning to the
pilot’s cockpit, where he was lifted into his seat and had his feet placed on
the rudder bar. Twice he made determined attempts to take control and hold the
aircraft to its course but his weakness was evident and with difficulty he was
persuaded to desist. Though in great pain and suffering from exhaustion, he
continued to help by writing directions with his left hand. Five hours after
leaving the target the petrol began to run low, but soon afterwards the flare
path at Bone airfield was sighted. Flight Sergeant Aaron summoned his failing
strength to direct the bomb aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged
aircraft in the darkness with undercarriage retracted. Four attempts were made
under his direction; at the fifth attempt Flight Sergeant Aaron was so near to
collapsing that he had to be restrained by the crew and the landing was
completed by the bomb aimer. Nine hours after landing, Flight Sergeant Aaron
died from exhaustion. Had he been content, when grievously wounded, to lie still
and conserve his failing strength, he would probably have recovered, but he saw
it as his duty to exert himself to the utmost, if necessary with his last
breath, to ensure that his aircraft and crew did not fall into enemy hands. In
appalling conditions he showed the greatest qualities of courage, determination
and leadership, and, though wounded and dying, he set an example of devotion to
duty which has seldom been equalled and never surpassed. |
Abel,
Sydney
Son of Hugh Stanley Abel, and of Lily Tuggett, of
Stretford, Lancashire.
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14.02.1922
Chorlton district, Lancashire
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01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 21]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, 17.B.12]
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Sergeant RAFVR
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? [1335643]
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?
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-
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01.05.1943
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pilot,
106 Squadron
RAF
[pilot on Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O], which took off 2355 hrs
30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a
town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was
killed]
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Adams,
Louis Robert
Son of George Adams, and Ethel Fowler.
Married ((03?).1944, Shoreditch district, Middlesex) Lilian Rose Bartrip, of
Shoreditch, London. |
(06?).1921
Stepney district, London
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31.03.1944
(KIA) [age 22]
[Hanover War Cemetery, Germany, 11.C.13] |
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Sergeant RAFVR |
? [1322911] |
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? |
- |
31.03.1944 |
wireless
operator (air), 51 Squadron RAF
[for details of last mission see
F/O W.K. James] |
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Alderson,
John Gordon
Son of W.T. and Elspeth Alderson, of Alliston,
Ontario, Canada.
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1920
Alliston, Ont.
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01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 21]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, 17.B.13]
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Sergeant RCAF
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? [R/89283]
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02.1941
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joined
RCAF
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03.1942
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-
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01.05.1943
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flight
engineer,
106 Squadron
RAF
[on Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O], which took off 2355 hrs
30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a
town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was
killed]
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Barber,
Alfred Lionel
Son of Alfred Thomas Barber, and of
Elizabeth Barber, of East Dereham, Norfolk.
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(06?).1909
Portsmouth district, Hampshire
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01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 34]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, joint grave 17.B.8-9]
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Sergeant RAFVR
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? [1200694]
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?
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-
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01.05.1943
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air
gunner,
106 Squadron
RAF *
[mid-upper gunner on Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O], which took off 2355 hrs
30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a
town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was
killed]
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* he had refused a post as Gunnery Instructor and had volunteered for a second
tour of duty, having completed 21 operations of his second tour when killed
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Bickerstaff,
Alexander
Son of ... Bickerstaff, and ... Colyer ?
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(03?).1913 ?
Toxteth Park district, Lancashire ?
-
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DFM
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01.01.1940
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*
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* During operations over enemy territory in
December, 1939, this airman, as tail gunner, maintained a steady and accurate
fire at all enemy aircraft that came within range. He himself shot down one
Messerschmidt. This aircraft engaged the leader's aircraft at extremely close
range. Corporal Bickerstaff quickly brought his guns to bear and directed a
cool and accurate fire, his tracer being seen to pass directly through the
pilot's position before the enemy aircraft burst into flames and crashed into
the sea.
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Bradshaw,
Allan James
Son of Charles Brookins and Mary (née Phairn)
Bradshaw of Glasgow, Scotland.
Spouse of Mary (nee McCormick) Bradshaw of Fernie, British Columbia. |
25.06.1924
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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31.03.1944
(KIA) [age 19]
[Hanover War Cemetery, Germany, 11.C.19] |
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Sergeant RCAF |
? [R/175313] |
1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal
1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
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? |
- |
31.03.1944 |
mid upper
gunner, 51 Squadron RAF
[for details of last mission see
F/O W.K. James] |
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Brown,
Douglas
Son of David and Fanny Rae Brown.
Nephew of Mrs. M. Carson, of Kirkcudbright.
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1922 ?
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01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 21]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, joint grave 17.B.8-9]
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Sergeant RAFVR
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? [1004817]
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?
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-
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01.05.1943
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air
gunner,
106 Squadron
RAF
[rear gunner on Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O], which took off 2355 hrs
30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a
town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was
killed]
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Hall,
Harry Ernest
Son of Harry Ernest Hall, and Edith Pearson, of
Erdington, Birmingham. |
(03?).1922
Worcester district, Worcestershire
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22.09.1943
(KIA) [age 21]
[Hanover War Cemetery, Germany, 12.B.14] |
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Flight Sergeant RAFVR |
?
[1436050] |
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BEM |
12.11.1943 |
* |
* One night in [10-11] August, 1943, Flight Sergeant
Hall was pilot of an aircraft [Stirling III BF516 [PX-E]] which was returning from
operations [over Nürnberg]. When
approaching the South Coast of England the aircraft ran out of fuel and
dived almost out of control into the sea [at Pevensey Bay off Bexhill]. The crew were temporarily knocked
out by the impact and the aircraft filled rapidly with water. Flight Sergeant Hall was
the first to recover and his first thoughts were for the safety of his crew.
He found the Moorby the wireless operator injured and floating just below
the astrodome, and in spite of the rapidly rising water and with complete
disregard for his own safety, he succeeded in extricating him from the
aircraft and securing him safely in a dinghy. He then returned to the
aircraft to search for the navigator and Flight engineer who were missing.
Five members of the crew were subsequently picked up by an air/sea rescue
launch [commanded by F/O G.
Lockwood, RAFVR]. In a desperate situation, aggravated by darkness, Flight Sergeant
Hall displayed extreme courage and coolness throughout. |
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22.09.1943 |
pilot, 214 Squadron RAF
(Chedburgh)
[Stirling I EF393 [BU-R] had taken off 19:10
hrs from Chedburgh for an operation over Hanover. The plane crashed in the NW
suburbs of the city. Five of the crew were killed, two were captured.] |
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Harrower,
Charles Malcolm
Son of Alexander and Isabella Harrower.
Husband of Mary A. Harrower, of Coldstream, Berwickshire.
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1912 ?
-
01.05.1943
(KIA) [age 31]
[Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, 17.B.14]
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Sergeant RAFVR
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? [1377395]
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?
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-
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01.05.1943
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wireless
operator, 106 Squadron
RAF
[on Lancaster [ED451 ZN-O], which took off 2355 hrs
30.04.1943 from Syerston for an operation against Essen; crashed at Wulfen, a
town on the E bank of the River Wient, 7 km NE of Dorsten; complete crew was
killed]
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Hickman,
Geoffrey Patrick
Son of Terence and Winifred Hickmam of Richmond,
Surrey.
Married Julia ...
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1920 ?
-
between 20.12.1943 and 01.01.1944
[age 23]
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 134]
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Warrant Officer
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? [748272]
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MID
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13.06.1946
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?
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609 (WR)
Squadron RAF
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?
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-
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1943/44
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92 Squadron
RAF
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Huntley,
Donald Norman
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26.09.1921
Salisbury
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14.09.1942
[age 20]
[Epe General Cemetery, The Netherlands, 2.10.620]
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DFM
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?
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?
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07.1940
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joined
RAFVR
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?
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-
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14.09.1942
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Wireless
Operator/Air Gunner, 44 Squadron
RAF
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Lascelles,
Ernest Bruce
"Leatherneck"
 
Married Anna (from Scotland).
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1912
Sydney, NSW, Australia
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13.11.1945
(MPK)
[Runnymede Memorial, panel 269]
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Aircraftman
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1936
[580224]
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Flight Sergeant
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01.05.1943
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Warrant Officer
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02.05.1943
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DFM
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11.12.1945
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Scharnhorst
attack etc.
*
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* I was leader of a formation including
Sergeant Lascelles' aircraft on 11th June, 1940, which carried out a bombing
attack on the German battleship "Scharnhorst", two cruisers, and
several destroyers anchored in the harbour at Trondheim. The attack was
carried out in daylight and at extreme range for a Hudson aircraft. We were
attacked by a number of enemy fighters and two of the aircraft in my formation
were lost. In my opinion, it was probably due to the excellent combat carried
out by the aircraft of which Sergeant Lascelles was the pilot that no more of
the formation was shot down. It is reported that this N.C.O. on one occasion
during the sortie attacked and destroyed an Me. 110 which was preparing to
attack another aircraft in the formation. Sergeant Lascelles so skilfully
manoeuvred his aircraft that his gunner was able to shoot down an Me. 109 and
an Me. 110, thus greatly assisting his comrades in the formation. Finally,
with his aircraft on fire, Sergeant Lascelles made a successful landing and
was taken prisoner. While a prisoner of war, this N.C.O. was suspected of
espionage and, as a result, was harshly treated by the Gestapo from June 1941
to March 1942. He made repeated attempts to escape, the last ten days prior to
the arrival of Allied Occupation forces. Sergeant Lascelles displayed great
bravery and determination to aid his comrades and his country, both in action
and later when in captivity. His conduct was in every manner exemplary and I
most strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
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Went to the UK in the 1930s.
1936
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joined RAF
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24.04.1937
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-
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11.06.1940
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269
Squadron RAF (Montrose, from 1940 Caithness) (flying in Ansons, from 1939 in
Hudsons)
[flew mainly Anti-Submarine Patrols (including locating and believed to have
sunk a U-boat in the North Sea, 15.9.1939) and Reconnaissance with the
Squadron, in the two years before the bombing attack on Trondheim Harbour,
11.6.1940; captured when his aircraft was lost during the attack on the German
battleship Scharnhorst]
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11.06.1940
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-
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04.1945
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POW in
German captivity
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(07.1945)
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21 Advanced
Flying Unit RAF
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25.09.1945
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-
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13.11.1945
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instructor,
6
Operational Training Unit RAF
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'At 1130 hours 12
Hudsons led by W/Cm Pearce took off from Sumburgh and making good a track of
51 degrees True arrived over target in Trondheim harbour at 1437 hours. Target
consisted of 1 BS Scharnhorst , 2 Cruisers [Gneisenau and Hipper
], 3 destroyers and 2 supply ships. Attack was carried out at 15000 feet down
sun in four flights of 3 aircraft in line astern. The pattern of bombs fell
among the enemy vessels and hits were observed in the 2 cruisers one of which
was seen to be on fire. Smoke was also seen to be issuing from one of the
supply vessels. 18-20 Flying Boats were observed anchored in the S.W. corner
of the harbour. Heavy and accurate A.A. fire was encountered and five enemy
aircraft of the Me 109 type were also encountered. Aircraft "G" Sgt.
Lascelles, Sgt. Sherwood, Sgt. Craig, and Sgt. Napier failed to return to
Sumburgh' (Operations Records refer). Lascelles, who was flying Hudson N7361
UA-N, gives a lucid account of the next stage of his ordeal in his official
report, 'We were first hit by flak and then attacked by enemy fighters. We
shot two fighters down but had to force land in the sea. We got ashore by
dinghy and were captured by Norwegian police. We were ten days in Oslo prison,
then we were taken to Dulag Luft by air', he was imprisoned in Stalag Luft I
(Barth) July 1940-June1941; Stalag Luft III (Sagan) April 1942-July 1943;
Stalag Luft VI (Heyderkrug) July 1943-June 1944, and Stalag 357
(Fallingbostel) June 1944-April 1945, 'While I was at Stalag Luft VI,
Heyderkrug, we ran a theatre show, the properties of which were kept in a barn
outside the camp. W/O Snowden planned that boxes of new stuff which were
brought into the camp should be sent out as unwanted and that a prisoner
should go out in the box. W/O Snowden got out but was later caught. Sgt.
Stanford and I were taken out the next day in two separate boxes and put in
the barn. The box went out by lorry and was put in the barn by prisoners. A
German guard sat on the box and put his fingers in it. Feeling the warmth, he
opened the box and I was discovered. A search of all the boxes was made and
Stanford was found. I got 21 days confinement for this." Lascelles had
also been an active member of the escape organisation at the POW camp at Barth
and when they needed more information on what lay beyond the wire of the camp,
'Sergeant E.B. Lascelles (codename 'Leatherneck') volunteered to go out on
working parties to note items of a military nature such as the nearby Flak
school, the aerodrome at Barth and gun emplacements near Zingst. In the spring
of 1941, confined to sick quarters with impetigo, he found out from wounded
prisoners being repatriated via Barth that large numbers of German troops were
being moved eastwards. Technically spying and knowing that if caught he could
face the death penalty, he nevertheless passed on this important information
to Fanshawe. He was still in sick quarters when Fanshawe (codename now
'Murgatroyd') told him that during a particularly thorough search the Germans
had found the message about the troop movements hidden with several others
behind a conceled panel in the officers' canteen. Lascelles' reply was also
intercepted. Arrested and handed over to the Gestapo he was formally charged
with espionage at the end of June. Moved from one prison to another, he was
never actually tried (nor ever treated for the impetigo which had now spread
to his chest). In the middle of August 1941, transferred from Barth to the
Gestapo Headquarters at Stettin, he was interrogated for four months,
eventually admitting that he had got the plans and information-but only for
escape purposes.' (Footprints on The Sands of Time , O. Clutton-Brock,
refers). Fanshawe was to receive similar treatment, however in this instance
both proved to be fortunate, 'On 18 March they had been informed that the
spying charges against them had been dropped. Despite having been under
interrogation at the Kriegsgericht in Charlottenburg, Berlin, since the
previous year the Germans had been unable to discover any link between Barth
and England, (Ibid). Lascelles was to finally be successful in creating
his escape, 'On 8 April 1945 I escaped with W/O Brodie from a column marching
from Fallingbostel. We hid up for ten days and got food from Russians who told
us that the British had taken Fallingbostel so we returned there. I was
liberated by the British at Fallingbostel on 18 April 1945.' (POW Official
report refers). Serving with 6OTU later in 1945 Lascelles was lost without
trace in a Warwick I Aircraft 13.11.1945, and is commemorated on the Runnymede
Memorial.
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Leask,
Isabella Greig
[Isobella Grieg]
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?
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Leading Aircraftwoman WAAF |
?
[2044136] |
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LM |
18.01.1944 |
for extraordinary fidelity to duty and
exceptionally meritorious service rendered; on 21.07.42 she, as a RT
operator , located and identified a US air formation which had become lost
at sea over Ireland [presented by Gen. C.A. Spaatz 12.02.44] |
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Napier,
John Kenneth
Son of John Napier, and Bertha Smith.
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11.09.1921
Burnley district, Lancashire / West Riding of Yorkshire
-
30.05.1942
(KIA) [age 20]
[Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery, the Netherlands, 3.D.10]
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Sergeant
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? [974768]
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Flight Sergeant
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?
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DFM
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30.01.1942
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*
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* This airman has at all times shown great
keenness to participate in operations against the enemy. As first wireless
operator/air gunner he has participated in attacks on Brest, Kiel, Lorient,
Cologne, Bremen and Hamburg. Sgt. Napier has displayed great skill and courage
under the most trying conditions and has shown unfailing devotion to duty.
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joined
RAFVR
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(1941)
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-
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(1942)
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wireless
operator/air gunner, 51 Squadron RAF
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?
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-
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30.05.1942
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wireless
operator/air gunner, 22 Operational
Training Unit RAF
[Taken off at 22:44 hrs from Elsham Wolds
in Wellington IC bomber [DV 843 -Q] for an operation against Cologne.
Outbound, it was shot down by Oberleutnant Wilhelm Beier, I.
Gruppe/Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, at Dinteloord (Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands).
All five crew memebers were killed.]
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Nicholl,
Jack
Son of William Nicholl, and Jane Bannister.
Married ((06?).1931, Halifax district, West Riding of Yorkshire) Gladys Robson,
of Bradford, Yorkshire. |
(03?).1911
Halifax district, West Riding of Yorkshire
-
31.03.1944
(KIA) [age 33]
[Hanover War Cemetery, Germany, 11.C.18] |
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Sergeant RAFVR |
? [1301629] |
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? |
- |
31.03.1944 |
rear air
gunner, 51 Squadron RAF
[for details of last mission see
F/O W.K. James] |
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