|
The first Royal Canadian Air Force squadron formed in Bomber Command was No 405, flying Wellingtons operationally from June 1941 until April 1942, when it converted to Halifaxes. Here, back from a flight, the weary crew of W7802/LQ:Q enter RAF transport at Topcliffe in September 1942. While the rear gunner extracts himself from his turret his parachute is held by a ground crewman. Placing a parachute on the ground was taboo, even in dry conditions, as destructive pests might enter it. The chest pack was standard for RAF bomber crews and, while easily snapped on to the harness, might not be quickly located in darkness or in an emergency. This Halifax and its regular crew, captained by Sgt J.T. Campbell, failed to return from the Flensburg raid of 1/2 October 1942. (IWM CH6642)
August 28, 2019.
I am sending you what happened to W7780.
405 Squadron Halifax II W7780 LQ-Q
Flensburg
Took off from RAF Topcliffe at 17:57.
Coned by 2/Res Flakscheinw Abt 609 (Werfer 24). Hit by 2-4/Res Flak Abt 306, 1-3/lei Flak Abt 755 and lei. Marinefalkzug Murwik. Crashed Flensburg-Weiche at 22:29.
Crew intially buried at Flensburg.
The crew belonged to 425 Squadron and were attached to 405 Squadron to gain operational experience on the Halifax. 425 Squadron were not issued with the Halifax until December 1943.
Crew
Pilot: J/15888 Plt Off John Thompson Campbell RCAF - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row D Grave 20.
Pilot: R/82511 Flt Sgt Charles Arthur Carpenter RCAF - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row G Grave 5.
Flight Engineer: 1044874 Sgt Albert Donald Chance - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row D Collective Grave 8-10A.
Observer: J/7775 Fg Off Russel James Ayles RCAF - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row E Grave 1.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: J/16054 Plt Off John Richard Powell Burke RCAF - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row E Grave 2.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: 132345 Sgt Stanley Peel - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row D Collective Grave 8-10A.
Air Gunner: J/15698 Plt Joseph Louis Philippe Le Page RCAF - Kiel War Cemetery Plot 2 Row E Grave 3.
--
John Jones
August 27, 2019.
Regarding photo of 405 Sqn Halifax W7802 LQ-T
Sgt J T Campbell was flying W7780 LQ-Q when he and his crew were lost on 1/2 Oct 42.
Fg Off J L Meredith and his crew were lost on W7802 during this raid
--
John Jones
|
