Monday, May 23, 2016

Squadron 434 August 17/18 1943

Squadron 434  August 17/18  1943
Halifax V  EB258  WL-T Crew 6
Halifax V is the type of aircraft
EB-258 is the serial #
WL-T is the call letters
 




Peenemunde Raid 17/18 August 1943
A total of 596 bombers took off during the evening of August 17, 1943. Fred and his crew took off, in his first bombing mission as pilot, in the Halifax V ED 258 from Tholthorpe at 2113hrs, their mission was to attack a research facility in Peenemunde, Germany, the site where Hilter’s scientists were developing the V-1 and V-2 rockets. A cloudless night made them a good target for the German night-fighters. It was hit by flak over Westerland, on the Isle of Sylt and crashed onto the island.  Most of the crew were killed by the flak bursts and the two who managed to parachute to safety landed on the Naval Dockyards in Westerland and were taken Prisoners of War. The others were found dead in the aircraft by the Germans, and buried in a Parish Cemetery in Westerland.
Squadron 434 Crew #6 Consisted of

 
Pilot Officer F.J. Piper J18462 Pilot  R.C.A.F.
Seated on the left hand side of the cockpit
He was born Frederick James Piper, on 22 May 1920, the son of Archibald Piper and Eliza Clayton, in Tuxford,  Saskatchewan, Canada. Fred was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave 8

 
Sergeant G.N. Irving R60913 Flight Engineer R.C.A.F
Seated next to the pilot on a folding seat
He was born George Norman Irving in December 1920, he was the son of George and Georgina Irving. George was captured that held Prisoner of War for 2 years POW #222520, Camp Stalag $B, Camp location Muhlberg, Germany, Section RCAF.
 He died 22 January 2006 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Regina, SK
 
 
Pilot Officer A.H. Wetter  J21826  Navigator R.C.A.F
Seated at a table facing to the port (left) of the aircraft and directly behind the pilot and flight engineer
He was born Arlo Henry Wetter 30 Jan 1915 in Minnesota, USA, he was the son of Lawrence Wetter and Cleo Coomes. Arlo was captured that night and held Prisoner of War for 2 years in Luft III 100 miles south of Berlin.POW# 2291, Camp Stalag Luft 4, Location Sagan and Nelana Poland, Section RCAF
 
 
Flight Sergeant R.C. Jordan  R137382  Bomb Aimer R.C.A.F
Seated when operating the front gun turret, but positioned in a laying position when directing the pilot on the aiming point prior to releasing the bombload
 Fred called him “Tex” in his letters home
He was the born Robert Carson Jordon on 25 April 1916 the son of R.D. and Myrtle Glen Jordan of Glen Rose, Texas, USA Robert was Killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave5

 
Flight Sergeant G.P. Connor R114897 Wireless Operator Air Gunners R.C.A.F. 
Seated facing forward and directly beside the navigator
Fred called him “Ron” in his letters home
He was born George Ronald Connor, son of Ward Lowell Connor and Anne Georgina McDonald of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Ronald was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave 7

 
Flight Sergeant C.A.Brown R106507 Air Gunner R.C.A.F.   
Seated in the mid upper turret, which is also the unheated section of the fuselage
Fred called him “Brown” in his letters home
He was born Cecil Allan Brown on 12 July 1911, son of Bruce Everett and Sarah Louise Brown, born Gilbert Plains, MB. Cecil was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.  Plot 3 Row B, Grave 6

 
Sergeant of Section J.I.R.R. Renaud R82532 Air Gunner  R.C.A.F.  
Seated in the rear turret this too was in the unheated section of the fuselage and was also the most isolated position.  
Fred called him “Frenchy” in his letters home
He was born Joseph Isidore Ronald Romuald Renauld on 28 March 1922 in Fassett, Quebec, Canada. Son of Cecia Renaud of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Joseph was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany  Plot 3 Row B, Grave 9



 
 
 

Friday, May 20, 2016

Squadron 419 May 27/28 1943

Squadron 419    May 27/28 1943
Halifax JD143


Squadron 419  / Halifax II  JD 143

RAID 27/28 May 1943 in the Battle of Ruhr, which lasted from 5 March 1943 to 31 July 1943

518 against Essen with 4.4% loss. Scattered bombing led to damage to parts of Essen and 10 other towns

This was the first raid for Fred and the only time he flew with this crew

F/O   W.J. Boyce   Captain

            William John Boyce born 17 June 1916

            KIA  11/12 June 1943

 

F/Sgt   F.J. Piper  2nd Pilot flew with this Squadron on 27/28 May 1943 only

            Was transferred to Squadron 434   10 June 1943

            W/O1  H.Tripp replaced Fred’s position in Sqdn 419

            KIA 11/12 June 1943

 

F/O    D.I. Black    Navigator

            Service #  1249122 RCAF

            POW 11 June 1943  Camp 43L3

 

F/O   C.L. Buck  Bomb Aimer

            Service # 127101

            POW 11/12 June 1943  Camp L3

 

Sgt D.E.C. Chambers   Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

            KIA 11/12 June 1943

 

Sgt  D.N.Stewart  Flight Engineer

            POW 11/12 June 1943

 

Sgt R.M.Hall   2nd Gunner

Service # R79080

(released from Sweden  1940-1945  National Archives Kew)

            POW 11/12 June 1943

 

Sgt J.D.Gray  Rear Gunner

            POW 11/12 June 1943

 

On June 11/12 1943 this crew was shot down by flak, 3 were killed and 5 POWs

 


 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Monday, May 16, 2016

Letter 67: February 11, 1952

Letter 67: February 11, 1952
 

 
 
In 1999
Photographed by Doug Chisholm of
Woodland Photography, LaRonge, SK
 

 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Letter 65: March 10, 1948

Letter 65: March 10, 1948
From R.C.A.F
 
Exhumed from Westland Cemetery to be buried at Kiel Cemetery on 3 July 1947

Monday, May 9, 2016

Letter 64: January 10, 1944

Letter 64: January 10, 1944
From R.C.A.F
 
 
 
 
German Records
 

 
 
Location of First Burial, Aug 19, 1943 was Westerland, on the Isle Of Sylt, Germany
Reinterred to Kiel Cemetery, Kiel, Schloswig-Holstein, Germany