Operation: Nuremberg, Germany
Date: 30th/31st March 1944 (Thursday/Friday)
Unit No: 578 Squadron (motto: 'Accuracy')
Type: Halifax III
Serial: LK797
Code: LK:E Excalibur
Location: Ryhope Village Colliery, Co. Durham
Crew:
Pilot: Fg Off. Cyril Joe Barton VC, 168669 RAFVR Age 22. KiA.
Flt Eng: Sgt. Maurice Edward Trousdale DFM, 1676395 RAFVR Age 19 Injured (1)
Nav: Sgt. John Leonard Lambert 1563537 RAFVR Age 22.PoW No: 3459 * (2)
WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. John Alfred Kay 169188 RAFVR Age 21.PoW No: 4147 ** (3)
Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Gerald Watson Crate J22053 RCAF Age 21. PoW. No: 4137 ** (4)
Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Harold Clifford Herbert Dudley Wood DFM, 1409549 RAFVR Age 21. Injured (5)
Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Frederick Charles Brice DFM, 1850681 RAFVR Age 19. Injured (6)
* Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilutė in Lithuania).
** Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Civilian:
Mr. George Dodds Heads Age 58. Killed
Fg Off. Barton’s crew: left standing, Sgt. Kay, wireless operator; Fg Off. Crate, bomb aimer; Fg Off. Barton, pilot, Sgt. Lambert, navigator; and Sgt. Trousdale, flight engineer. At the front are Sgt. Bryce, rear gunner, and Sgt. Wood, mid-upper gunner. (courtesy Brian J Rapier)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22:14 hrs. from RAF Burn, to attack the city of Nuremburg. Part of a massive force of 795 aircraft - 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes. The most disastrous night of the war for Bomber Command, with the loss of 95 bombers.
Plt Off. Barton Was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions on this operation and was the only Halifax pilot so honoured.
Above: Pilot Cyril Joe Barton of Course 42J of the Arnold Scheme in Georgia (Courtesy of Paul Markham)
- Citation: “On the night of 30th March, 1944, Pilot Officer Barton was captain and pilot of a Halifax aircraft detailed to attack Nuremberg. When some 70 miles short of the target, the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88. The first burst of fire from the enemy made the intercommunication system useless. One engine was damaged when a Messerschmitt 210 joined the fight. The bomber’s machine guns were out of action and the gunners were unable to return the fire.
- Fighters continued to attack the aircraft as it approached the target area and, in the confusion caused by the failure of the communications system at the height of the battle, a signal was misinterpreted and the navigator, air bomber and wireless operator left the aircraft by parachute.
- Pilot Officer Barton faced a situation of dire peril. His aircraft was damaged, his navigational team had gone and he could not communicate with the remainder of the crew. If he continued his mission, he would be at the mercy of hostile fighters when silhouetted against the fires in the target area and if he survived, he would have to make a 4½ hours journey home on three engines across heavily defended territory Determined to press home his attack at all costs, he flew on and, reaching the target, released the bombs himself.
- As Pilot Officer Barton turned for home the propeller of the damaged engine, which was vibrating badly, flew off It was also discovered that two of the petrol tanks had suffered damage and were leaking Pilot Officer Barton held to his course and, without navigational aids and in spite of strong head winds, successfully avoided the most dangerous defence areas on his route. Eventually he crossed the English coast only 90 miles north of his base.
- By this time the petrol supply was nearly exhausted. Before a suitable landing place could be found, the port engines stopped. The aircraft was now too low to be abandoned successfully. Pilot Officer Barton therefore ordered the three remaining members of his crew to take up their crash stations Then, with only one engine working, he made a gallant attempt to land clear of the houses over which he was flying. The aircraft finally crashed and Pilot Officer Barton lost his lie, but his three comrades survived.
- Pilot Officer Barton had previously taken part in 4 attacks on Berlin and 14 other operational missions. On one of these, two members of his crew were wounded during a determined effort to locate the target despite appalling weather conditions. In gallantly completing his last mission in the face of almost impossible odds, this officer displayed unsurpassed courage and devotion to duty”.
Tragically a local miner Mr. George Heads was killed on his way to work by flying debris on the gangway leading to Ryhope Colliery.
The wreckage of LK797 - Excalibur, in the yard of Ryhope Colliery. (Courtesy Chris Blanchett)
Above: Image discovered on eBay in July 2014 - signed by some members of the crew. Right: Newspaper article: Kate Tame Archive
(1) Maurice Edward Trousdale was born on the 15th June 1924 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. Maurice passed away on the 31st December 1976 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.
Above: Courtesy of the Evening Chronicle, dated 4th January 1977
The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was awarded to Flt Sgt. Trousdale whilst with 578 Sqn. (London Gazette 22nd August 1944).
- Citation: "This airman has taken part in a large number of attacks on enemy targets in the role of flight engineer. He has displayed a high standard of. skill and throughout his conduct in the face of the enemy has been exemplary. On one occasion the aircraft in which he was a member of the crew sustained extensive damage in an encounter with 2 enemy fighters. Nevertheless, the pilot flew the damaged aircraft back to this country, but crashed whilst attempting a landing. Flight Sergeant Trousdale suffered minor injuries and was considerably' shaken. Since then, he has completed numerous sorties and has displayed great keenness and resolution."
(2) Sgt. Lambert was captured uninjured on the 1st April at Haßfurt near Schweinfurt and transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel.
After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug. Whilst at the camp he assisted on the escape tunnel with the Americans at ‘E’ lager but he was transferred before it was completed.
In early 1944 the Russian Army were advancing into the Baltic States from the North and the East preparation for evacuating the camp was being made. PoWs from Stalag Luft 6, the camp closest to the Russian advance, were in the "northern route" of the force-marches, and were transported to Stalag 20A by train in July 1944, and from there took part in the forced-march. It went to Stalag Luft 4 at Groß-Tychow, Pomerania then via Stettin to Stalag 11B and Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.
On the 1st September 1944 the PoWs were force-marched from Thorn (Toruń) in Poland to the site of the former Stalag 11D, with construction being carried out by the Italian PoWs from Stalag 11B. The camp was commonly known as Stalag 357, Fallingbostal but officially the designation was Stalag 357, Oerbke.
In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst (Col) Hermann Ostmann that the about 10/12,000 Allied PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. On the 7th April 1945 he was amongst the men who marched from the camp in columns of 2,000 in the general direction of Lauenburg on the Elbe River. After about ten (10) days they arrived at the village of Ludersburg, north of Luneburg on the west side of the Elbe river where they stayed overnight. Early the next morning, on the 19th April at about 10:00 hrs the column crossed the Elbe via a pontoon bridge and passed through the small town of Lauenburg before crossing the frontier into Mecklenburg. The column then turned east along a raised road to the village of Horst where they were afforded a short rest before arriving at Gresse, some 15 km NE of Lauenburg. Here they were issued with Red Cross parcels.
At around 10:30 hrs whilst the column was on a narrow country road amidst open fields they heard aircraft flying nearby which turned out to be a flight of seven (7) or eight (8) RAF Typhoons which dived in line-astern and strafed the column with rockets and dropped anti-personnel bombs all except the last aircraft which wheeled away at the last moment perhaps realising that they had mistaken the columns as retreating German troops. It was reported that upwards of sixty (60) allied PoW’s were killed and many were wounded.
- It was established that a total of forty-two (42) named Allied PoWs died either on the 19th April or in the following days. In addition there was one (1) unnamed American killed who was has yet to be identified;
- Six (6) German guards were also killed and a number were wounded. None have been identified;
- A total of forty-five (45) named and one unnamed wounded were admitted to the Boizenberg-on-Elbe Cottage Hospital. Twenty-seven (27) were seriously injured, seven (7) of whom succumbed to their injuries in the following days.
The then Warrant Officer (WO) Deans confronted Oberst (Col) Ostmann and bluntly gave him a choice, to be captured by the Russians or the British. Oberst Ostman provided WO. Deans with a pass and a German guard, and they headed west to contact the advancing British troops. On the 1st May WO. Deans and his guard were sheltering in a house east of Lauenberg when they heard over the radio the news of the death of Adolf Hitler. The next morning the house was overrun by troops of the British 6th Airborne. WO. Deans was taken to the commander of VIII Corpswhere he explained the situation. He was provided with a captured Mercedes car and drove back to Gresse. Two (2) days later the PoW column marched back across to the British lines.
Whilst he was a PoW he was appointed to a commission and promoted to 173896 Plt Off. effective 21st March 1944 (London Gazette 5th May 1944). He was promoted to Fg Off effective 21st September 1944 (London Gazette 26th September 1944).
Fg Off. Lambert was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.
He remained in the RAF and was appointed to a Commission as a Fg Off. in the RAFVR Training Branch on the 3rd June 1965. (London Gazette 30th July 1965). He resigned his commission as Fg Off. on the 13th March 1973 (London Gazette 25th May 1973).
John Leonard Lambert was born on the 20th March 1922 Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. Prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 19th January 1942 he was employed at an Audit Clerk to a Chartered Accountant. John passed away on the 11th January 2009 in Newcastle.
(3) Plt Off. Kay was captured uninjured that night near Nürnburg and taken to Schweinfurt Aerodrome and held there until he was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on the 2nd April 1944.
After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Stalag Luft 1 at Barth-Vogelsang on the 11th April 1944 arriving there on the 14th Apr 1944.
On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer (SAO), Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived.
After the Red Army entered Barth on the 2nd May 1945, their later fate of the Russian PoWs is obscure. Presumably many ended up in Stalin's gulags, as they were traitors to the fatherland for him.
The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.
RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States.
Fg Off. Kay was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.
John Alfred Kay was born on the 28th May 1922 in Lambeth, London, England. Prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 22nd February 1941 he was employed as a shop assistant in Surrey. John passed away in January 2004 in West Surrey, England.
(4) After Fg Off. Crate was captured uninjured that night near Nürnburg his PoW story is the same as for Fg Off. Kay above at Ser. 5.
Fg Off. Crate was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.
Gerald Watson Crate was born on the 22nd August 1922 in Smith Falls, Lanark Country, Ontario, Canada. Prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 17th March 1942 he was working on the railways. Gerald passed away on the 6th March 1998 in Perth, Eastern Ontario, Canada.
Above: Courtesy of The Toronto Star, dated 10th March 1998
(5) The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was awarded to Flt Sgt. Wood whilst with 578 Sqn. (London Gazette 17th November 1944).
- Citation: "This air gunner has participated in numerous sorties against many of the enemy's most heavily defended targets. Throughout he has displayed outstanding tenacity of purpose and despite most harassing and critical circumstances has maintained the highest standard of zeal, courage and devotion to duty ".
Harold Clifford Herbert Dudley Wood was born on the 28th March 1923 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire. Harold passed away on the 23rd May 1990 in Coventry.
Above: Courtesy of the Coventry Evening Telegraph, dated 24th May 1990
(6) The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) awarded to Flt Sgt. Brice whilst with 578 Sqn. (London Gazette 26th September 1944).
- Citation: "1850681 Flight Sergeant Frederick Charles BRICE, RAFVR, 578 Sqn. As air gunner this airman has participated in a large number of sorties, including attacks on such targets as Berlin, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. On one occasion his aircraft was badly damaged in an engagement with 2 enemy fighters. When coming in to land at base the aircraft crashed and Flight Sergeant Brice was injured. Since his recovery he has undertaken many sorties and has displayed the greatest keenness, determination and devotion to duty".
Frederick Charles Brice was born on the 12th April 1924 in Clapton in Gordano, Somerset. Frederick passed away on the 22nd January 1990 in Bristol.
Above: Courtesy of the Mercury Clevedon Nailsea Portishead Yatton, dated 25th January 1990
His brother Driver Ernest George Brice T97720 of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) died on the 2nd May 1944. He was buried in the Bristol (Avonview) Cemetery, Plot Pink W, Grave 80.
Above: Courtesy of the Mercury Clevedon Nailsea Portishead Yatton, dated 13th May 1944
Burial Details:
Fg Off. Cyril Joe Barton VC. Kingston-Upon-Thames Cemetery. Class C. (Cons,) Grave 6700. Inscription: "AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD". Born on the 5th June 1921 at Elveden, Suffolk, the son of Frederick J. Barton and Ethel Barton, of New Malden, England.
Civilian. Mr George Dodds Heads. Sunderland Rural District, Durham, England. Husband of Margaret Heads, of 8 South View, Ryhope.
Researched by Mike Harrison. Image of Fg Off. Cyril Joe Barton VC (Courtesy Paul F. Wilson) With thanks to the following: Chris Blanchett 'From Hull Hell and Halifax', Brian J. Rapier 'Halifax at War, Kate Tame Archives. Updated by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) (22nd Jan 2022). Thanks to Helen Kay, daughter-in-law of Plt Off. Kay for his correct details. DFM citations added by Aircrew Remembered (27th Oct 2022). Reviewed and updated with new information with thanks to Paul Markham for the additional image of Fg Off. Cyril Joe Barton VC (3rd Nov 2026)
Other Sources list below:
