Archive Report: Allied Forces

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01/02.11.1944 425 Squadron Halifax III LW379 KW:D Flt Lt. Maurice J. Dugas

Operation: Oberhausen

Date: 1st/2nd November 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: 425 (Alouette) Squadron, RCAF

Type: Halifax III 'Don Zee'

Serial: LW379

Code: KW:D

Base: RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Location: Labbeck, Germany

Pilot: Flt Lt. Maurice Joseph Dugas J12555 RCAF PoW No: 6363 *

2nd Pilot: Flt Sgt. J. Alfred Marcel Robert Carrier R190939 RCAF PoW No: 1176 **

Flt Eng: Flt Lt. Harry James Goodwin DFC, DFM, 160061 RAFVR PoW No: 8935 ***

Nav: Fg Off. Joseph Geoffrey St. Arnaud J28698 RCAF PoW No: 8646 ***

Bomb Aimer: WO2. Joseph Sebastian Ranger R168728 RCAF PoW No: 1257 **

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Jean Paul Crispin J88603 RCAF PoW No: 8933 ***

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Joseph Sebastian Federico R151371 RCAF PoW No: 1138 **

Air Gnr (Mid Und): Flt Sgt. Frederick George Hull R206354 RCAF PoW No 1143 **

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Joseph William Savoie R253829 RCAF Age 19. Killed

* Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

** Stalag Luft 7 Bankau nr. Kreuzburg O.S." (O.S. standing for Oberschlesien, Upper Silesia). Today called Bąków nr. Kluczbork (Poland).

*** Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria)

Above Halifax B.III MZ954 KW:M from 425 (Alouette) Squadron, RCAF ready for take-off from RAF Tholthorpe. (Note: Ventral gun position (1 x 0.5 in. Browning Machine Gun) (Credit: Bomber Command Museum)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Tholthorpe in Yorkshire at 16:56 hrs to bomb Oberhausen under a full moon - bombing taking place between 20:26 hrs and 20:39 hrs - 288 aircraft on this operation.

Above and below, Harry Goodwin which is thought to be with his former crews prior to this loss.

Bombing was scattered as the target area was covered in cloud. 36 houses were destroyed with 4 people on the ground killed in Oberhausen - other areas may well have also been hit. The allies lost 5 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters with 16 crew taken PoW, 20 other crew lost their lives.

Luftwaffe control plotted them as they were flying over Namur and Verdun as early as 19:53 hrs. But the night fighters arrive too late to prevent the bombing and interceptions were made during the homebound flights of the bombers. Eight were lost.

LW379 was claimed by Leutnant (Plt Off) Kurt Matzak, his 8th Abschuss, from Stab IV./NJG1 near Bönninghardt/Geldern at 3.500 m. at 20:41 hrs. The aircraft crashed at Labbeck at 20:21 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 October 1944 - 31 December 1944) Part 5 - Theo Boiten).

Survived the war as an Oberleutnant (Fg Off) with 18 victories (2 unconfirmed). Passed away on the 24th January 1995. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 3)

Above PoW card for Harry Goodwin and below his earlier RAF years.

Crew further details:

Flt Lt. Maurice Joseph Dugas married to Mrs. M. Dugas - of 101 Vale Avenue, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. J. Alfred Marcel Robert Carrier single, of Lévis, Quebec, Canada. Flying as 2nd Pilot on his 1st mission.

Flt Lt. Harry James Goodwin of 45 Clark Road, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. He had enlisted in Rhodesia in around June 1940.
DFM was awarded to 778101 Sgt. Goodwin whilst with 78 Squadron. London Gazette 17th August 1943;
DFC awarded when an acting Flt Lt. on 425 (Alouette) Sqn, RCAF. Citation reads: "As flight engineer this officer has completed many sorties, most of which have been against strongly defended targets. He has displayed a high degree of skill and throughout his coolness and initiative in times of emergency have made him a most dependable member of aircraft crew. In a sortie in August, 1944, engine trouble was experienced. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Goodwin proved his engineering skill and his efforts played a good part in the safe return of the aircraft". London Gazette 7th November 1944.
Flt Lt. Goodwin was the Squadron Engineer leader.
During his bale out he broke his right ankle and shortly afterwards was captured. Escaped during the ‘Long March’.
Also served with 44 Squadron and after the war, served with 101 Squadron.
Passed away on the 22nd September 2009.

Fg Off. Emile J. St. Arnaud married of Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Plt Off. Jean Paul Crispin, son of Mr. Joseph Crispin of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada.

WO2. Joseph Sebastian Ranger, single, of Dalkeith, Ontario, Canada.

Fll Sgt. Joseph Federico, single, of 32 Miller Street, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Frederick George Hull, single, of 364 Beresford Avenue, Toronto, Canada.
Flt Sgt. Hull was part of Trupp 48. He arrived at Bankau on 19 November 1944 (The Long Road by Oliver Clutton-Brock)

Burial details:

Above: Plt Off. Joseph William Savoie

Plt Off. Joseph William Savoie. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Initially buried at Alpen - reinterred after war end). Grave 25.G.16. Grave Inscription: "HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE". Born on 6th June 1925 in Newcastle, New Brunswick. Son of Daniel and Louise (née Robichaud) Savorie of Neguac, New Brunswick, Canada.

Enlisted in Montreal 5th May 1943, trained at No.6 ITS (promoted LAC on graduation, 2nd October 1943), No.2 AGGTS, No.3 BGS (graduated 12th November 1943 and promoted Sergeant). Commissioned and promoted to Plt Off., J92471 with effect 18th October 1944.

Page placed by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for Gayle Whyte, daughter of Flt Lt. Goodwin DFC. DFM. Further photographs have been submitted to Aircrew Remembered. Dedicated to all relatives of the Crew. Page updated and expanded with new information by Aircrew Remembered from information received by John Jones (Feb 2022)

Other sources as quoted below:

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