Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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01/02.11.1944 No. 425 Squadron Halifax III LW379 KW-D Fl/Lt. Maurice J. Dugas

Operation: Oberhausen

Date: 01/02nd November 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 425 Squadron (Alouette - French/Canadian)

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LW379

Code: KW-D

Base: RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Location: Geldern/Venlo/Alpen area

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Maurice J. Dugas R/172832 RCAF PoW No: 6363 Camp: Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang

Pilot U/T: Fl/Sgt. Marcel J.A.R. Carrier R/190939 RCAF PoW No: 1176 Camp: Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg

Fl/Eng: Fl/Lt. Harry James Goodwin DFC. DFM. 160061 RAFVR PoW No: 8935 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

Nav: F/O. Emile J. St. Arnaud J/28698 RCAF PoW No: 8646 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

Air/Bmr: W/O.2. J.A. Ranger R/168728 RCAF PoW No: 1257 Camp: Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Jean Paul Crispin J/88603 RCAF PoW No: 8933 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Federico R/151371 RCAF PoW No: 1138 Camp: Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph William Savoie J/92471 RCAF Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. J.G. Hull R/206354 RCAF PoW No further details available. 

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.

Although reports from the pilot Fl/Lt. Dugas after his release from captivity stated that he thought they had been hit by flak shortly after releasing their bomb load, the Nightfighter War Diaries have 2 claims for this aircraft - both at 20:46 hrs. Both Oblt. Kurt Matzak of Stab IV./NJG1 and Fw. Peter Oberheid of 6./NJG2 have been stated as probable claim for this aircraft. (1)

Burial details:

P/O. (Posth) Joseph William Savoie. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Initially buried at Alpen - reinterred after war end). Grave 25.G.16. Son of Daniel and Louise Savoie, of Neguac, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. Born 6th June 1925, 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). Posted overseas 26th November 1943, being taken on strength of No.3 PRC on 13th December 1943. 

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

Note: It was usual for PoW’s to be promoted one rank after each complete year in captivity.

(1) Oblt. Kurt Matzak an ace at this time went on to claim a total of 19 by the end of the war from which he survived. Fw. Peter Oberheid also becoming an ace with a total of 5 abschüsse - he survived.

Crew further details:

Fl/Lt. Maurice J. Dugas married to Mrs. M. Dugas - of 101 Vale Avenue, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. 
Fl/Sgt. Joseph William Savoie, son of Mrs Daniel Savoie of Neguac, Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Fl/Lt. Harry James Goodwin of 45 Clark Road, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. Passed away on the 22nd September 2009.
Fl/Sgt. Marcel J.A.R. Carrier single, of Lévis, Quebec, Canada.
F/O. Emile J. St. Arnaud married of Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada.
P/O. Jean Paul Crispin, son of Mr. Joseph Crispin of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada.
W/O.2. J.A. Ranger, single, of Dalkeith, Ontario, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. Joseph Federico, single, of 32 Miller Street, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. J.G. Hull, single, of 364 Beresford Avenue, Toronto, Canada.

Page placed for Gayle Whyte, daughter of Fl/Lt. Goodwin DFC. DFM. Fl/Lt. Goodwin had enlisted in Rhodesia in around June 1940. His DFM awarded during service with 78 Squadron. Also served with 44 Squadron and after the war, served with 101 Squadron. During his bale out he broke his right ankle and  shortly afterwards captured. Escaped during the ‘Long March’. Further photographs have been submitted to Aircrew Remembered if others who flew with him would like to contact us? Dedicated to all relatives of the crew. For further details our thanks to the sources shown below.

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