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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31.12/01.01.1945 83 Squadron Lancaster III PB134 OL:N Fg Off. Gordon W. Duggan

Operation: Horten

Date: 31st December/1st January 1945 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit No: 83 Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB134

Code: OL:N

Base: RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

Location: Oslo Fjord, Norway

Pilot (Captain): Fg Off. Gordon William Duggan 418362 RAAF Age 23. MiA

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. George Jabez Arthur Groom 1284873 RAFVR Age 33. MiA

Nav: Flt.Sgt. Sidney James Samuel Maynard 1801363 RAFVR Age 22. KiA (1)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Samuel 'Paddy' Brockbank 1543556 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Ronald Kear 1314473 RAFVR Age 23. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: WO. Francis John Poole DFM. 655599 RAFVR Age 31. MiA (2)

Air Gnr (Mid-upp) Flt Sgt. Herbert Thomas Little 1893906 RAFVR Age 19. MiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Henry Jones 2218793 RAFVR Age 32. MiA

Right to Left: Flt Sgt. George J.A. Groom, Flt Sgt. Ronald Kear, Flt Sgt. Henry Jones, Flt Sgt. Samuel Brockbank, Flt Sgt. Herbert T. Little, Flt Sgt. Sidney J.S. Maynard (Credit: Keith Groom)

Below: crew signatures on the reverse of the above photograph (Credit: Keith Groom)

REASON FOR LOSS:

PB134 took off from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire at 19:56 hrs as part of the second main Bomber Command raid of the night, 28 Lancasters of 5 Group were dispatched to attack the Kriegsmarine cruisers "Emden" and "Köln" in Oslo fjord between 00:03 and 00:51 hrs.

Above: Kriegsmarine cruisers 'Emden' and 'Köln' . The Emden was blown up by the Germans on the 3rd May 1945 to prevent the allies capturing the ship. The Köln survived the war and was scrapped in 1956.(Credit wikipedia)

The outward-bound force was first plotted 50km S of Lister then on to the target and back to the Western Danish coast. British listening stations heard on Nachtjäger claim, 25 km North Hansted/Vigso bay area at 02:07 hrs, which probably concerns a claim by the Nachtjagd (NJ) Staffe l(St) Norwegen.

PB134 was claimed as a probable by Ofw. Kurt Keiling flying Ju88 G-1 B4+DA, his 1st Abschuss, from NJ St. Norwegen at 01:47 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 October 1944 - 31 December 1944) Part 5 - Theo Boiten).

Ofw. Keiling survived the war. His two claimed Abschüsse are awaiting confirmation. He died on the 11th September 1996. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten)

Sources from Norway inform us that the aircraft came down in the sea at Østerskjær, which is a very small island south of Bastøy in the Oslo fjord, between Horten and Moss.

It had been rumoured that Lancaster PB134 was discovered lying in around 30 mtrs. of the Oslo Fjord near Horten by Norwegian divers in 2008. Aircrew Remembered have contacted the Norwegian website for further information regarding this claim. (Nov 2013)

Sonar scan of what is believed to be Lancaster PB134 (Credit Glenn Knudson - see links at bottom of page)

Aircrew Remembered was contacted in Dec 2013 and although they cannot be certain if this aircraft is PB134 - It is very possible. They have permission from the MoD to dive and explore the wreckage on the usual condition that they treat it as a war grave, if any human remains are to be found, they are to be left undisturbed. The purpose of the dive is to clarify which aircraft it actually is. As these chaps don’t have the funds to search the area, it will have to wait for another day.

(1) The body of Flt Sgt. Sidney Maynard was found in the sea in Moss Bay. His body was recovered and despite the German occupation forces trying to resist any ceremony. The church warden, Mr Peder Ludvigsen, representing the church authorities, refused to accept this, and a burial took place at Moss Civil Cemetery. There the brother of the grandfather of Mr Arne Jørgen Ludvigsen sang two verses from a Norwegian psalm, although the Germans threatened to arrest him for his stubborn behaviour.

(2) WO Poole is recorded as flying in the role of a second Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on this mission but his actual role has not been established. However other information received has proposed that he was a second Bomb Aimer.

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In 1947 a column was placed to this airman and on every Norway National day, (May 17th) a wreath is laid at his grave and a speech made, as a symbol of gratitude to his loss.

Above and below the Mayor, Henry Jacobsen and people from the town, honouring the grave of Flt Sgt Maynard - thought to have been taken around 1950. (Credit: Johan Rynnaas via Arne Jørgen Ludvigsen)

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Keith Groom sent the following:

'In May 2015 I had the honour of going to Oslo to commemorate Norway’s Independence Day, on which after their own remembrance services they gather at the grave of Ftt Sgt Sid Maynard (Navigator and only body to be recovered) and hold a further service. At this service I presented to the Mayor of Moss a framed collage of photographs (same as the ones I sent to Aircrew Remembered, Squadron photo, crew in flying dress and in uniform dress, plus one where they have all signed the back of a photograph). Also at this service was Keith Little, nephew of Herbert Little (mid upper gunner). We were hosted by Arne Jorgen Ludvigsen.

On the following day Jorgen took us over the fjord from Moss to a place called Asgardstrand, which is the place where Lancaster OL:N PB134 was shot down. Later on 23rd February 1945 a further Lancaster OF:E PB588, from 97 Sqn, was shot down which was engaged on a mission to bomb the docks further up the fjord which were engaged in repairing German warships. This Lancaster crashed on the land so the bodies were able to be retrieved. To commemorate these two acts the local population, at their own expense, erected a memorial of a bronze plaque with the names of the two bomber crews attached to a stone memorial.

I cannot thank the Norwegian people enough for their friendliness and hospitality and still stay in touch with Jorgen.

The 3 photos I have attached to the email along with this statement shows the memorial, bronze plaque and a photo of the fjord showing the approximate place where PB134 lies'.

Keith G Groom

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Norwegians honour RAF crew

Yesterday I had the honour of saying these words (in Norwegian) to honour Sidney Maynard and his 7 colleagues, on the 200th Anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, and presenting a wreath on his tomb. (I have translated my speech for Aircrew Remembered )

Between 300 and 400 People showed up for the ceremony at Moss Civil Cemetery, and after my Speech, the choir Jeløykameratene (behind me on one of the two pictures) sang your National Anthem; God save the Queen. It was a great moment for us all.

Yours Jørgen Ludvigsen

At Sidney Maynard’s grave, Moss, Norway - 17th of May 2014. (Translated from Norwegian - by Jørgen Ludvigsen).

Above: Jørgen Ludvigsen delivering his fine words on this special occasion (courtesy Anders E Sanden, Moss Avis-‘Daily News’)

Good citizens of Moss!

On the 20th of August 1940 – when Britain was the last remaining opponent to Hitler’s war machine in Western Europe, - Prime Minister Winston Churchill made one of his great speeches in Parliament – where he said his famous words about the young men in the Royal Air Force: 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'. The then 18-year-old Sidney Maynard from Romford in East London may have been inspired by those words. Maynard started his education as a flight navigator and volunteered for the Royal Air Force. It may also have played a part in his choice that the Blitz – the German terror bombing of London and other cities the next 9 months – killed 43.000 civilians, of these 142 in Maynard’s own borough. On New Years Eve 1944 – almost 70 years ago – he gave his life for the cause of freedom, and for us - in this country. Our celebrations today – on the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution – with 200 years of peace among the Scandinavian countries - AND on the 69th Constitution Day in a free, democratic post-war Norway – it is a great honour and a great privilege for me to express these words of gratitude - and remember ONE of those thousands upon thousands of young people who were willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING – for the rest of us.

The aeroplane Lancaster PB134 – with Sidney Maynard and his 7 colleagues in it - was the only one of the 25 Bomber planes never to return to their RAF base at Coningsby in England. Their task was to sink the German cruiser ,the «Köln» out there in the Oslo Fjord (pointing), but their attack was not very successsful, as the 'Köln' got away with minor damages. Maynard’s plane, however, was hit by the Germans and crashed burning in the sea south of Bastøy over there. (pointing again)

Above: The huge crowd that attended (Credit: Marit Kruse (wife of Jørgen)

The body of Sidney Maynard was found here in Moss Bay in early March-45 and identified by his ID-number 1801363, carried around his neck. It is very likely that Maynard’s 7 colleagues were stuck in the plane and found a wet grave on the botton of the Oslo Fjord, since they have not been found and identified (yet).. Sidney Maynard was just 22 and newly married. The 7 others were: the pilot, Gordan William Duggan ( aged 23), George Groom (33), Samuel Brockbank (21) Francis Poole (31), Ronald Kear (23),Herbert Thomas Little (19), and Henry Jones (32).

Sidney Maynard was buried right here at Moss Civil Cemetery on March 14th 1945, in the presence of two German officers, just wanting to get the enemy soldier off in silence, and the Church Warden Peder Ludvigsen, my grandfather’s brother, representing the church authorities of Moss. When the coffin was lowered, Ludvigsen folded his hands and started singing the Psalm 'O, imagine when, one day, the congregation of the saved shall meet', still found as no 508 in the Norwegian Book of Psalms. The German officers were furious and cried 'Maul halten' = 'shut up' and threatened to arrest him. He just stared at them, continued with verse 2 as the coffin was lowered, said Amen and left.

A few months after Liberation, in the autumn of 1945, the people of Moss had this memorial stone erected in gratitude – to honour Maynard. Every year since 1946 a wreath has been put down and a short speech made, e.g. in 1987 by veterans from Maynard’s 83rd Squadron and in 2011, by Mr Phil Steer from the Historical Society of Romford in London.

It is with great respect and gratutude that we honour you and your colleagues at your grave, Sidney Maynard. We thank you in reverence for the ultimate contribution you and your colleagues made to beat the Nazis, so the occupation and the dictatorship could end - and the people of Norway could have their freedom back.

Moss, Norway, 17.05.14 Jørgen Ludvigsen

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Burial Details:

Above: Moss Church in 1945 (Credit: Arne Jørgen Ludvigsen)

Fg Off. Gordon William Duggan. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 257. Born on the 25th October 1921 in Benalla, Victoria. Son of Frank and Emily Maud Duggan of Stewarton, Victoria, Australia. Enlisted in Melbourne on the 22nd May 1942.

Flt Sgt. George Jabez Arthur Groom. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 271. Son of Gertrude Violet Groom and husband of Dorothy Groom of Norbury, Surrey, England.

Flt Sgt. Sidney James Samuel Maynard. Moss Civil Cemetery, Norway. Son of Sidney M M and Catherine Margaret Ann Maynard of Romford, Essex and husband of Mary Maynard of Romford, Essex, England.

Flt Sgt. Samuel Brockbank. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 270. Son of William James and Mary Brockbank of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

WO. Francis John Poole DFM. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 269. Son of Cornelious House and Lily Gertrude Poole of Weston super Mare, Somerset, England.

WO. Francis John Poole was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 61 Squadron. London Gazette 10th September 1943.

Flt Sgt. Ronald Kear. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 271. Son of Harry and Elizabeth Kear of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales

Flt Sgt. Herbert Thomas Little. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 271. Son of Herbert John and Edith Elizabeth Clara Little and brother of William John Herbert Little (who served in the Royal Navy in WWII) of 36,Spirland Avenue, Paddington, London, England.

Flt.Sgt. Henry Jones. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 271. Born on the 19th February 1912 in Liverpool, England. Youngest son to James and Rachel Jones. Husband to Mrs. Ethel Jones and father to his unborn child.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Special thanks to Keith Little, nephew of Flt Sgt. Little for family details. Further information kindly supplied by Arne Jørgen Ludvigsen, photographer Johan Rynnaas, Glenn Knudsen of Gasss-tech Norway. Update to pilot's details (Nov 2017). Thanks to John Jones for the Next of Kin details for Flt Sgt. Jones (Sep 2019). Thanks to Keith Groom for his updates to the report (Jan 2020 & Apr 2021). Update to German night fight claim by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2024).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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