Archive Report: Allied Forces

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03/04.10.1943 196 Squadron Stirling III EF464 ZO:P Flt Sgt. Gustav S. Kogel

Operation: Kassel

Date: 3th/4th October 1943 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit No: 196 Squadron

Type: Stirling III

Serial: EF464

Code: ZO:P

Base: RAF Witchford, Cambridgeshire

Location: Scottow, Norfolk

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Gustav Henry Kogel 1336392 RAFVR Age 27. Safe - Injured (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Thomas Lynas Dickie 1544971 RAFVR Age 22. Killed (2)

Nav: Sgt. Cecil David 'Taffy' Williams DFM 1420245 RAFVR Age? Safe - Severely Injured (3)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Albert William 'Nobby' Clarke 1324718 RAFVR Age? Safe - Injured

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Lloyd George 1576046 RAFVR Age? Safe - Injured

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. James Arthur Beattie 2208851 RAFVR Age? Safe - Injured (2)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Fred Reeves 1499340 RAFVR Age? Safe - Injured

Above five of the crew when 196 Sqn were flying the Wellington X. Left to Right: Sgt. Clarke, Sgt Reeves, Sgt. George, Sgt. Kogel, Sgt. Williams. (Credit Peter Kogel)

Above five of the crew when 196 Sqn were flying the Wellington X. Left to Right: Sgt. George, Sgt Reeves, Sgt. Williams , Sgt. Kogel, Sgt. Clarke (Credit Peter Kogel)

Note: The above five crew members were posted onto 196 Squadron from 20 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on the 4th & 5th June 1943. Their first operational mission was on the 22nd/23rd June 1943 flying Wellington X, HZ532.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Witchford, Cambridgeshire at 18.56 hrs to bomb the city of Kassel - some 547 aircraft on the operation made up from 223 Halifaxes, 204 Lancasters, 113 Stirlings with 7 Mosquitoes.

The bombing was poor due to the marker aircraft overshooting the aiming point and the ground was covered in a thick haze preventing further accurate visual markers. The Germans it is understood, also used decoy markers.

It seems that Stirling EF464 was attacked by a night fighter resulting in engine damage. The pilot returned and tried to make a landing at RAF Coltishall but before they reached the airfield the Port engine packed up. The aircraft crash-landed on fields in Scottow Norfolk at 21.43 hrs. Sadly the flight Engineer, Sgt. Thomas Dickie, was killed in the crash landing.

(1) Flt Sgt. Kogel was severely injured in the crash. He spent approximately 6 months in the Norfolk and Norwich hospital on the dangerously ill list. He underwent extensive surgery under the care of surgeon Charles "The Horse" (Noon) and had to have a steel implant in his head to repair the cranial damage. He eventually did return to the RAF until the end of the war but only as a flight instructor.

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Peter Kogel has kindly provided some entries from his father’s log book for his flights at 20 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Lossiemouth, 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) RAF Woolfox Lodge, RAF Leconfield and RAF Witchford, for interested parties

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(2) The Flight Engineer, Sgt. Dickie and Mid Upper Gunner, Sgt. Beattie joined the crew when converting to the Stirling at 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU). They were posted along with the five other crew back to 196 Sqn on the 18th August 1943.

(3) The DFM awarded to Flt Sgt. Williams whilst with 514 Sqn, promulgated in the London Gazette on 8th September 1944. Citation reads: "1420245 Flight Sergeant Cecil David WILLIAMS, R.A.F.V.R., 514 Sqn. Flight Sergeant Williams has participated in many sorties as navigator and has displayed, skill and devotion to duty, of a high order. On one occasion over enemy territory his aircraft was severely damaged in an encounter with a fighter. In spite of this the pilot flew to an airfield to which he was guided by Flight Sergeant Williams with his usual skill. Two engines were out of action and a third ceased to function as the approach to land was made. The aircraft crashed and Flight Sergeant Williams was severely injured. Since his recovery this resolute airman has completed numerous sorties".

Burial details:

Above: Grave marker for Sgt. Dickie

Sgt. Thomas Lynas Dickie. Knockbreda Cemetery, Belfast. Sec. K. Grave 198. Grave Inscription: “HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.” Son of Robert and Edith Williams Dickie, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to crew and the family of the Sgt. Dickie. Thanks to Peter Kogel, the son of Flt Sgt. Kogel for his father's christian names, the crew images (Apr 2022) and additional information for his father (May 2022). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2022).

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