Operation: Kassel, Germany

Date: 22nd/23rd October 1943 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 57 Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JB237

Code: DX:Z

Base: RAF East Kirby, Lincolnshire

Location: Polle, on the west bank of the Weser River

Pilot: Flt Lt. Alexander Novick J7891 RCAF Age 29. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Leonard Harry Howling 1460246 Age 24. PoW No. 261219 * (2)

Nav: Sgt. Reginald Dennis Harvey 1382847 RAFVR Age 21. PoW No. 261216 * (3)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. George Morton Turnbull 1546947 RAFVR Age 21. PoW No. 261179 * (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Francis Hedley Roseblade 1286424 RAFVR Age 23. PoW No. 261195 * (5)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Edgar Francis Taylor 910959 RAFVR Age 24. KiA (6)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. William Raymond Minter 421039 RAAF Age 20. KiA

* Stalag 4B Mühlberg, Sachsen, Germany.

Above: Four (4) of the crew posing with a Avro Manchester at 16 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in June/July 1943 (Collection of Max Espie)

Left to right: Sgt. Turnbull, Flt Lt. Novick, Sgt. Harvey, Simmonds, Sgt. Roseblade. (Note: no details for Simmonds have been identified to date)

Above left to right: Flt Lt. Alexander Novick (Courtesy Phil Miller), Sgt. George M. Turnbull (Courtesy of Max Espie), Flt Sgt. Edgar F. Taylor (Courtesy of David Taylor)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 22nd/23rd October 1943 JB237 took off at 15:57 hrs from RAF East Kirby in Lincolnshire along with nineteen (19) other aircraft from the squadron to join a force of five-hundred and sixty-nine (569) bombers on an operation to bomb Kassel in Germany. As well as being a provincial capital it was also an important armament and industrial centre containing among others the Fieseler works where Me109 and Fw190 aircraft were assembled and the Henschel factory building tanks and locomotives.

The subject of numerous attacks by Bomber Command, the raid on the night of 22nd October was particularly horrific in that as a result of the firestorm created by 460,000 magnesium incendiaries dropped on the town an estimated 10,000 lives were lost. The town burned for seven days almost totally destroying the town centre making 150,000 inhabitants homeless.

A diversionary raid on Frankfurt and the introduction of Operation Corona where German speaking RAF personnel impersonating German Air Defence Controllers confused Luftwaffe pilots by providing false radio communications, caught the defences off guard. In addition, the poor weather encountered by the bomber force on the outbound leg, cleared as they neared the target aiding the crew’s ability to pin-point St. Martins Church in the town centre.

Of the eighteen (18) Lancasters that failed to return from this operation two (2) were from 57 Sqn.

JB237 was claimed by Uffz. Otto Kutzer, his 2nd Abschuss, from 5./NJG3 60 km north of Kassel at 6.000 m. at 21:13 hrs (Ref 1, p58).

Fw. Kutzer was mortally injured in a crash in Ju88 G-6 D5+BZ (W.Nr. 21220) on the night of the 7th/8th March 1945 after hitting an obstacle on landing at Göttingen airfield. His three (3) man crew, Uffzs Erich (Bordfunker), Martin Wendt (2nd Bordfunker) and Josef Busch (Bordschütz/Bordmechaniker)all died. He was credited with seven (7) confirmed Abschüssse with three (3) awaiting confirmation. (Ref 2, p60, Ref 3, p70).

The aircraft crashed at 22:15 hrs west of the village of Polle on the west bank of the Weser Reiver, 5 miles (8 km) NNW of Holzmiden and about 40 miles (64¼ km) north of Kassel.

The following is an extract from the results and findings of an investigation report carried out by No. 23 Section, No. 4 MR&EU on the 22nd November 1946:

According to the gemeindedirector (Village Council Leader) the aircraft was seen to approach the village from the direction of Kassel at approximately 23:00 hrs on the night of 22nd October 1943. It was burning fiercely in the air and "came straight toward the ground like a stone". From the village it was impossible to see the place of impact, which was some 3 to 4 km west of the village, but the explosion of the petrol tanks could be plainly heard. A local farmer confirmed this evidence and stated further that the aircraft had been attacked by night fighter and burned for half an hour after impact. No attempt was made to remove the bodies the of the dead members of the crew during this period since the heat from the blazing petrol was too intense. Apart from the fact that the machine was a "four-engined bomber" he could offer no suggestion as to type etc.

Three bodies were recovered from the vicinity of the wreckage round 150 yds from the machine about 20 metres apart, and the other still strapped to the pilot's position in the aircraft. This man had. been severely wounded in the neck as the result of the fighter attack. The local doctor who was summoned to the scene of the crash gave the cause of death of the two men who had been thrown clear of the wreckage as being due to multiple injuries.

Three members of the crew are known to have baled out and these were apprehended and taken to a lager at Holzminden. At approximately 05:00 hrs on the following morning, a seventh man, suffering from a sprained ankle, reported to the police at Polle and stated that his name was 1236426 Sgt. Roseblade. He claimed. to be a member of the same crew as the three dead men and added that he had been walking for 2 hrs. Although eight other aircraft were known to have crashed in the area on the night in question, the distance between this and the nearest crash was 13 kms and it therefore can be accepted that Roseblade was from the same crash as Sgt. Taylor, Officer Novik and an unknown Australian.

Prior to burial all identity discs and personal effects were removed by the Luftwaffe and it was from these items that the identities of the dead men were obtained. The flyers were still clad in flying suits and these remained on the bodies when they were interred on the south side of the village cemetery on Monday 25th October 1943.

The cross which had been erected over the grave carried the following inscription:

Geffallen 22.10.4.3.
1. Unbekannte Australian.
2. Sgt. Tayler, E.F.6
3. Offizier Novik, A.J.7391

The grave was unregistered and no grave numbers are available.

The other aircraft from the Sqn was Lancaster III JB320 DX:X flown by Plt Off. David Miller 156958 RAFVR, who along with his crew were KiA after the aircraft crashed at 21:40 hrs at Acker south of Dransfield in Germany.

(1) Alexander’s brother, Mike Novik, was a Leading Aircraftman (LAC) in the RCAF when Alexander enlisted in the RCAF. No further details have been found.

Lake Novick in Northern Ontario is named after Flt Lt. Novick.

(2) Sgt. Howling was not wounded or injured and was captured near Holzminden where he was held. He was then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 27th October 1943. After the statutory interrogation and solitary confinement he was transferred to Stalag 4B Mühlberg in Sachsen arriving there on the 3rd November.

Whilst at Stalag 4B he exchanged places and identities with an LAC. Young in order to join a working party in an attempt to escape, however, the deception was discovered.

LAC. Young was believed to be LAC. Douglas George Young 339530 RAFVR who was with No.35 Wireless Unit, RAF and had been captured in Gazala in Libya on the 1st June 1942.

The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army arrived in April 1945. The camp held some 30,000 and of these 7,250 were British. The Soviet’s held the British and American prisoners in the camp for over a month. Individual soldiers "escaped" from the camp and made their way on foot to the American lines.

He was the amongst the PoWs who were held by the Russians at Riesa from the 6th May to 11th May 1945. He was interviewed on the 19th May 1945.

Leonard Harry Howling was born on the 10th May 1919 in Wandsworth, Greater London. He was an Aircraft Fitter prior to enlisting in the RAFVR in June 1941. He emigrated to Canada on the 23rd June 1955. Leonard passed away on the 13th March 1990 In Carterville, Quebec, Canada.

(3) Sgt. Harvey was not wounded or injured and was captured near Polle then moved to Holzminden where he was held. His PoW story from this point forward was the same as that for Sgt. Howling (Ser. 2 above)

Reginald Dennis Harvey was born on the 27th October 1922 in Marylebone, Greater London. He was employed as a Clerk prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 4th August 1941. Reginald passed away in 2009.

(4) In his ‘General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-PoWs’ Sgt. Turnbull reported that he had landed on the roof of a house not far for Holzminden and was fired upon by the inhabitants but was not wounded. After his capture he joined Sgt. Howling and Sgt. Harvey. His PoW story from this point forward was the same as that for Sgt. Howling (Ser. 2 above)

Above: Group photo showing Sgt. Turnbull with No. 54 Air Bombers course on the 16th April 1943 held at RAF West Freugh, Scotland. (courtesy Max Espie)

The remaining named airmen have yet to be research.

Above: Certificate and badge for the Caterpillar club - presented to Sgt. Turnbull (courtesy Max Espie)

Above: Interesting memorabilia for Sgt. Turnbull (courtesy Max Espie)

George Morton Turnbull was born on the 9th July 1922 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He was employed as a Clerk prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 31st March 1942. No further Biographical information found.

(5) After Sgt. Roseblade surrendered himself to the police he joined the other three )3) captured aircrew at Holzminden. His PoW story from this point forward was the same as that for Sgt. Howling (Ser. 2 above)

Francis Hedley Roseblade was born on the 28th March 1920 in Llanelly, Wales. He was a Civil Servant working at the Law Courts in London prior to enlisting in the RAFVR in August 1940. Francis passed away on the 20th September 1997 in Morriston, Swansea, Wales.

(6) There are records that document LAC. Edgar Francis Taylor 910959 RAFVR was the Airborne Interceptor (AI ) Radar Operator on 29 Squadron Beaufighter IF, R2140 on the 28th November 1940 which suffered an engine failure. The record states that he and the pilot, Plt Off. Edward Donald Parker EGM, 76465 RAFVR, successfully baled out. The aircraft burst into flames when it crashed adjacent to the Heighington to Canwick road near RAF Waddington.

Note: Plt Off. Parker was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM) for his actions on the night of the 8th June 1940 whilst with 40 Sqn (London Gazette 6th August 1940)

Citation reads:

‘On the night of June 8th, 1940, this officer was first pilot of an aircraft detailed for bombing operations. Just after taking off in complete darkness the port engine failed. Displaying great coolness Pilot Officer Parker immediately raised the undercarriage and tried to fly straight on, but found that he could gain neither height or speed with his heavily loaded aircraft on only one engine. Reducing speed to 80 m.p.h. he switched off his engine and "felt" the aircraft into the nearest field in complete darkness. The aircraft crashed however and immediately burst into flames. Pilot Officer Parker jumped out and got clear to find that his navigator and air gunner were safe but the wireless operator was lying stunned near the burning aircraft. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and knowing there were four 500 Ib bombs in the wreckage, which might explode any moment, he returned and carried his wireless operator to a place of safety. During this action one of the bombs exploded and Pilot Officer Parker saved the airman further injury by throwing him to the ground. This officer displayed exceptional coolness, resourcefulness and courage throughout and, in face of extreme danger, undoubtedly saved the life of his wireless operator’.

Plt Off. Parker was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 49 Sqn (London Gazette 22nd November 1940).

However, the 29 Sqn Operational Record Book (ORB) records that on the night of the 28th November 1940 it was a Sgt. Wilson who was the AI Radar Operator on Beaufighter IF, R2140. LAC. Taylor did fly that night as the AI Radar Operator on Beaufighter IF, R2150 which was flown by Flt Sgt. Wellesley Spencer Munn 562212 RAFVR which took off at 18:05 hrs on patrol and landed at 20:25 hrs with no enemy aircraft sighted on the day in question.

Note: Flt Sgt. Munn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 29 Sqn (London Gazette 17th January 1941)

Recommendation reads:

‘Flight Sergeant Munn has been on flying duties with No.29 Squadron since October, 1935. Since the commencement of hostilities in 1939, he has been continuously employed on night fighting duties and during this period has carried out over 40 operational flights involving over 60 hours night flying. He has during this period carried out a further 40 hours night flying on duties such as searchlight co-operation and night flying instruction. He has carried out many courageous night flights, often in adverse weather conditions. He displays the greatest zeal and efficiency and is always eager to engage the enemy under any circumstances. He also remains cool and unperturbed in emergency, is a fine pilot and the very best type of N.C.O.’

On the Operation to Kassel Flt Sgt. Taylor was flying in the role of an Air Gunner in the Mid-Upper Turret. From his photograph it can be seen that he graduated from his training as an Observer. He was therefore trained in the role of both Navigator and Bomb Aimer and explains his earlier service with 29 Squadron as an AI Radar operator. However, it is not clear why he was taking on the role as an Air Gunner, albeit records show that he started his Aircrew training as an Air Gunner prior to switching to Observer training.

BURIAL DETAILS:

Initially buried at the Polle Village Cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Hanover War Cemetery on the 31st July 1947.

Above: Hanover War Cemetery (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Flt Lt. Alexander Novick. Hanover War Cemetery, 8.D.15. Born on the 17th September 1914 at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Son of Peter and Olga (née Ziomka – deceased November 1934) Novick of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Edgar Francis Taylor. Hanover War Cemetery, 8.D.16. Born on the 16th October 1919 in Williton, Somerset. Son of Harold and Alice (née Hemmett) Taylor of Exeter, Devon, England.

Flt Sgt. Taylor was one (1) of seven (7) children. Two (2) of his brothers served in the British Army during WW2 and survived.

Flt Sgt. William Raymond Minter. Hanover War Cemetery, 8.D.17. Grave Inscription: “DEARLY LOVED SON OF MR. AND MRS. W. MINTER OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA”. Born on the 23rd May 1923 in Arncliffe, New South Wales. Son of William Raymond and Theresa Olive Minter of Enfield, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and RCAF specialist Colin Bamford for relatives of this crew (Feb 2011). Further detailed information submitted to Aircrew Remembered by Max Espie with thanks to Phil Miller for the photograph of the pilot Flt Lt. Novick (Oct 2019). We hope to work further with Phil with other Canadian pages of remembrance. Reviewed, updated rewritten with thanks to David Taylor for the photograph of his uncle, Flt Sgt. Taylor (Sep 2026)

References:

1. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten.
2. Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten.
3. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten.

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