Operation: Lübeck, Germany

Date: 1st/2nd October 1942 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Stirling I

Serial: W7613

Code: HA:N

Base: RAF Downham Market, Holland

Location: Spit of land known as Skallingen, Denmark

Pilot: Wg Cdr. Montagu Francis Baldwin Read 33076 RAF Age 30. KiA (1)

2nd Pilot: Flt Lt. Johannes Christiaan Frederick Du Toit 110826 RAFVR Age 26. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John William Dawson 941538 RAFVR Age 29. MiA

Nav: Sgt. John Randal Drake 115207 RAFVR Age 33. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Kenneth John Cooper 1261844 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. James Speed 1293315 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Alan Irwin Parkinson 411774 RNZAF Age 22. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Joseph Donat Romeo Menard R54985 RCAF Age 20. MiA (2)

Above: Flt Sgt. Joseph Donat Romeo Menard from his service record

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 1st/2nd October 1942 twenty-five (25) Stirlings from 3 Group were detailed on an operation to bomb Lübeck in Germany. W7613 took-off from RAF Downham Market at 19:48 hrs.

W7613 was claimed by Maj. Günther Radusch, Kommandeur of Stab II./NJG3, his 13th Abschuss and second of two Stirlings this night, over the sea off Skallingen at 800 m. at 01:22 hrs (Ref 1, p 101).

Note: Modern research has not identified his first claim but he received credit for both on the 19th August 1944 almost two (2) years after submitting his claims. (Ref 1, p 101).

Oberst (Col) Radusch, survived the war having flown 140 sorties and was credited with 65 Abschüsse. He joined the post-war Bundes-Luftwaffe and passed away on the 29th July1988 (Ref 2. pp 999-1000)

The aircraft crashed on the spit of land known as Skallingen, which along with Fano Island, guards the entrance of Esbjerg harbour.

A tragic footnote to the loss of the aircraft was that in 1943, two (2) young boys found a phosphorous incendiary bomb near the crash site and whilst examining their find, the bomb exploded, critically injuring both boys. Eighteen (18) years later, one of the two died as a direct result of this tragic accident.

The bodies of Wg Cdr. Read and Flt Lt. Du Toit were found on the beach at Hviding Denmark on the 20th October while Sgt. Parkinson’s was discovered on the beach at Vejers, Denmark on the 30th October.

Sadly until only recently Wg Cdr. Read’s brief command went unrecognised in the vast majority of Bomber Command related books.

Stirling I N3763 HA:Q flown by Sgt. Maldywyn Griffiths 1379390 RAFVR was the second aircraft from the Sqn that failed to return. He was KiA along with his crew when the aircraft was hit by Flak from 4./lei. Flak Abt. 836 and Sylt-based light and Heavy Marine Flak. The aircraft crashed in the sea west of Sylt near List at 21:32 hrs (Ref 1, p 101). The crew were initially buried at Vorwerk north of Lübeck, after the war the crew were laid to rest at the Hamburg Cemetery.

(1) Montagu Read’s father was a former Artillery Officer of the Imperial Army and saw service in the Great War.

Montagu’s brother Lt. Michael Richard Read of the 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for gallant and distinguished service in Palestine (London Gazette 14th February 1939).

(2) Originally Flt Sgt. Joseph Donat Romeo Menard’s name was perpetuated on the Malta Memorial, Panel 5, Column 2. However, it was pointed out by Paul Squires that he is now perpetuated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 291 (Addenda)

The International Bomber Command Losses Database has the following explanation:

"He was originally commemorated on Panel 5, Column 2 of the Malta Memorial and not Runnymede. The reason for this may lie in the fact that he had previously ditched off the coast of Spain when delivering an aircraft to the Mediterranean theatre. Wellington IC Z7822 of No. 1 OADU was on a delivery flight from Hampstead Norris, England to the Middle East via Gibraltar. The wireless was put out of action and compass affected by an electrical storm and the aircraft ditched out of fuel off Aguilas. The crew, including Sgt. Menard, were interned until March 1942. On his subsequent release he returned to England via Gibraltar and was remustered with 218 Squadron. It is likely that his inclusion on the Malta Memorial is simply an administration error in which his first incident was incorrectly regarded as the one in which he perished. This matter has now been addressed by CWGC and he now appears on the Runnymede Memorial."

Burial details:

Wg Cdr. Montagu Francis Baldwin Read. Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, Grave AIII.9. Son of Maj. George Baldwin and Gwendoline (deceased in Oct 1937) Read of Hull, Province of Quebec, Canada. Husband of Nodja Ruby Read of Marylebone, London, England.

Flt Lt. Johannes Christiaan Frederick Du Toit. Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, Grave AIII.9. Grave Inscription: “THY WILL BE DONE, O LORD. ALWAYS REMEMBERED BY MOTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS”. Son of Paul Willem and Helena Du Toit of Benoni, Transvaal, South Africa.

Above: The Runneymede Memorial (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Sgt. John William Dawson. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 81. Born on the 13th June 1913 in Keithley, Yorkshire. Son of John and Margaret Ann (née Smith) Dawson of Keighley. Husband of Hilda (née Harrison) Dawson of Keighley Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. John Randal Drake. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 66. Born on the 19th July 1907 in Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Son of John Bernard (deceased in Mar 1935) and Beatrice Louisa (née Bell) Drake of Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa. Husband of Sonia (née Edelberg) Drake of Victoria, London, England.

Sgt. Kenneth John Cooper. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 80. Birth registered in the 1st Qtr of 1922 in Hertfordshire. Son of George Ralph and Rose Grace (née Lovell) Cooper of Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England.

Sgt. James Speed. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 94. Born on the 13th March 1922 in Essex. Son of Thomas William and Minnie (née Jordon) Speed of Seven Kings, Essex, England.

Sgt. Alan Irwin Parkinson. Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery, Grave AIII.8.3. Son of Alan Ross and Irene Althea (née Judd) Parkinson of St. Albans, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

His 18th operation with a total of 226 hours noted in his log book.

Flt Sgt. Joseph Donat Romeo Menard. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 291 (Addenda). Born on the 21st November 1921 in Hochelaga, Montreal, Quebec. Son of Auguste (deceased) and Cecile Champagne Menard of Hochelaga, Montreal, Canada.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered, with thanks to Du Toit and Parkinson, Steve Smith No. 218 (Gold Coast) Association Historian, Billy Darby, Helmut Scheufen (Dec 2015). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with thanks to Paul Squires for the information regarding the correction to Flt Sgt. Menard’s name being perpetuated on the incorrect Memorial (Jul 2026).

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (30 May - 31 December 1942) The Early Years Part 3 - Theo Boiten.

2. Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 3.

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