Operation: Bomber Support (BS)

Date: 24th/25th February 1945 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron, 100 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Fortress III

Serial: HB805

Code: BU:C

Base: RAF Oulton, Norfolk

Location: River Niers near Neersen

Pilot: Fg Off. Joseph Malpass ‘Joe’ Shorttle DFM, 157422 RAFVR Age 27. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Flt Lt. Frank Richard Woodger 52114 RAFVR Age 32. KiA (2)

Nav: Flt Lt. Leslie Gordon Fowler DFC, 126036 RAFVR Age 23. KiA (3)

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Richard William Towell 195111 RAFVR Age 30. KiA

Special WOp: Fg Off. Kenneth Cecil Allan 183538 RAFVR Age? KiA

WOp/AirGnr: WO. Francis Herbert Dix MiD, 411069 RNZAF Age 24. KiA (4)

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Stanley Llewellyn Jones 1256275 RAFVR Age? KiA

Air Gnr: Fg Off. Allan Milton Jones DFM, 178636 RAFVR Age? KiA (1)

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Thomas William James Pollard 1865782 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Geoffrey James Edward Jennings DFM, 1394514 RAFVR Age 22. PoW * (5)

* Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria

Above left to right: Fg Off. Joseph M. ‘Joe’ Shorttle DFM (Courtesy of Paul Markham), Flt Lt. Leslie G. Fowler DFC, Plt Off. Richard W. Towell

Above left to right: Fg Off. Kenneth C. Allan, WO. Francis H. Dix MiD

REASON FOR LOSS:

Note: Fortress III HB805 was built as Lockheed/Vega B-17G-40-VE 42-98035

HB805 took-off rom RAF Oulton in Norfolk at 17:15 hrs to provide bomber support. The purpose of the raid was to make a diversionary sweep over the Ruhr whilst another seventy-four (74) aircraft, from various training squadrons, also lured German night -fighters over Northern France to enable sixty-three (63) Mosquitoes to attack Berlin and another eighteen (18) to attack Neuss with a further three (3) on "Siren duties".

Siren Duties were a type of operation conducted by the Mosquito during World War II, primarily involving tactical strike and reconnaissance missions. These operations were part of the Mosquito's versatile roles, which included medium bombing and night fighter duties.

Along with this Fortress four (4) Halifaxes failed to return from this operation, resulting in thirty-four (34) crew killed and six (6) becoming PoWs.

HB805 was claimed by Lt. Kurt Matzak, his 12th Abschuss, from Stab IV./NJG1, 20-30 km west of Düsseldorf airfield by at 20:08 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten).

Oblt. Matzak survived the war and was credited with seven (7) confirmed Abschüsse with nine (9) awaiting confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten). Kurt Matzak died on the 24th January 1995. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 3).

HB805 was the first aircraft to be intercepted which was attacked resulting in the starboard inner engine on fire and subsequently crashed into the River Niers near Neersen. The survivors were not aware of a night fighter attack and the squadron ORB’s assessed the loss as being caused by an engine fire and not due to "enemy action".

(1) Fg Off. Shorttle and Flt Lt. Fowler had completed their first tours with 199 Squadron earlier in the war. Both men were part of one of the first crews to operate with the Squadron after it had reformed in November 1942 at RAF Blyton.

Between the 31st December 1942 and the middle of June 1943, Sgt. Shorttle and Fg Off. Fowler flew twenty-three (23) operations from RAF Blyton and RAF Ingham in Wellington bombers. During this time, they completed eighteen (18) operations, six (6) to Lorient, three (3) to Essen, two (2) to Duisburg, two (2) to Bochum and one (1) each to Cologne, Wilhelmshaven, Kiel, Dortmund and Dusseldorf. They flew a further five (5) sea mining operations.

656926 Sgt. Shorttle was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with199 Sqn (London Gazette 14th September 1943).

The recommendation for his DFM reads:

‘Sergeant Shortle has completed 23½ sorties against the enemy and has flown 132.50 hours operations. These operations include sorties to Cologne, Bochum, Mannheim, Essen and the principle Ruhr targets. This NCO has at all times displayed a fine offensive spirit and has sel an example of skilful captaincy, cool judgement and determination, frequently in the face of strong enemy opposition which has been an example to the more junior members of the squadron. Sergeant Shortle has a fine record of achievement and his courage, skill and determination in action have been an inspiration to his crew. I strongly recommend the award of the DFM.’

Acting Warrant officer (WO) Shorttle was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off. effective 4th September 1943 (London Gazette 26th October 1943).

Fg Off. Fowler continued his tour with 199 Squadron after it had moved to 3 Group and converted to the Stirling bomber at RAF Lakenheath between June and July 1943. He flew on another four (4) operations between October 1943 and February 1944 consisting of a bombing operation to Kassel, a sea mining operation and two Special Missions.

Acting Flt Lt. Fowler was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 199 Sqn (London Gazette 10th September 1943).

Flt Lt. Fowler DFC was critically wounded during the attack but sadly he succumbed to his wounds on the 15th March 1945. He was laid to rest next to a Polish soldier in the Zuidlaren General Cemetery.

(2) Flt Lt. Woodger survived an earlier incident on the night of the 20th/21st November 1942 whilst with 214 Squadron. Stirling I W7584 BU:D which was on an operation to Torino, Italy experienced severe engine problems. Returning to base with very low fuel and bad weather the pilot, Flt Sgt. Edmund Murray Corlett 412207 RNZAF, ordered the crew to bale out, which they all did. The pilot was understood to have remained in the aircraft until it crashed at 03:42 hrs at Stradishall, Suffolk, England.

(3) Warrant Officer (WO) Dix was on his 2nd tour with 214 Sqn where he had flown twenty-three (23) operations and survived the crash of Stirling I W7631 BU:G on the night of the 23rd/24th October 1942 returning from an operation to Gerona, Italy. The aircraft ran out of petrol and crashed at 04:46 hrs while trying to land at base. No serious injuries reported.

He then went to 620 Sqn and then to 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) as an instructor.

Warrant Officer (WO) Dix was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 1st January 1945.

(4) 1313858 Sgt. Jones was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 115 Sqn (London Gazette 15th June 1943).

The recommendation for his DFM reads:

‘Sergeant Jones has completed a total of no less than 21 operational sorties as rear gunner in this squadron, many of these trips being against the more heavily defended targets like Duisburg, Hamburg, Berlin and Essen. He has always shown the greatest keenness to fly on all operational trips and has always displayed the greatest courage and determination in the face of the enemy’.

(5) Flt Sgt. Jennings baled out and was captured that night near Krefeld. He was then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 29th February

During his interrogations he was shown photographs of the Radar equipment used by the RAF. On the 6th March 1945 he was transferred to join the evacuated Stalag Luft 3 PoWs at Nürnberg arriving there on the 14th March.

He then joined the forced march. After a 34 miles (55 km), the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 16 miles (26 km) to Spremberg where they were housed in empty garages, storerooms and in military barracks. There they were provided with warm soup and bread.

During next days, PoWs were divided up according to Compounds, and they were led to railway sidings and loaded into tightly packed carriages.

On the 31st January, he was amongst the PoWs who were sent to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria arriving there on 20th April 1945. The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. Flt Sgt. Jennings was interviewed on the 12th May 1945.

Geoffrey James Edward Jennings was born on the 1st May 1923 Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He was employed as a salesman prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 9th February 1942. Geoffrey passed away on the 26th September 1987 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Burial details:

Fg Off. Joseph Malpass Shorttle DFM. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 14.B.6. Grave Inscription: “IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAREST JOE. LOVING WIFE JOAN AND SON MICHAEL”. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1917 in Stockton, Durham. Son of Joseph (deceased in December 1940) and Liza (née Featherstone deceased in April 1928) Shorttle. Husband of Joan (née Smith) Shorttle of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England.

Joseph Malpass Shorttle was employed with the Customs & Excise prior to enlisting in the Scottish Rifles in the early months of the conflict in Europe. He transferred to the Royal Air Force in June 1941.

Flt Lt. Frank Richard Woodger. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.22. Grave Inscription: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1912 in Louth, Lincolnshire. Son of Frank Herbert Stubbs (deceased in March 1931) and Gertrude (née Greenslade) Woodger. Husband of Anne Glenys (née James) Woodger of Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales.

Flt Lt. Leslie Gordon Fowler DFC. Zuidlaren General Cemetery, Plot 1, Row E. Grave 12. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Blean, Kent. Son of George Robson and Mabel Lilian (née Lawler) Fowler of Worcester Park, Surrey, England.

Plt Off. Richard William Towell. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.24. Grave Inscription: "THROUGH CLOUD AND SUNSHINE O ABIDE WITH ME". Born on the 19th February 1915 in Drumcondra, Dublin. Son of William John and Kathleen Maude (née Worthington) Towell. Husband of Margaret Ruth (née Ward) Towell of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England.

Fg Off. Kenneth Cecil Allan. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.19. No corroborated biographical details found.

WO. Francis Herbert Dix MiD. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.18. Born on the 27th January 1921 In London, England. Son of Herbert George Military Medal (MM) and Ethel Louisa (née Rivett) Dix of Milford, Auckland, New Zealand.

Flt Sgt. Stanley Llewellyn Jones. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.21. Son of Herbert William and Violet Caroline Jones of Monmouthshire, Wales.

Fg Off. Allan Milton Jones DFM. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E. 23. No corroborated biographical details found.

Flt Sgt. Thomas William James Pollard. Rheinberg War Cemetery, 6.E.20. Grave Inscription: “HE GAVE HIS LIFE, HE GAVE HIS BEST; GOD GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST. LOVE FROM HOME”. Born in September 1925 in Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire. Son of Thomas and Florence Beatrice (née Copeman) Pollard of Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for Peter Gibson (Retired fire-fighter) for one of his contacts, Douglas Woods within the Fire Service searching for details of his Uncle, Fg Off. Kenneth Cecil Allan (Jun 2017). Reviewed and updated with new information with thanks to Paul Markham for the information and image for Fg Off. Shorttle (Aug 2026)

Other sources listed below.

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