Mission: Dortmund, Germany

Date: 22nd/23rd May 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit No: 419 (Moose) Squadron, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster X

Serial: KB717

Code: VR:E

Base: Middleton St. George, Yorkshire

Location: 2 km south of Mönchengladbach, Germany

Pilot: Plt Off. Charles Edmund George Patterson, J85360 RCAF Age 22. KiA (1)

2nd Pilot: Fg Off. William Wilkins Mitchell, C2106 RCAF Age 29. KiA (2)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert Eric Norman Wood, 1709160 RAFVR Age 21. KiA (3)

Nav: WO2. William Alexander Bailey, R158761 RCAF Age 21. KiA (4)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Donavan Emmerson Derbyshire, R129897 RCAF Age 26. KiA (5)

WOp Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Ogwen Jones, 1507140 RAFVR Age 22. KiA (6)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Adam Philip Chawanski, R196076 RCAF Age 21. KiA (7)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Arthur Carleton Beckett, R159331 RCAF Age 24. KiA (8)

Above: Plt Off. Patterson, Fg Off. Mitchell, WO2. Bailey (from their service records)

Above: Flt Sgt. Derbyshire, Flt Sgt. Ogwen Jones (Courtesy of Geraint Llewelyn), Flt Sgt. Chawanski, Flt Sgt. Beckett (others from their service records)

REASON FOR LOSS

During April and May 1944, many of Bomber Command's targets leading up to D-day were in France and Belgium against logistical centres such as railway yards, ammunition dumps, supply depots and communication sites.

The raid on Dortmund was one of the larger sorties in terms of numbers of aircraft and the first on this target for a year. Although intended to focus on the Hoesch industrial and synthetic oil production installations many of the bombs fell on residential areas destroying or seriously damaging many houses killing 335 German citizens and 26 prisoners of war. Only six industrial buildings were destroyed.

Captain Patterson and crew took off from base at 22:40 hours crossing the Dutch coast in an easterly direction. In the region of the German town of Ahaus, the stream turned south to attack Dortmund from the north. The raid over the target lasted from 00:40 hours to 01:00 hours after which the return route led the bombers west over the heavily defended Ruhr Valley cities of Bochum, Essen, Duisburg, and a little further to the south, Dusseldorf.

While many of the raiders were claimed by German night fighters, Flak batteries brought down three Lancasters; ND768 of 75 Squadron, NE134 of 12 Squadron, and KB717. Homewood bound, the Heavy Flak batteries based in the Duisburg and Dusseldorf area claimed KB717.

KB717 was coned by the searchlights of 2./Flakscheinwerfer-Abt. 581 (o) and hit by 4.& 6./schw. Flak Abt. 244 (o) and 1.,2.,4. and 5./schw. Flak Abt. 401 (o). The aircraft crashed and burned killing all on board at 01:23 hrs in the southwestern outskirts of Mönchengladbach at Genhulsen. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten)

(1) Charles E.G. Patterson was the son of an Anglican Clergyman, Charles applied for enlistment in September 1941 after working for a short time as a service station attendant at his older brother Robert's Shell Service Station in Oshawa. He had done well at his High School, Oshawa Collegiate, and passed his senior matriculation in several subjects. Charles scored well on his interview being recommended as a pilot or observer and high potential for a commission.

Finally called up in November 1941, he was taken on strength at No.1 Manning Depot on the 22nd December where he remained for the next four months until he was posted to No.1 Initial Training School, Toronto on the 26th April 1942. Selected for aircrew training Charles was posted to No.9 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at St. Catherines, Ontario on the 2nd August until the 10th October when he was next posted to No.6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Dunnville, Ontario.

Successfully passing all examinations, Charles graduated with his Pilots Wings and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant effective 5th February 1943.

His training in Canada now complete, Charles was posted to No.1 "Y" Depot, Halifax to await embarkation for the UK. Leaving New York on the 9th March, he arrived at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) Bournemouth on the 18th March 1943. Two months later on the 18th May, Charles was posted to No.20 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) at RAF Kidlington, Oxfordshire to begin his training on multi-engine aircraft in preparation for flying heavy bombers.

From there he was posted to No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire on the 27th July 1943 where night bomber crews were trained on the Vickers Wellington bomber. It would be here that the basis of the rest of his crew would come together in order to form a working team once they were transferred to an operational squadron. Completing his course there on the 15th October he was next posted to No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire where he and his crew, with the addition of a flight engineer and a mid-upper gunner, trained on the Handley Page Halifax bomber.

Taken on strength of 419 (Moose) Squadron on the 20th November 1943. To gain operational experience, new pilots accompanied other captains on sorties before captaining their own crew on a raid. On the night of the 22nd/23rd November 1943, Charles flew as a second pilot with Captain J.R. Harrison to Berlin and then again with Captain H.R.F. Dyer to Frankfurt on the night of the 25th/26th November. Charles completed another 18 operational sorties as the Captain of his own crew before he was lost.

(2) William W. Mitchell was from a large Scottish family of six brothers and seven sisters who emigrated to Canada with their parents in 1930. William completed his schooling in Glasgow and upon arriving in Canada found a position as a parcel inspector for the T.Eaton Co., in Toronto.

In 1932 he joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada Active Militia until he was discharged in 1936 seeking to enlist for non-flying duties on a permanent commission in the RCAF. Posted to Trenton, Ottawa and Dartmouth stations over the next six years, William married Miss Mary Evelyn Tough in 1939 and a daughter Sandra Louise was born at Halifax in 1941.

Rising to the rank of temporary Flight Lieutenant as an Armament Officer and Instructor, William applied to re-muster for flying duties in July 1942. Successfully passing his aircrew medical, William was posted to No.3 Initial Training School (ITS) at Victoriaville, P.Q., on the 23rd October 1942 and then to No.20 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at Oshawa on 11 January 1943. Next posted to No.16 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Hagersville, Ontario on 8 March he graduated with his Pilot's Wings on the 25th June 1943.

On the 16th July William embarked for the UK arriving at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) Bournemouth on the 23rd July. Posted to No.20 (P) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) on the 24th August and then to No.82 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Ossington, Nottinghamshire on the 21st December. Taken on strength at 61 Base and attached to No.1666 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on the 29th March, he joined 419 (Goose)Squadron on the 19th May 1944.

William would never get the chance to captain his own bomber crew which he had longed for and trained so hard for. He was given the opportunity to ride along as the second pilot with Captain Patterson to see for himself what it was like on an actual operation just days after arriving at Middleton St. George when the Lancaster was shot down and all were lost.

(3) Robert E.N. Wood was from Swansea, Glamorganshire where his Father and Mother worked as the manager and manageress of a drapery business.

Although the 419 (Goose) Squadron Operational Record Book (ORB) records that a Flight Engineer (Flt Eng) Sgt. G. Wood, 1709161 was posted in on 3rd December 1943 from 431 Squadron it would appear that some error was made in the entry. Flt Eng.Galen Wood, 1047841 was killed when 431 Squadron Halifax LK898 was lost on the night of 3rd/4th December 1943 during a raid on Leipzig. The service number for Flt Eng. Robert Wood was incorrectly recorded in the 419 ORB as 1709161 whereas it should have been 1709160.

Robert did not join the Patterson crew on a full-time basis until the night of 13th/14th March 1944. Previous to that he flew with them on one raid to Berlin on the 20th/21st February.

His first operation with 419 (Goose) Squadron was on the night of 4th/5th January 1944 when he flew with Captain A.G. Hermitage on a mining detail to the Bay of Biscay. On the 2nd/3rd February he flew on a mining sortie to the Keil Bay as a member of Captain J.G. Stewart's crew and then with Captain D.D. Laidlaw to St. Nazaire on the 10th/11th February. Counting these three operations and the fifteen he flew with Patterson, Robert completed 18 trips when he was lost in action.

(4) William A. Bailey came to Canada with his parents and an older brother and three sisters when the family immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1928. A good student, he completed his High School education at Brantford Collegiate in 1941 after which he secured a position as a clerk at the Slingsby Manufacturing Company. In his spare time, William was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Enlisting at Hamilton in March 1942 he spent the next four months at No.1 Manning Depot before being posted to No.1 Initial Training School, Toronto on the 19th July 1942. Although keen to be a pilot, he was selected as being more suited for training as a navigator and passed on to No.1 Air Observers School (AOS), Malton, Ontario on the 14th September where he completed the course and was awarded his Navigator’s brevet on the 30th December 1942. Now with the rank of Sergeant, William was posted to No.1 "Y" Depot from where he embarked bound for the UK on the 26th January 1943.

Arriving at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC), Bournemouth on the 5th February he remained there until the 15th June when he was posted to No.3 (O) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) at Half Penny Green, Staffordshire. Promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant on the 30th June, William was next posted to No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) where he teamed up with his pilot Charles Patterson on the 27th July 1943. Posted to No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on the 15th October and finally to 419 (Goose) Squadron on the 20th November 1943 William flew his first operational sortie one month later to Frankfurt and participated in a further 17 raids. He had only just celebrated his 21st birthday one week prior to the night he was lost.

(5) Tragedy would seem to follow the Derbyshire family as his older brother David died at the age of sixteen and a younger brother Rex was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. Three weeks later, the boy's mother Pearl also passed away from complications following the delivery. Donavan was four years old when his Mother died.

Donavan was a good student and very active in rugby and wrestling. After graduating High School, he was awarded a place at the University of Western Ontario studying business administration. During his fourth year at Western in December 1941, he applied to join the RCAF wanting to be trained as a pilot or navigator. Called up in January 1942 he was sent to No.1 Manning Depot in Toronto and then to No.1 Initial Training School (ITS) on the 7th June. Selected as suitable for aircrew he was posted to No.4 Air Observers School (AOS) at London, Ontario on 16 August 1942. Things did not go so well at the navigation school as he failed the course there and was passed on to Composite Training School (CTS) at Trenton, Ontario for re-assessment of his abilities and re-mustering to another trade.

Donavan's level of education should have made it easy for him to pass the navigation course but it is suspected that he was upset that he was not selected for pilot training and did not put in the required effort. The remarks on his CTS school report read: "This man is a good type. He cannot understand why he wasn't given a chance at pilot training, being fit for all aircrew. He is keen, intelligent, well educated, personable and mentally alert. Board feels he warrants some consideration."

The Commanding Officers disagreed however and their response to the board reads: "Quite impossible to re-muster navigators to pilots. Good kid - should make a good A.B."

With this decision, his future in the RCAF was cast and he was posted to No.1 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS), Jarvis, Ontario on the 5th December 1942 to be trained as an Observer. For whatever reason Donavan put his mind to it and did well at the school finishing his course third out of a class of 22. Perhaps too he had a change of heart in that it was remarked on his final report: "Energetic and popular. Good sense of responsibility."

To complete his air bomber's training it was necessary for him to undertake a course in navigation back at his old school No.4 Air Observer School (AOS) where he had failed previously. Taken on strength there on the 7th March 1943, Donavan completed the course on 16 April graduating with his Air Observers brevet and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Interestingly the comments on his report state: "Map reading and navigation good. Above average." Assessment as an Air Bomber: Above average."

Posted to No.1 "Y" Depot on 1 May he arrived at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) Bournemouth on the 5th June 1943. Ten days later he was posted to No.3 (O) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) at Half Penny Green until he was taken on strength at No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on the 13th July and then to No.1659 Heavy Conversation Unit (HCU) on the 15th October joining 419 (Goose) Squadron on the 20th November 1943. Donavan had participated in 19 sorties against the enemy when he was lost.

(6) Ogwen Jones was the youngest son of Hiram, a coal miner, was living at home and worked as a painter in 1939 prior to enlisting. He crewed up with Charles Patterson at No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) and flew all of his 18 sorties as a member of that crew.

(7) Adam P. Chawanski was born in Poland and came to Canada in 1927 with his Mother to join his Father who had emigrated one year earlier. He had been enrolled at United College for one year when he applied to join the RCAF in August 1942. As the only child, he had requested a six-month deferment in order to find work to support his mother and invalid father but this was denied and he was posted to the Manning Depot at Brandon that October. Adam was then posted to No.12 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) on the 26th November but it is unclear as to his duties there. He remained at No.12 SFTS until the 6th March 1943. Sadly during his time there his Father passed away that February. Whether this had any bearing on his training is unknown. Posted to No.2 Air Gunners Ground Training School at Trenton on the 7th March he completed the course there and then attended Course 54 at No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS), MacDonald, Manitoba from the 5th April until the 25th June 1943 where he gained his Air Gunners brevet and the rank of Sergeant. After 14 days embarkation leave, he embarked at Halifax for the UK on the 16th July arriving at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) Bournemouth on the 26th July 1943.

Posted to No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on the 10th August where he crewed up as a member of Patterson's crew he moved with them to No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) and then finally to 419 (Goose) Squadron. Adam completed 18 operations.

(8) Arthur C. Beckett completed his senior matriculation at high school after which he enrolled in a six-month business course at Commercial High in Edmonton. He worked as a clerk and stock keeper for two years during which he married Miss Vera Verna Dunlop on the 30th July 1940 before he enlisted in May of 1942. Arthur was called up on the 29th May 1942 and taken on strength at the No.3 Edmonton Manning Depot where he would spend the next eight weeks. After being posted for six weeks of temporary duties at No.7 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Fort MacLeod, Alberta, he was posted to No.4 Initial Training School (ITS) in Edmonton on the 13th September 1942. While he was stationed there, he injured his knee playing volleyball when he collided with another airman during a game in the drill hall. Taken to hospital, he was operated on to remove bone and cartilage fragments from the injured knee which in-told required a hospital stay of some 29 days. Whether this had any bearing on his future training or not is unknown, but by the end of his stay at No.4 Initial Training School (ITS) he was selected for the trade of air gunner and posted to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS) at MacDonald, Manitoba on the 24th January 1943.

After twelve weeks of training there, Arthur graduated with his Air Gunner's brevet and the rank of Sergeant on the 16th April 1943. The remarks on his final report read: "Has applied himself to his work and obtained above average marks. Can be relied upon to work and co-operate with others. Will make a good air gunner."

He was granted fourteen days of pre-embarkation leave to spend with Vera, Arthur was posted to No.1 "Y" Depot to await shipment to the UK on the 4th May 1943.

Arriving at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) Bournemouth on the 12th May, he was stationed there until the 27th July when he was posted for training at No.22 Operational Training Unit (OTU). Posted to No.1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on the 15th October where he was promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant and then to 419 (Goose) Squadron on the 20th November 1943. Arthur first flew with Captain Patterson on the night of the 15th/16th February 1944 to Berlin completing 16 sorties before he was lost.

Burial Details:

Above: Rheinberg War Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Above: Initial Grave Marker for the crew

Plt Off. Charles Edmund George Patterson. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Born on the 4th December 1921 in Woodbridge, Ontario. Son of the Revd. Robert Brunker Patterson, M.A. and Fannie Rand (née Blachford) Patterson of Islington, Ontario, Canada.

Fg Off. William Wilkins Mitchell. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Born on the 5th October 1914 in Glasgow, Scotland. Son of William Wilkins and Mary McKergow McCullogh (née Higgins) Mitchell and husband of Mary Evelyn (née Tough) Mitchell of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Plt Off. Robert Eric Norman Wood. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Son of Harold and Greta (née Jones) Wood of Morriston, Glamorgan.

Sgt. Wood was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to 176479 Plt Off. with effect 20th May 1944 (London Gazette 4th July 1944)

Plt Off. William Alexander Bailey. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Grave Inscription: “SLEEP ON, BELOVED; SLEEP AND TAKE THY REST.” Born on the 16th May 1923 in Temple Patrick, Northern Ireland. Son of William Speers Bailey and Margaret (née Dagwell) Bailey of Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

WO2. Bailey was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J86335 Plt Off. with effect 2nd May 1944.

Plt Off. Donavan Emmerson Derbyshire. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Born on the 11th February 1918 in Wheatley, Ontario. Son of Seth Carman and Pearl (née Reid) Derbyshire of Shedden, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Derbyshire was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J88396 Plt Off. with effect 21st May 1944.

Derbyshire Island in Parry Sound was named after Plt Off. Derbyshire in 1960

Flt Sgt. Ogwen Jones. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Grave Inscription: "A'R NEB A GOLLO EI EINIOES O'M PLEGID I, A'I CAIFF HI". Son of Hiram Austin and Mary Lizzie (née Roberts) Jones of Rhos, Denbighshire, Wales.

Flt Sgt. Adam Philip Chawanski. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Grave inscription: “SLEEP, MY DEAREST SON. MAY THIS SOIL COVER YOU LIGHTLY. EVER REMEMBERED”. Born on the 11th June 1922 in Poland. Son of Joseph and Katherine (nee Stepkiw) Chawanski of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canada.

Chawanski Lake, Manitoba was named after Flt Sgt. Chawanski in 1974

WO2. Arthur Carleton Beckett. Rheinburg War Cemetery Germany, Collective Grave 3H 18-22. Born on the 29th March 1920 in Calgary, Alberta. Son of Waitland Jay and Nellie (née Daugherty) Beckett. Husband of Vera Verna (née Dunlop) Beckett of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Beckett was posthumously promoted to WO2. effective from the 16th April 1944

Researched by Colin Bamford for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Nov 2021). Thanks to Geraint Llewelyn for the image of Flt Sgt. Jones (Mar 2025). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Mar 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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