Operation: Essen, Germany

Date: 5th/6th March 1943 (Friday/Saturday)

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

Type: Halifax II

Serial: DT646

Code: VR:C

Base: Middleton St. George, County Durham

Location: Near Elst, between Arnhem and Nijmegen, Holland

Pilot: Sgt. Leonard Bakewell 1211362 RAFVR Age 22. PoW No: 27630 * (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Alvin Clinton 'Al' Turner R62322 RCAF Age 23. Evader (2)

Nav: Flt Sgt. Donald Dennis Scowen R87500 RCAF Age 22. PoW No: 27657 * (3)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Lt. Jack Edward Marvel J16940 RCAF Age 26. PoW No: 27751 ** (4)

WOp/ Air Gnr: Sgt. James Arthur ‘Art’ Bennett R77405 RCAF Age 21. PoW No: 27676 * (5)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. William James Clark R92397 RCAF Age 32. PoW No: 27703 * (6)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. James Robert Couper 1126438 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

* Stalag 8B, (Renamed to Stalag 344 in 1943) Lamsdorf, now called Łambinowice in Silesia.

** Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland

Above: Plt Off. Alvin Clinton ‘Al’ Turner (Courtesy of Sharon Turner)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 5th/6th March 1943 the Sqn detailed ten (10) bombers to join a force of four-hundred and forty-two (442) aircraft on an operation to bomb target in Essen, Germany.

Of the three (3) Halifaxes that failed to return Halifax II DT646 was the only one from 419 Sqn (Moose) Sqn RCAF.

Just after they had dropped their bombs the aircraft was harassed by Flak which resulted in Sgt. Turner’s right eye was severely cut by splinters. Homebound at about 21:30 hrs the aircraft was attacked by a German night-fighter. The first pass missed but Flt Sgt. Couper in the rear turret shouted that night-fighters were attacking from astern. The turret was hit by a burst of Cannon shells and nothing more was heard from him. Sgt. Bakewell tried to evade the enemy fighter but the starboard outer engine was hit and burst into flames. Another pass by the enemy fighter hit the port inner which burst into flames. The third attack hit the starboard wing at which point the aircraft became uncontrollable.

Sgt. Bakewell ordered the crew to bale out and it was reported that all seven (7) of the crew abandoned the aircraft.

DT646 was claimed by Lt. Walter Schön from 3./NJG1, his 1st Abschuss over Elst, north of Nijmegen at 3.300 mt. at 21:37 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January - 22 June) 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten).

Lt. Schön was KiA on the night of the 20th/21st October 1943 in a crash at Gross-Ballerstedt near Stredal airfield. He was credited with seven (7) confirmed Abschüsse (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten).

German documents suggested that the aircraft crashed near Elst, between Arnhem and Nijmegen.

Flt Sgt. Couper was posted missing in action (MiA) as it was thought he may have fallen into the river Waal and drowned.

(1) Sgt. Bakewell was captured that day and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 344, Lamsdorf arriving there on the 26th March 1943

He was appointed to a commission and promoted to 141771 Plt Off. with effect 31st January 1943 (London Gazette 13th April 1943). He was then transferred to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan arriving there on the 18th August, probably when his promotion was confirmed.

He was promoted to Fg Off. with effect 31st July 1943 (London Gazette 3rd August 1943) and then to Flt Lt. effective 31st January 1945 (London Gazette 20th February 1945).

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. The PoW’s were informed of the evacuation, which was on foot, at about 22:00 hrs the same night and were given 30 mins to pack and prepare everything for the March. The weather conditions were very difficult, with freezing temperatures, and it was snowing accompanied by strong winds. There was 15 cm (6 in) of snow and 2000 PoWs were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main groups.

The first groups of American PoW’s set out from the South Compound with the last PoW leaving at 23:00 hrs. The next group of American PoWs set out from the West Compound. At 03:45 hrs the North Compound left, followed by the Centre Compound. At 06:00 hrs the East Compound left. All the groups were accompanied by guards.

After a 55 km (34 mls) march, the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 26 km (16 mls) 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 2nd February he was amongst the North, East and remaining West compound PoWs that were sent to Marlag und Milag Nord at Westertimke arriving there on the 10th February.

Marlag is an acronym for Marinelager (naval prisoner of war camp), Milag is short for Marine-Internierten-Lager(naval internment camp), and Nord is German for ‘north’.

On the 2nd April 1945 the Commandant announced that he had received orders to leave the camp with most of his guards, leaving only a small detachment behind to hand over the camp to Allied forces, who were already in Bremen.

However, that afternoon a detachment of over a hundred SS-Feldgendarmerie entered the camp, mustered over 3,000 men including Flt Lt. Bakewell and marched them out, heading east. The next day, at around at 10:00 hrs the column was strafed by RAF aircraft, and two PoWs were killed.

Over the next few days the column was attacked from the air several times. Finally the Senior British Naval Officer (SBNO), who was later killed in a strafing attack by RAF aircraft, offered the Germans the PoW’s parole, in return for being allowed to rest during the day and march at night. The Germans agreed.

On the 9th April 1945 the guards at Marlag-Milag moved out and were replaced by older men, presumably local Volkssturm. Meanwhile, the column slowly headed east, finally crossing the River Elbe, north of Hamburg, on the 18th April.

On the 27th April the camps were liberated by elements of the British Guards Armoured Division. The next day, the 28th April, the column finally arrived at Lübeck on the Baltic coast. They were liberated by the British 11th Armoured Division on the 1st May 1945. Flt Lt. Bakewell was interviewed on the 3rd May 1945.

Leonard Bakewell was born on the 30th August 1920 in Walsall, Staffordshire. He enlisted in the RAFVR on the 13th December 1940. Leonard passed away on the 18th June 2021 aged 100.

(2) Sgt. Turner abandoned the aircraft from the rear escape hatch but was knocked unconscious during the descent. He landed in a field possibly near Zaandam, three (3) or four (4) km north of Amsterdam injuring his back.

His eye was still bleeding copiously, so he used a piece of his parachute to staunch the wound. He tore off his “Engineer” wings but left on his Sgt. chevrons and the “Canada” shoulder patches. He was still wearing his flying helmet and boots, over which he pulled his trousers. His flying boots were of Canadian pattern which covered a pair of ordinary walking shoes. Using his compass he headed south but very soon came to the Noordzeekanaal (North Sea Canal) and found himself confronted by a large steel bridge which led into a large city which he later found to be Amsterdam.

He walked along the canal for a time and came upon three E-boats moored alongside. He heard a great deal of singing coming from these boats and he assumed that the German crews were occupied with festivities of some kind. Alongside the E-boats he saw two small rowing boats. Upon closer inspection one of boats was only loosely tied alongside.

He climbed aboard this boat he and allowed the current to drift it away from the E-boats and when safe he started to row to the far bank. After climbing ashore, he pushed the rowing boat back into the middle of the canal and continued walking south. He saw several people on the streets and a number of cyclists, but he kept to the shadows and hid in the doorways when he thought it necessary.

After about two (2) hours before daybreak he was clear of the city and then hid in some woods for the rest of the day. When darkness fell he continued his journey south and eventually came across the Amsterdam to Hilversum railway line. He saw a number of German patrols but was able to evade them, grateful for the rubber soles of his flying boots.

By the evening of the 7th March he had reached the outskirts of Utrecht and walked cautiously through the streets. At about 02:00hrs on the 8th March some 200 unarmed German soldiers appeared near his route from what he believed to be a camp whom he managed to avoid.

He next came across a number of railway lines about which guards were posted. A German suddenly flashed his torch at him and spoke to him in German. Unable to speak the language Turner could only mumble in response. The guard approached him and shone his torch at him and spoke to him for some time.

As he was still wearing his flying helmet, flying boots, chevrons and “Canada” emblazoned on each shoulder he thought that the soldier must have taken him for a German NCO. Finally the soldier pointed down a railway track towards the south and he walked on in the direction indicated.

As soon as he was out of sight of the German he ran for about an hour as fast as his shaking legs could carry him. He spent the rest of the daylight hours in a haystack and waited until dark and set off again along the Utrecht to ‘s-Hertogenbosch railway line.

Just north of Culemborg he came to one of Holland’s myriad waterways which he thought was the Amsterdam to Rijnkanaal (Amsterdam to Rhine Canal). He found that the only way across was via a railway bridge, which was guarded by two German soldiers.

Not seeing any boats and knowing he was a fairly strong swimmer he decided that he would have to swim across. He discarded his flying boots and threw them into the canal. He took off his clothes and tied them together with his shoes in a bundle which he carried on his shoulders. He then swam across the canal which surprisingly for early March the water was rather cold.

Dressing in his wet clothes he then walked through Culemborg. At daybreak on the 9th March near a farm with chickens pecking about, he hid in a haystack. He then off his wet clothes and dried them in the sun. After dark he broke open the lock of a henhouse and stole two eggs, which he ate to supplement his diet of Horlick’s tablets.

Somewhat replenished he continued walking south with the intention of reaching Paris, having heard from various people in England that not all Dutch folk were sympathetic to the Allies. Consequently he resolved not to ask for help in Holland unless it was absolutely necessary.

That night he followed a busy railway line and reached Tricht , some 8 km south of Culemborg but by this time his right shoulder had become so painful that he was unable to lift his arm. He then hid in another haystack until midnight and decided to jump a train. As trains were moving too quickly at this point on the line, he headed back towards Tricht, and soon after midnight boarded a stationary goods train.

Moving off to the south shortly afterwards the train passed through several small towns, occasionally stopping. During one of the stops he heard the train guard heading for the compartment where he was hiding. Leaving quickly, he crawled under the train but remembered that he had left his water bottle in the compartment. The train then began to move off but at the next stop, a short distance away, he managed to get back to the empty compartment where he found his water bottle.

Riding his luck and the train for the rest of the next day, the 10th March, he sensed that the train was now heading SE towards Germany and decided at the next stop it was time to get off.

Once more on foot he walked until daybreak, but the pain from his shoulder had become so unbearable that he gave in and decided to ask for help. The first person he tried, a Dutch farmer, told him by sign language that he could not help, but try a further 5 km down the road. Still wearing his flying helmet, unshaven for several days, his tunic and face covered with dried blood, he approached another house. Taken aback by the sight that greeted them, it was a while before the occupants of the house were prepared to let him in and feed him.

Shortly after his arrival a Dutchman left the house and he felt certain that he was about to be betrayed, but about ten minutes later the man returned with another man, who spoke English. The English speaker asked him a number of searching questions, particularly whether or not he had escaped from German hands or were the Germans following him. Satisfied with his answers they gave him a coat and hat, and the English speaker took him to his house, where he had a bath, a shave and more food.

But someone in the village must have talked, for suddenly the Gestapo were there looking for him. His helpers were very scared and the English speaking Dutchman drove him into the countryside hid him in a haystack. At around 19:00 hrs on the evening of the 11th March the English speaking Dutchman returned and drove him to a point in the country which he said was within a ¾ km of the Dutch/Belgian frontier.

He pointed out an electric cable which he was told would lead him to Liège. He gave him an attaché case filled with food and left him there. Despite the awful pain in his shoulder he walked for some seven (7) hours and then collapsed into yet another haystack. Around midday on the 12th March, he was woken by a farmer prodding the hay with his pitchfork. The farmer spoke only Flemish but was able to indicate on Sgt. Turner’s map that he was in Belgium but did not offer any assistance.

Still following the electric cable he met an old woman and a girl pushing a cart. They spoke French and he was able to understand enough to know that they would take him to the nearby village of Barchon where he could catch a tram to Liège, some 10 km or so to the SW. That afternoon having arrived in Liège he walked around for a couple of hours before deciding to go to Mons.

Leaving Liège he passed a small restaurant and noticed the words “English spoken here” written on the window. Entering the Star café he asked for a cup of tea hoping thereby to arouse the waiter’s curiosity. In this he was successful and a few minutes later a man who spoke English arrived and took him to his house in Bessoux, a suburb of Liège.

Still in pain Sgt. Turner was visited by a doctor and by a surgeon, who diagnosed a displaced vertebra in his back. They said that massage would be sufficient to restore it to its rightful place, but for now he was to rest. He was still incapacitated when the Gestapo paid the house a visit and arrested his host, for nothing more serious than blackmail. Had the Gestapo bothered to search the house he would also be arrested.

It was too dangerous to remain there any longer so he was moved to another house. Now in an escape organization he was then moved to Brussels where on the 14th May he was joined by a Sgt. Sankey at the train station when they caught the train to Paris.

Sgt. Joseph Sankey 119320 RAFVR who was the Rear Gunner from 10 Sqn Halifax II DT788 which was shot down by a German night-fighter on an operation to Köln on the night of the 14th/15th February 1943 (1 KiA, 5 PoWs, 1 Evd).

They remained in Paris until the 30th May when they were joined by a Plt Off. Everiss and Sgt. Ford to catch a train to Lyon.

Plt Off. Stanley F. Everiss 126042 RAFVR and Sgt. John B. Ford 1217375 RAFVR were the Navigator and Mid-Upper Gunner respectively from 90 Sqn, Stirling III BK725 which was shot-down by a German night-fighter on an operation to Mannheim on the night of the 16th/17th April 1943 (1 PoW, 7 Evaders).

In Lyon they met 2nd Lt. Contopidis, Sgt. Minor from the USAAF, Sgt. Goddard and Sgt. Murray from the RAF.

2nd Lt. Homer Contopidis O-795207 and Sgt. Walter E. Minor 31134430 were the Navigator and Tail Gunner respectively from 410 Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group, B-17F 42-29627 which was shot down by Flak on a mission to Lorient on the 17th May 1943 (1 KiA, 5 PoWs, 4 Evaders);

Sgt. Ronald G. Goddard 1333556 RAFVR was the Navigator from 78 Sqn Halifax JB873 which shot down by a German night-fighter returning from an operation to Bochum on the night of the 13th/14th May 1943 (2 KiA, 5 PoWs, 1 Evader);

Sgt. Gordon H. Murray 1082668 RAFVR was the Bomb Aimer from 429 (Bison) Sqn Wellington X MS487 which was hit by Flak homebound on an operation to Duisburg on the night of the 26th/27th March 1943 (3 KiA, 1 PoW, 1 Evader).

On the 6th June 1943 two (2) French guides took the eight (8) evaders by train to Lavelanet via Carcassonne and then by bus to Foix. That evening they started walking towards the mountains and crossed the frontier into Andorra on the 10th June. The group stayed in a hotel for three (3) nights and then set off walking again to Manresa in Spain arriving there on the 20th June. From there they caught a train to Barcelona and the British Consulate. (Ref 1. pp 15-17).

Sgt. Turner was flown from Gibraltar on the 27th June 1943 arriving at RAF Hendon the next day.

Sgt. Turner was appointed to commission and promoted to C17697 Plt Off. Plt Off. Turner was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 8th June 1944.

Alvin Clinton Turner was born on the 24th June 1919 in Lajord, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Above courtesy of The Leader Post, dated 30th October 1958

After his discharge from the RCAF in 1946 he managed the General Motors garages in Codette and Nipawin. He re-enlisting in the RCAF in 1953 but sadly died after short illness on the 28th October 1958 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, aged just 39.

(3) Flt Sgt. Scowen was captured that day near Arnhem and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf arriving there on the 13th March 1943.

He was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) whilst at Stalag 344.

On the 21st January 1945 as the Soviet armies resumed their offensive and advanced into Germany, many of the PoWs were force-marched westward in groups of 200 to 300. Many of them died from the bitter cold and exhaustion. The lucky ones got far enough to the west to be liberated by the American army. The unlucky ones got liberated by the Soviets, who instead of turning them over quickly to the western Allies, held them as virtual hostages for several more months.

He arrived at Stalag 8A at Görlitz in Lower Silesia on the 3rd February 1945 and on the 10th February 1945 the Americans and British were marched out of the camp westward in advance of the Soviet offensive into Germany. The evacuation process was carried out gradually through to May 1945. The evacuation took place on foot with all means of transport driving in front of the people for military purposes.

He arrived at Stalag 9A Trutzhain in the territory of Ziegenhain, Germany on the 12th March 1945. The camp was liberated on the 30th March 1945, by the Patton’s 3rd Army. WO2. Scowen was interviewed on the 10th April 1945.

Donald Dennis Scowen was born on the 24th March 1920 in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a student in Saskatchewan prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 6th April 1941. Donald passed away on the 9th November 2002.

(4) Flt Lt. Marvel was captured that day. He had suffered a broken ankle in baling out. After treatment and the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft Oberursel he was transferred to he was transferred to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf arriving there in April 1943.

In April 1944 he was transferred to Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan-Silesia, Germany

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. The PoW’s were informed of the evacuation, which was on foot, at about 22:00 hrs the same night and were given 30 mins to pack and prepare everything for the March. The weather conditions were very difficult, with freezing temperatures, and it was snowing accompanied by strong winds. There was 15 cm (6 in) of snow and 2000 PoWs were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main groups.

After a 55 km (34 mls) march, the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 26 km (16 mls) 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 2nd February the was amongst the North, East and remaining West compound PoWs who were sent to Marlag und Milag Nord at Westertimke.

Marlag is an acronym for Marinelager (naval prisoner of war camp), Milag is short for Marine-Internierten-Lager(naval internment camp), and Nord is German for ‘north’.

On the 2nd April 1945 the Commandant announced that he had received orders to leave the camp with most of his guards, leaving only a small detachment behind to hand over the camp to Allied forces, who were already in Bremen.

However, that afternoon a detachment of over a hundred SS-Feldgendarmerie entered the camp, it is believed that Flt Lt. Marvel was amongst the mustered 3,000 plus men who were marched out, heading east. The next day, at around at 10:00 hrs the column was strafed by RAF aircraft, and two PoWs were killed.

Over the next few days the column was attacked from the air several times. Finally the Senior British Naval Officer (SBNO), who was later killed in a strafing attack by RAF aircraft, offered the Germans the PoW’s parole, in return for being allowed to rest during the day and march at night. The Germans agreed.

On the 9th April 1945 the guards at Marlag-Milag moved out and were replaced by older men, presumably local Volkssturm. Meanwhile, the column slowly headed east, finally crossing the River Elbe, north of Hamburg, on the 18th April.

On the 27th April the camps were liberated by elements of the British Guards Armoured Division. The next day, the 28th April, the column finally arrived at Lübeck on the Baltic coast. They were liberated by the British 11th Armoured Division on the 1st May 1945. Flt Lt. Marvel was interviewed on the 3rd May 1945

Jack Edward Marvel was born on the 13th December 1916 in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was an Assistant Manager with Woolworth prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 12th August 1940. Jack passed away on the 28th October 2004 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

(5) Sgt. Bennett was captured near Arnhem that day and taken to an Amsterdam Jail where he was held between the 10th March to 13th March 1943. He was then transferred to Dulag Luft Oberursel for the statutory interrogation.

On the 24th March he was transferred to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf arriving there on the 28th March 1943.

He was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) whilst at Stalag 344.

On the 21st January 1945 as the Soviet armies resumed their offensive and advanced into Germany, many of the PoWs were force-marched westward in groups of 200 to 300. Many of them died from the bitter cold and exhaustion. The lucky ones got far enough to the west to be liberated by the American army. The unlucky ones got liberated by the Soviets, who instead of turning them over quickly to the western Allies, held them as virtual hostages for several more months.

He arrived at Stalag 8A at Görlitz in Lower Silesia on the 3rd February 1945 and on the 10th February 1945 the Americans and British were marched out of the camp westward in advance of the Soviet offensive into Germany. The evacuation process was carried out gradually through to May 1945. The evacuation took place on foot with all means of transport driving in front of the people for military purposes.

He arrived at Stalag 9A Trutzhain in the territory of Ziegenhain, Germany on the 12th March 1945. The camp was liberated on the 30th March 1945, by the Patton’s 3rd Army. WO2. Bennett was interviewed on the 10th April 1945.

After returning the Canada he was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off.

James Arthur Bennett was born on the 23rd June 1921 in Farnham, Quebec. He was a Apprentice Boilermaker prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 20th November 1940. James passed away on the 11th February 1977 in Montréal, Quebec.

(6) Flt Sgt. Clark, who was normally the Mid Upper Gunner was flying as the Front Gunner, was captured that day and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 344, Lamsdorf arriving there on the 26th March 1943. Whilst at the camp he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2).

Note: The Mid Upper Turret for Halifax II DT646 had been removed as an experiment.

On the 21st January 1945 as the Soviet armies resumed their offensive and advanced into Germany, many of the PoWs were force-marched westward in groups of 200 to 300. Many of them died from the bitter cold and exhaustion. The lucky ones got far enough to the west to be liberated by the American army. The unlucky ones got liberated by the Soviets, who instead of turning them over quickly to the western Allies, held them as virtual hostages for several more months.

On the night of the 14th April he escaped from the marching column and was taken in by a friendly German Farmer about 5km north of Hof who sheltered and cared for him. Two days later, on the 16th April, he was liberated by elements of the US 90th Tank Division about 5km north of Hof. He was interviewed on the 22nd April 1945.

William James Clark was born on the 13th February 1911 in British Columbia, Canada. He was an Insurance Adjuster in Vancouver prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 28th February 1941.

Courtesy of The Gazette, dated 12th February 1977

William passed away on the 14th February 1990 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Burial details:

Above: The Runnymede Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Flt Sgt. James Robert Couper. Runnymede Memorial Panel 135. Born on the 7th September 1922 in Plomesgate, Suffolk, England. Son of James Wilson and Ivy Kate (née Davies) Couper of Airdrie, Strathclyde. Husband to Margaret (née Stwart) Couper of Airdrie, Strathclyde, Scotland.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives of this crew (Jul 2025). Thanks to Sharon Tuner for the additional information about Sgt. Turner’s escape and evasion. (Sep 2025).

Other sources listed below:

Reference:

1. "They Came from Burgundy" - Keith James. ISBN: 978-178803-647-4

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