Operation: Peenemünde

Date: 17th/18th August 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 427 (Lion) Squadron, RCAF

Type: Halifax V

Serial: DK243

Code: ZL:F

Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire

Location: Wusterhusen, 3km South of Lubmin

Pilot: Sgt. Francis Joseph Desmond Brady R96967 RCAF Age 21. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Ifor Wyn Pugh 1583491 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Nav: Sgt. Robert William Charman R138897 RCAF PoW. No: 222492 * (1)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Revell Tuzo Johnson R/125812 RCAF PoW. No: 222523 * (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: WO2. John Lewis Troman R109393 RCAF Age 28. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Orville Malcolm McIntyre R168726 RCAF Age 27. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. James Leonard Fletcher R170220 RCAF Age 20. KiA

* Stalag 4b Mühlberg, Sachsen, Germany

Above left: Sgt. Francis J.D. Brady and right: Sgt. Orville M. McIntyre from their service records.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Leeming at 21:25 hrs. on an operation to destroy the secret research centre at Peenemunde where the Germans were developing the V2 rocket.

The raid was a success and delayed production of the V2. After Halifax DK227 had bombed the target, it was attacked by a JU88 night-fighter.

DK243 was claimed by Uffz. Heinz Oberheide, his 1st Abschuss, from 4./NJG1, 2 km south of Lubmin at 2.500 at 02:00 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten). The order was given to bale out and the Halifax crashed at Wusterhusen, 3km South of Lubmin.

Uffz. Heinz Oberheide was killed and an unarmed crew member, when he crashed his JU88 (7./NJG3) on landing at Agathenburg, near Stade due to a fuel shortage, on the 8th February 1945. He was credited with 7 confirmed Abschüsse.

(1) Sgt. Charman was granted a commission and promoted to J94229 Plt Off. Whilst a PoW and was transferred to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria).

(2) Sgt. Johnson was promoted to Warrant Officer (WO) whilst a PoW.

Burial Details:

The five crew that perished were laid to rest at Wusterhausen, later being re interred in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery

Above: LAC. John Lewis Troman (Aircrew Trainee) and Samuel Robert Troman - the family were to lose two sons during the war.

Plt Off. Francis Joseph Desmond Brady. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective Grave 14.Z.13-15. Born on the 13th March 1922 in Quebec. Son of John A. And Mary Ruth (née Haberlin) Brady of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Posthumously commissioned and promoted to J18523 Plt Off. with effect 16th August 1943

Sgt. Ifor Wyn Pugh. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 14.Z.10. Son of Hugh and Catherine Pugh of Bontddu, Merionethshire, Wales.

Sgt. John Lewis Troman. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective Grave 14.Z.13-15. Born on the 29th August 1914 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Son of Samuel and Louisa(nee Moore) Troman of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and husband of Jessie (née Doe) Cordelia Troman of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

His father, Samuel emigrated to Canada, working as a mines inspector, fighting in WW1, in the Canadian Army Signals Corps, before being wounded and discharged in 1918. On December 25th 1941 John married Jessie of Vancouver, British Columbia.

John Lewis Troman enlisted in the RCAF in 1942 ,training as an air gunner before joining 427 (Lion) Squadron, RCAF at Leeming, England. While in England, John was to visit his relations including his grandmother, Margaret Troman.

His brother Flt Sgt. Samuel Robert Troman R178352, a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner in the RCAF was KiA on his 1st operation on the 26th November 1943 with 180 Sqn, 2nd Tactical Air Force. His Mitchell II FL707 was shot down by flak over a V2 site killing all aboard.

One other brother Louis enlisted as a Wireless operator/Air Gunner in 1942, serving overseas and returning to Canada in 1945. He died in 1978.

Sgt. Orville Malcolm McIntyre. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Collective Grave 14.Z.13-15. Grave inscription: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”. Born on the 12th August 1916 in New Norway, Alberta. Son of Malcolm and Ida (née Storey) McIntyre of New Norway, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. James Leonard Fletcher. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 14.Z.11. Born on the 21st May 1923 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Son of Bertram and Jennie (née South) Fletcher of Toga, Saskatchewan, Canada. Brother of Gwen Bootle and Iris Margaret of Saskatoon, Canada.

Researched for Aircrew Remembered by Linda Ibrom and and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as shown (Jun 2017). Photo credits to Eileen Carkett. Additional information and Grave Photo to Malcolm Brooke and Bob Boston. Review and updated by Aircrew Remembered with thanks to Scott Johnson for the aircraft callsign (Aug 2022).

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