Operation: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Date: 25th/26th June 1943 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 408 (Goose) Squadron, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax II

Serial: JB858

Code: EQ:S

Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire

Location: Holtwick, Germany

Pilot: Sgt. Bruce Ryerson ‘Marty’ Milligan R123395 RCAF Age 21. KiA (1)

Pilot 2: Flt Sgt. John Frederick Male R131168 RCAF Age 20. KiA (2)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert Banks Wright 577244 RAFVR Age 20. PoW No. 290 * (3)

Nav: Fg Off. Frederick Campbell Culbert J13839 RCAF Age 33. KiA (4)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. John Henry McNess 1391023 RAFVR Age 33. KiA (5)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. David Archibald Aiken R66206 RCAF Age 24. KiA (6)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. John Douglas Bruce Hunter R151759 RCAF Age 25. KiA (7)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. George Nelson Acton R115653 RCAF Age 31. KiA (8)

* Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Above: An early photograph of Sgt. Aiken’s crew, two of whom were stood down for this operation through illness.

Standing left to right: Sgt. Bruce R. Milligan, Sgt. Ed Griffen, Sgt. David Aiken, Fg Off. Frederick C. Culbert; Front row left to right: Sgt. James B. ’Jim’ Dallyn, Sgt. John D. Hunter, Sgt. Robert B. Wright (courtesy Dan Aiken)

Sgt. Ed Griffen. It is believed that Ed declined to fly again after the loss of his regular crew and was transferred back to Canada.

Fg Off. James Boustead ’Jim’ Dallyn J18270 RCAF was KiA on the night of the 22nd/23rd May 1944. His 408 Sqn Lancaster II, LL723 was shot down by a German night-fighter. This aircraft had a crew of nine (9). Five (5) of the crew rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and the other four (4) are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Above left to right: Sgt. Bruce R. ‘Marty’ Milligan, Fg Off. Frederick C. Culbert, Sgt. John D. B. Hunter (From their Service Records)

Relatives of Plt Off. David Aiken are very keen to visit the actual crash site of this Halifax. If you are able to supply details - they would very much like to hear from you.

Update June 2015: Local researcher contacted us and is planning to guide them to the actual crash site in September 2015 - further details will follow.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 23:34 hrs from RAF Leeming on an operation to bomb the oil refineries in Gelsenkirchen with another 217 Lancasters, 190 Halifaxes and 10 Mosquitoes. Weather was cloudy with no moon until about 03:00hrs.

The raid was not at all that had been hoped. Equipment failure in half of the Mosquitoes and another dropping target markers 10 miles off target. The bombing as a result of this made the Germans think that the raid was actually on Bochum. However some industrial targets were hit in the town.

JB858 was claimed by Hptm. Wilhelm Dormann from 9./NJG1, his 12th Abschuss and the first of two this night, over Holtwick, 10 km NNW of Coesfeld at 5.800 m. at 01:28 hrs. Note: Also claimed by Flak of 2. & 5./schw. Flak Abt. 221, 5./schw. Flak Abt. 333, 5./schw. Flak Abt. 221, z.b.V. 5742 and z.b.V. 5745 (‘Halifax Hererort 01:35 hs’). The victory was confirmed for Hptm. Dormann confirmed on 20th December 1944. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

Hptm. Dormann was wounded in action on the 17th/18th August 1943 over Lingen/Elms when his Bf110 G-2 G9+BD was shot down by 141 Sqn Beaufighter V8713 flown by Fg Off. Harry E. White and Fg Off. Mike Seamer Allen. He baled out with severe wounds, his radio operator, Obfw. Friedrich Schmalscheidt was killed when his parachute failed to open. Wilhelm Dorman never flew on operations again. He was credited with 14 confirmed Abscüsse. Wilhelm Dormann died age 78 in 1984. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten)

A report from No. 4 Missing Research & Enquiry Unit (MREU) determined that a burning aircraft crashed near Holtwick at 01.35 hrs. On hitting the ground two (2) explosions were heard. The aircraft was identified as JB858 (letter “S”), make Halifax II. Parts of the aircraft were recovered as far away as 350-400 feet. Two (2) bodies were found in the tail part of the aircraft and the remains of five (5) others in the fuselage. Sgt. Wright was taken prisoner shortly after the crash. The seven (7) crew who perished were buried on the 26th June 1943 in the Community Cemetery at Holtwick.

(1) Bruce Ryerson Milligan was employed as a Banking Ledger Keeper prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 8th August 1941.

He was awarded his Pilot’s Wings on the 17th July 1942. He was posted to 22 OTU on the 27th October 1942 and onto 1659 HCU on the 20th February 1943. He was posted to 408 Sqn on the 22nd March 1943.

Sgt. Milligan had previously flown eighteen (18) operations for a total of 112 hrs 21 minutes.

He was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J18184 Plt Off. effective 22nd May 1943

(2) John Frederick Male was employed as a Tool Maker with the Steel Company of Canada prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 19th September 1941.

His brother, Robert Richard Male, served at RCAF Station Mountain View in Ontario,

He was awarded his Pilot’s Wings on the 9th October 1942. Posted to 23 OTU on the 23rd February 1943 and then to 432 Sqn, which flew Wellingtons, on the 27th May 1943. The next day he was posted to 1659 HCU and was then posted to 408 Sqn on the 21st June 1943.

Flt Sgt. Male has flown one (1) previous operation for a total of 5 hrs and 24 minutes.

(3) Sgt. Wright was slightly wounded in baling out of the aircraft and was captured on the morning of the 26th June. He was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 1st July 1943.

This was his 19th operation. On his previous eighteen (18) operations he has flown for a total of 112 hrs 21 minutes.

After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug, Memellandon the 15th July 1943 arriving there on the 20th July 1943. In June 1943 it became a camp for enlisted men, when British and Canadian NCOs (non-commissioned officers) came to the camp from Stalag Luft 1 in Barth.

Sgt. Wright was appointed to a commission and promoted to 52814 Plt Off with effect 4th June 1943, (London Gazette 21st September 1943). It was probably his promotion, which was eventually the reason for his transfer to Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang. From October 1943 to May 1945, Stalag Luft 1 had the status of a PoW camp for officers of the Allied air forces.

On the 15th January 1944 he escaped during transfer from Stalag Luft 6 to Stalag Luft 1 but was captured a few hours later and arrived there on the 20th January 1944.

He was promoted to Fg Off. with effect 4th December 1944, (London Gazette 1st February 1944).

On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer (SAO), Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, on the 2nd May 1945, the first Soviet troops arrived.

The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States.

Plt Off. Wright was interviewed on the 11th May 1945. After returning to England he was promoted to Flt Lt. with effect 4th June 1945, (London Gazette 12th June 1945).

Robert Banks Wright was born on the 17th October 1922 on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 5th September 1939 he was a student.

(4) Frederick Campbell Culbert was a Constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Winnipeg prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 24th November 1941.

Two brothers, Sgt. Milton A. Culbert, RCAF served with 625 Armament Flight in Winnipeg, and Constable Douglas Culbert, RCMP served in Rockcliffe, Ottawa, Ontario One of his sisters, Ruth Culbert, served as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CAWC).

He was awarded his Observer Brevet and promoted to Plt Off. on the 28th August 1942.

Above: Fg Off. Frederick Campbell Culbert with right, family - showing his wife Margaret with his son, Richard. (courtesy Richard Culbert)

Posted to 22 OTU on the 27th October 1942 and then to 1659 HCU on the 20th February 1943. He was promoted to Fg Off. on the 28th February1943. He was posted to 408 Sqn on the 23rd March 1943.

Fg Off. Frederick Campbell Culbert had previously flown fifteen (15) operations for a total of 90 hrs 53 minutes.

(5) Sgt. John Henry McNess had previously flown twenty (20) operations for a total of 122 hrs 5 minutes.

He was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to 155095 Plt Off.

(6) David Archibald Aiken had a short spell as a deckhand with the Canadian Steamship Lines. Prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 14th September 1940 he was employed in a woodworking shop.

Two brothers, Donald Brittain Aiken served in the RCAF overseas and Ralph Gordon Aiken served with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR).

He was warded his Air Gunner Brevet on the 25th October 1941. Posted to 42 OTU on the 17th March 1942 and then to 296 Sqn on the 1st July 1942. He was then posted to 22 OTU on the 29th October 1942 and onto 1659 HCU on the 20th February 1943. He was posted to 408 Sqn on the 22nd March 1943.

LAC. David Aiken is thought to be the shown on far right. (courtesy Dan Aiken)

Series of photographs of LAC/Sgt. David Aiken, left on graduation, extreme right, with his wife Helen Dorothy (courtesy Dan Aiken)

He had previously flown sixteen (16) operations for a total of 98 hrs 59 minutes.

He was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J18207 Plt Off. effective 24th June 1943

(7) John Douglas Bruce Hunter was employed in the Inspection Department of the Boeing Aircraft Company prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 31st January 1942.

He was awarded his Air Gunners Brevet on the 26th October 1942. Posted to 1659 HCU on the 9th January1943 and then to 408 Sqn on the 22nd March 1943.

Sgt. Hunter had previously flown sixteen (16) operations for a total of 98 hrs 58 minutes.

He was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J18041 Plt Off. effective 25th May 1943.

(8) George Nelson Acton was employed in the Farming and Freighting prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 22nd February 1941.

He was awarded his Air Gunner Brevet on the 26th June 1942. Joined his crew at 22 OTU on the 15th September 1942 and onto 1659 HCU on the 8th January 1943. He was posted to 408 Sqn on the 19th February 1943.

Sgt. Acton had previously flown nineteen (19) operations for a total of 113 hrs 15 minutes.

He was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J18289 Plt Off, effective 24th June 1943.

Burial details:

The seven (7) crew were recovered from the Parish Cemetery in Holtwick and laid to rest in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 14th April 1947.

Above the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Plt Off. Bruce Ryerson Milligan. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Joint grave 12.D.1-2. Grave Inscription: ‘TOO DEARLY LOVED EVER TO BE FORGOTTEN’. Born on the 9th March 1922 Orillia, Ontario. Son of George Leo and Eva Jane (née Botting) Milligan of Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. John Frederick Male. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.D.6. Grave Inscription: ‘GOD TOOK HIM HOME, IT WAS HIS WILL BUT IN OUR HEARTS HE LIVETH STILL’. Born on the 6th June 1921 in Hamilton, Ontario. Son of Walter and Ethel May (née Leader) Male of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Above initial joint Grave marker for Fg Off. Frederick C. Culbert and Plt Off. Bruce R. Milligan (From Fg Off. Culbert’s Service Record)

Fg Off. Frederick Campbell Culbert. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Joint grave 12.D.1-2. Grave Inscription: ‘PRECIOUS TO OUR MEMORY. ''UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY''’. Born on the 17th June 1910 in Waskada, Manitoba. Son of George Arthur and Jean McLeod (née Campbell) Culbert. Husband of Margaret Rachel (née Sanders) Culbert.

Plt Off. John Henry McNess. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.D.7. Grave Inscription: ‘PASSING YEARS CANNOT CHANGE OUR LOVE FOR HIM SO DEAR. MEMORIES LINGER ALWAYS’. Born on the 13th December 1909 in Swindon, Wiltshire. Son of Henry James and Maud Rebecca (née Ballard) McNess of Leyton, Essex, England.

Plt Off. David Archibald Aiken. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.D.3. Grave Inscription: ‘LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY DAD AND MOTHER, WIFE HELEN, BROTHERS DON AND RALPH‘. Born 15th September 1918 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Son of Hedley James and Ethel Aiken Husband of Helen Dorothy (née Springgay) Aiken of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Plt Off. John Douglas Bruce Hunter. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.D.5. Born on the 29th June 1918 in Victoria, British Columbia. Son of Joseph Douglas, a physician and RCAF Medical Officer, and Anita Alice Matthews (née Hunt) Hunter. Husband to Phyllis Joan (née Carmichael) Hunter of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Plt Off. George Nelson Acton. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.D.4. Grave Inscription: ‘HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THOSE HE LOVED. I WILL NOT SAY HE IS DEAD; HE IS JUST AWAY’. Born on the 2nd March 1912 in Algoma, Ontario. Son of George and Mary Matilda (née Pinder) Acton of Dorintosh, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Acton Lake in Saskatchewan was renamed after Plt Off. George Nelson Acton

Page of remembrance placed after some great research by Dan Aiken, nephew of Plt Off. David Aiken. Dan also submitted various newspaper articles which we are researching further. Further sources for additional information as quoted below. Thanks also to Richard Culbert. In July 2018 Dave Champion submitted further details as well as photographs. Thanks to Derek Newton, whose mother was initially married to ’Jim’ Dallyn, for the identifications in the crew photograph and additional information (Jun 2025). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2025).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 20 June 2025, 15:51