Operation: Frankfurt

Date: 29/30th August 1941 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 102 Squadron

Type: Whitley

Serial: Z6951

Code: DY-?

Base: RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire

Location: Friar's Farm, Docking, Norfolk

Pilot: Sgt. Paul Eugene Carreau R/54194 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Albert Edward Masters 1179327 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Obs: Sgt. Wilfrid Venus Atkinson 920450 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt Cyril Higson 654157 RAFVR Survived - Injured

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. F.G. Kuebler RAFVR Survived - Injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Very little on this loss - we welcome any new information which will be placed with full credits to the supplier.

Taking off at 21:12 hrs from RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire, joining some 142 other aircraft to attack railway yards and harbours in Frankfurt. The other type of aircraft used in this the first 100 + bomber raid on the city, 73 Hampdens, 62 Whitleys, 5 Halifaxes, 3 Manchesters.

Bombing was poor due to the bad weather with the City reporting just light and scattered damage.

3 Hampdens were lost, 2 from 50 Squadron: Hampden AE229 flown by Fl/Sgt. Leonard Cecil Turner 745663 RAFVR killed with all 3 other members of his crew. Hampden AE229 flown by Fl/Sgt. Mapp survived injured as did his crew when they crashed on return at Bassingham. Hampden AE247 from 58 Squadron flown by Sgt. Archibald Peter Anthony Mackenzie 742152 RAFVR killed after ditching of Brighlingsea, the other 4 crew were picked up within 3 hours of hitting the water. Hampden I AE247 flown by Sgt. Herbert Richmond 1059709 RAFVR all 4 crew missing without trace. Halifax I L9518 flown by Sq/Ldr. Richard Bickford DFC crashing as being reported out of fuel on return, another crew member also killed with 4 others surviving after baling out.

The Squadron lost another crew on this operation, the other:

28 year old, Sq/Ldr. John Oswald Lalor MiD 39994 RAF from County Leix in the Irish republic. He died of his injuries after Whitley V Z6863 crashed near Rheinberg. 2 crew were injured, the other 2 safe but all taken PoW.

Burial details:

Sgt. Paul Eugene Carreau. New Hunstanton Cemetery. Row P. Grave 52. Born on the 10th May 1919 at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada the son of Eugene and Rose-Anna Carreau (née Sabourin), of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. educated at the Acadamie De-La-Salle 1931-1937 and remained a Lieutenant in the school cadet force until enlisting.The family lived at 20 Water Street, Ottawa.

He participated extensively in swimming, canoeing, skiing and fishing and moderately in tennis, handball and softball. After leaving school in 1937 he was employed as a Clerk by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company until he enlisted in the RCAF. When he enlisted at Ottawa on the 17th July 1940 he was described as 5' 6½" tall of dark complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Trained at RCAF Trenton, Ontario, No. 2 ITS at RCAF Regina, Saskatchewan, No. 13 EFTS, St Eugene, Ontario, and No. 8 SFTS, at RCAF Moncton, New Brunswick. Awarded his Pilot's Badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 7th April 1941.

On arrival in the UK on the 3rd May 1941 he was posted to No. PRC at RAF Bournemouth, to No. 19 OTU at RAF Forres and RAF Kinloss on the 10th May and to No. 102 Squadron at RAF Topcliffe, North Riding of Yorkshire on the 22nd July 1941. Cause of death: multiple injuries and buried on the 04th September.

Sgt. Albert Edward Masters. Streatham Park Cemetery. Square 8. Grave 2792. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Masters, of Streatham, London, England.

Sgt. Wilfrid Venus Atkinson. South Shields Cemetery (Harton). Sec. E. Grave 3651. Son of Ralph Venus Atkinson, and Sarah Annie Atkinson, of South Shields, England. Solicitor prior to service.

Page placed for Bob Carreau. Additional details provided by our Roy Wilcock on Sgt. Carreau. For further details our thanks to the following sources:

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