Operation: Rhubarb in the Lingen area, Germany

Date: 1st April 1945 (Sunday)

Unit No: 181 Squadron, 124 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon IB

Serial: MN819

Code: EL:?

Base: B-86 Helmond, The Netherlands

Location: West of Lingen, Germany

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Henry William M. Desmond 1318659 RAFVR Age 23. Evader

REASON FOR LOSS

On the 1st April 1945 six aircraft from 181 Sqn lead by Flt Lt. Entwistle took off at 12:40 hrs from ALG B.86 Helmond in the Netherlands on a Rhubarb sortie in the Lingen area in Germany.

Rhubarb - Armed reconnaissance in search for targets of opportunity such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops, and vehicles on roads.

Yellow section led by Flt Lt. Galbraith with WO. Ironside ran into big trouble before they could even reach the Lingen area. WO. Ironside’s Typhoon was hit by Flak and lost a large part of his port elevator and minor damage to other parts of the aircraft. The controls were vibrating badly so he headed back to base, with Flt Lt. Galbraith watching over him.

Flak then hit Flt Lt. Galbraith’s Typhoon and a 40mm shell entered near the lower port side of the fuselage and exploded inside. The shrapnel produced a pepper pot effect on the starboard side of the fuselage. The engine stopped and the cockpit filled with smoke. Flt Lt. Galbraith jettisoned his hood and was about to abandon the aircraft when the engine picked up again. Everything seemed to be working, so he stayed with the aircraft and together with WO. Ironside staggered back to base.

Meanwhile Plt Off. Gardiner and Flt Sgt. Desmond pressed on with the sortie. When the latter called up to say he had a rough engine they both turned for base. The engine then settled down and started running smoother, so they decided to carry on to the Lingen area, but shortly thereafter the engine failed altogether. He forced-landed his Typhoon successfully, west of Lingen at 13:20 hrs, and called up from the ground. He was about 10 km (6 mls) from the front lines in enemy territory.

Red Section, Flt Lt. Entwistle and Flt Lt. Garratt DFC roamed about the area for some time but the only joy they had was a German half-track which was destroyed. The cloud base was much too low to carry out good rocket attacks.

Flt Lt. Thomas Entwistle DFC 125836 RAFVR. DFC awarded whilst with 181 Sqn, London Gazette 14th September 1945;

Flt Lt. Robert Joseph ‘Bob’ Garratt DFC 136551 RAFVR. DFC awarded whilst with 28 Sqn, London Gazette 2nd June 1944. Citation reads: ‘In air operations, this officer has displayed skill, courage and determination worthy of much praise. He has completed many difficult and dangerous sorties and has set an example which has set an example which has impressed all.’;

Flt Lt. Robert Francis Galbraith (American Air Medal) J11978 RCAF age 22. KiA on the 5th April 1945 when his Typhoon 1B SW552 was hit by Flak over an attacked and stationary locomotive north of Fürstanau, Germany and crashed in flames in nearby woods;

Above: Flt Lt. Robert Francis Galbraith from his Service Record

No information about WO. W.H. Ironside or Plt Off. R.E. Gardiner that can be corroborated has been found.

The escape and evasion report for Flt Sgt. Desmond has not survived and although it is known he evaded no further details have been found.

Henry William M. Desmond was born on the 4th February 1922 in Poplar, London. He was a Capstan Operator in London prior to enlisting in the RAFVR. He passed away in the 2nd Qtr of 1983 in Chelmsford, Essex, England.

Burial details:

None - Pilot Survived

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to this pilot and his family (Jul 2024)

Other sources as quoted below:

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