Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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26.05.1942 404 Squadron Blenheim IV Z6245 EE-L Sqn.Ldr. Philip H. Foster

Operation: North Stand Patrol (1)

Date: 26th May 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: 404 Squadron (RCAF), Coastal Command)

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: Z6245 (Flin Flon Floosie - Flin Flon being where he lived prior to enlisting)

Code: EE-L

Base: RAF Dyce, Scotland

Location: Near Stavanger, Norway

Pilot: Sqn.Ldr. Philip Herbert Foster 87408 RAFVR Age 30. Killed (2)

Obs: Plt,Off. Alfred Neil Briggs J/15116 RCAF Age 23. PoW No. 544 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria (L3) (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. John Murray Jamieson R/58352 RCAF Age 23. Killed (2)

REASON FOR LOSS:

After returning back from leave the day before, Sq/Ldr. Foster flew out of RAF Dyce in Scotland on a North Stand Patrol. They never returned and despite searches by five other aircraft no trace of the Blenheim or crew were found. (bodies dscovered later)

Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria (courtesy Bill Anderson)

Rear Row: Don Macdonald (1), H.F. Purvis (2), G.W.H. Venables (3), Robert A. Anderson (4), J.S. Acheson (5), J.T. Glover (6), D.M. King (7), J. Plant (8), D. Witcher (9), K.A. Banks (10), H.P. Clark (11), E. Eggerton (12), A.B. Drummond-Hay (13), T.R. Kipp (14), J.W. Murphy (15). Centre Row: G.W.H. Groves (16), R.J. Teillet (17), G.J. Richardson (18), W. Hunter (19), L. Stevens (20), G.R. Large (21). Front Row: G.L. Sinclair (22), E.M. Sangster (23), A.N. Briggs (24), S.G. King (25), D.P. Thompson (26), T.E. Jackson (27), J.R. Beggs (28). See Featured story for details of the PoWs

The following notes will perhaps explain why cuttings/photographs sent into us, create so much more further information for relatives - perhaps not even connected to the page of remembrance, but important for others searching for additional information on their lost ones:

(1) An operational patrol from Stavanger to Aandalsness

(2) Foster Rapids in the Dafoe Rapids was named after Sqn.Ldr. Philip Herbert Foster in 1996.

(3) Jamieson Bay in Kitchie Lake was named after Flt.Sgt. John Murray Jamieson on 31st March 1995.

(4) Plt.Off. (later Fg.Off.) Alfred Neil Briggs of 2 McMillan Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Born 22nd April 1916 - died 2nd September 2000.

(5) McPherson Point on Kasher Lake named after 25 year old, Sgt. John Roderick McPherson R/101638 RCAF in 1995. Serving with 113 Squadron when he was lost without trace on the 1st June 1942 during an anti-submarine patrol. Son of Mr and Mrs. Peter McPherson, husband of Maeve McPherson (née Renehan) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Left: Sqn.Ldr. Philip Herbert Foster with Flin Flon Floosie (courtesy Miraim Fenster)

(6) Scarth Lake south of Big Sand Lake was named after 21 year old, Sgt Arthur Scarth R/106002 RCAF in 1994. Attached to Ferry Command - lost some two hours after leaving Newfoundland to cross the Atlantic on 29th May 1942. Son of Bert and Minnie Scarth of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(7) Community Of Charles railway point, north of Sherridon, Manitoba, Canada was named after 22 year old Flt.Sgt. John Hamilton Charles R/59571 RCAF in 1954. His father, Major John Leslie Charles DSO was the CNR Chief Engineer, the CNR proposed naming this railway point to his sons name. Serving with 61 Squadron when he was killed (with all crew - over 50 aircraft lost on this single operation from Bomber Command!) flying as rear gunner on Lancaster I R5561 during an operation to Cologne on the 31st May 1942.

(8) Merle Atkinson Island in Neultin Lake, Manitoba, Canada was named after 20 year old, Fg.Off. Merle William Atkinson J/8359 RCAF in 1995. Son of John Benjamin and Elizabeth Janet Atkinson of Hartney, Manitoba, Canada. Pilot with 76 Squadron, killed on the 1st October 1942 flying Halifax W7812 MP-B on an operation to Flensburg (all crew lost)

(9) Roddy Lake west of Tadpole Lake, Manitoba, Canada was named after 22 year old, Flt.Sgt. William George Roddy R/95149 RCAF in 1975. Son of George Jennings and Harriet Irene Roddy of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Observer with 156 Squadron, killed on the 07th July 1942. Flying on Wellington III X3345 during a ‘Gardening’ operation when they were shot down off Lorient France. (All crew lost)

Burial details:

Sqn.Ldr. Philip Herbert Foster (Fenster). Egersund Churchyard. Grave A.6.2. Further information: Son of Kadish and Rasha Fenster, of 294 Alfred Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (shown left). Originally from Brooksby, Saskatchewan, Canada. Whilst a student he also worked as an apprentice plumber, as a student he was not permitted to join the Union where others received five times as much. So, he disguised himself, grew as moustache, wore dark glassed and the joined as ‘Phil Foster’! When war broke out he applied to join the RCAF but entry was refused because of his age. He had private flying lessons in Trenton Ontario we understand and then paid his own fare to Britain and managed to convince the RAF to accept him. Understood to be the first chap from Manitoba to be accepted into the RCAF as a pilot under the Empire Training Plan.

Flt.Sgt. John Murray Jamieson. Egersund Churchyard. Grave A.6.3. Further information: Son of John James and Olive Jamieson (née Beek), of Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada. Husband of Hazel Jamieson (née Hudson) of Salmon Arm British Columbia, Canada. Then of Victoria, Canada. Born in Sceptre, Saskatchewan, moving to Ogilvie, Manitoba in 1920. Moved in 1937 to live with his Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Beck of Salmon Arm, British Columbia for other work. During the 1930’s he worked assisting farmers that required extra help during harvest time. Joined the RCAF in the Spring of 1940 and married Hazel in 1941 prior to being posted overseas.

For further details our thanks to Miriam Fenster - niece of the pilot who contacted us in August 2015. Also some of the following sources shown below. Thanks to Bill Anderson for additional detail for Plt.Off. Teillet.

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