Operation: Leipzig

Date: 10th April 1945 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 433 Squadron (Porcupine)

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: PB903

Code: BM-F

Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale

Location: Target area

Pilot: F/O. Robert James Grisdale R/89832 RCAF Age 22. Killed (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Walter Alfred James Thurston 1896557 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

Nav: F/O. Isaac Buck Zierler J/40890 RCAF Age ? Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. William Gordon McLeod J/39929 RCAF Age 30. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Michael Hirak J/95284 RCAF Age 23. Killed (2)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Francis Gerald Seeley J/95252 RCAF Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. David William Roberts J/95323 RCAF Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking of at 13:17 hrs on a daylight operation to Engelsdorf and Mockau railway yards. Hit by predicted flak just short of the AP. A fire was seen to break out in the starboard inner engine, though the flames were soon quelled. Height was lost, followed by a small explosion which turned the Lancaster onto its back. Diving steeply, the bomber hit the ground and exploded.

(1) Grisdale Lake southwest of Nueltin Lake, Manitoba, named after F/O. Robert James Grisdale in 1972

(2) Hirak Lake northeast of Nejanilini Lake Manitoba, named after Fl/Sgt. Joseph Michael Hirak in 1974.

Crew photographs kindly supplied by Dave Champion - June 2017.

Burial details:

F/O. Robert James Grisdale. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.13. Son of Robert Chaplin and Alice Mary Grisdale of 14 Fairmont Apartments, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Grave inscription reads: “Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away”.

Sgt. Walter Alfred James Thurston. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.15. Born in June 1920, the son of Alfred and Emma (née Emmett) Thurston of Southwark, London, England.

Sgt Thurston - fourth from right, front row.

F/O. Isaac Buck Zierler. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.9. Son of Mr. and Mrs Abraham Zierler of 233 Davis Street, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

F/O. William Gordon McLeod. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.12. Son of Norman J. McLeod and Ida Jane Mcleod of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: “Sadly Missed, Proudly Remembered.”

Fl/Sgt. Joseph Michael Hirak. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.14. Son of Michael and Rose Hirak of Elphinstone, Manitoba, Canada.

Fl/Sgt. Francis Gerald Seeley. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.10. Understood to be from Trenton, Ontario, Canada. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?

Fl/Sgt. David William Roberts. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 8.F.11. Son of Harry and Edith (née Richardson) Roberts, born in Knowlton, Quebec, Canada on the 16th August 1924. The youngest of four children. He had been working as a bindery hand at Southern Press when he enlisted in the RCAF on 31 December 1942.

Researched for Aircrew Remembered June 2017 Linda Ibrom. Special thanks to Barbara Goode for photo's of Sergeant Thurston, also to the Geographical Names of Canada for crew details and other photographs. Also to Dave Champion who contacted us in June 2017 with further detailed crew information and crew photographs. Page originally placed with Matt Lacroix running the great Bomber crew website - now updated with further information and operation details. Grave photographs courtesy of Uwi at Find A Grave.

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 - 2023 Last Modified: 06 April 2021, 10:16