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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161 Squadron Hudson IIIa FK803 FK803 Fl/Lt. Terence Helfer DFC

Operation: SOE - Operation 'Benedict'

Date: 20/21st March 1945 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 161 Squadron (motto: 'Liberate'). 38 Group

Type: Hudson IIIa

Serial: FK803

Code: MA-N

Base: RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire

Location: Boxhorn, Luxembourg

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Terence Helfer DFC. 127041 RAFVR Age 25 - Safe badly burned

Nav: F/O. Henry Scurr Johnson DFM. 168807 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Lt. Raymond Frankish Escreet. DFM. 143469 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: F/O. Forrest Harold Thompson. DFM. NZ. 412766 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

SOE Agents:

Lt Jean Jacques Morel. 'Express'. Belgian Army Age 23. Killed

Lt Leon Ghuslain de Winter. 'Leader'. Belgian Army Age 24. Killed

Lt. Guy Joseph Florent Corbisier. 'Benedict'. Belgian Army Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

FK803/N: Took off at 18:48 hrs on a SOE operation to drop 3 agents to assist the strong resistance operating in the area.

But due to severe weather conditions over the target area the pilot informed the crew and the agents they would not proceed with the drop and that they will return to Tempsford.

During the return journey they were attacked by a night fighter and the Hudson exploded throwing the pilot out. Although badly burned on his face and hands managed to deploy his pachutr and land safely.

The parish priest offers to accommodate him for the night and warns the soldiers staying in the village. Around 10:00 hrs. an American ambulance picks up Fl/Lt. Helfer to take him to the Vianden hospital, then to Trier.

Later, the parish priest Majerus and a certain Mr. Dalscheid recovered the parachute as well as a map of Europe printed on silk.

The USAF claimed a 'kill" in the region during the same night. It is a P38A "Black Widow" registered 5540 of the 422 Night Fighter Squadron. It was piloted by Captain Raymond Anderson with navigator 2Lt Robert F Graham.

It seems that he confused with a Dornier 217! Samrée's Hudson, a Ferris pilot, also seems to have been shot by an American night hunter.

Burial and other details:

Up until 2005 headstones to the lost were in Hotton War Cemetery but where then removed after the CWGC considered the final resting place was in a communal grave at the crash site Today a memorial with headstones stand together with the remains of the Hudson. The area is now fenced to offer protection.

Above L-R: Fl/Lt. Terence Helfer, F/O. Henry Scurr Johnson, Fl/Lt. Raymond Frankish Escreet and F/O. Forrest Harold Thompson

F/O. Henry Scurr Johnson DFM. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. A pharmacist prior to service. Initially with 199 squadron where he carried out 28 operational sorties. Son of Henry A. and Henrietta Johnson, of Seaburn, Sunderland, Co. Durham.

DFM awarded on the 15th June 1943,

Fl/Lt. Raymond Frankish Escreet. DFM. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. Born 03rd Jun 1922 in Withernsea,Worked on hid father's vegetable wholesale business prior to service. Initially with 15 Squadron in Wyto. On March 15th 1945 Raymond Escreet was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and had by then. Son of Frankish Henry and Janet Escreet, of Withernsea, Yorkshire.

DFM awarded on the 15th June 1943,

F/O. Forrest Harold Thompson. DFM. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. Educated at Gisborne High School and Ruakura Agricultural College, before taking up sheep farming at Tokomaru Bay.

Son of Waldo Samuel (died 1970) and Ethel Annie Thompson (née Sherwood - died 03rd January 1978, age 92), of Waipiro Bay, New Zealand. Brother of Onslow Waldo Thompson (killed 01st May 1943, age 27) and Marjori Gardner (later Wallace - died 02nd March 1998, age 78) of Waipiro Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. Husband of Joyce Constance Thompson, (née Williams, later Kearns) of London, England.married in 1943,

DFM. London Gazette 9 July 1943:

‘Flight Sergeant Thompson, in the capacity of Rear Gunner, has taken part in many operational sorties. His determination, resource and coolness in difficult circumstances have been material factors in the success achieved. On one occasion, when returning from a mining operation, he shot out the lights of a searchlight battery. On other occasions, this airman has made successful machine-gun attacks on enemy trains and an airfield, where fires were started. At all times, he has set a splendid example to the younger members of his crew.’

(note: This medal collection sold at auction for £2,300 in early 2024)

Above L-R: Lt Jean Jacques Morel, Lt Leon Ghuslain de Winter and Lt. Guy Joseph Florent Corbisier

Lt Jean Jacques Morel. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. Born 01st Mat 1921 in Bouillon, Belgium. Son of Albert Morel and Gertrude Grond Morel.

Lt Leon Ghuslain de Winter. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. Born on the 06th April 1921 in La Louvière, Belgium. Son of Louis

Lt. Guy Joseph Florent Corbisier. Maulusmuhle Isolated Graves. Collective. Born on the 29th July 1920 in Berchem, Belgium. Son of Henri Corbisier and Angèle Poodts

Fl/Lt. Terence Helfer DFC. (shown left). Born on the 22nd February 1920 . After skin grafts at the burns department in Horton Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, and three months recuperating, he was eager to get back to service.He died in a nursing home, To

His group of seven medals – DFC, AFC, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and General Service medal, with corresponding miniatures - was offered at Exeter sale room Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood on the 08th March together with a host of related material including four log books, an RAF silk map of Sweden, a pair of RAF epaulettes, buttons and photo album.

Evidence of his great escapes came in the form of Caterpillar Club badge and Goldfish Club card. The former was given to RAF personnel who had baled out successfully wearing an Irvin parachute made by the Irvin Air Chute Company, the latter presented to a worldwide association of people who have escaped an aircraft by parachuting into the water, or whose aircraft crashed in the water, and survived using a life jacket or inflatable dinghy.

The Goldfish Club was formed in November 1942 by CA Robertson, chief draftsman at UK firm PB Cow & Co, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of air-sea rescue equipment.

(note The consigned by family, made £7,900 in 2024.

Wing Commander Terrence Helfer (SC36/376) lived in Torquay and his wartime career is simply quite amazing. Having been shot down twice and becoming a member of both the Goldfish club (for being afloat in a dingy for several days at sea) and a member of the caterpillar club (for having parachuted out of a burning plane), his medal group, log books and photographs will not doubt reach above the pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£5,000.

He passed away at a nursing home in Torquay, Devon, England on the 29th October 2010.

DFC Cition:

'Fl/Lt. Terence Helfer has completed many operational sorties and throughout has displayed the highest standard of efficiency and devotion to duty. He has undertaken many hazardous missions and on two occasions has had to bring his damaged aircraft down on the sea, being rescued after being adrift in the dinghy for some time on each occasion. Despite these experiences he has shown outstanding keenness for operational flying and has proved a most valuable asset to his squadron'.

We recommend viewing the FreeBelgiams website for additional information.

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The pilot had at least three earlier escapes:

03rd September 1941 whilst with 416 squadron on Wellington Ic X9810, HA-K based at RAF Margam, Norfolk. The aircraft departed RAF Marham at 20:22 on an operation to Ostend. While approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All six crew members came ashore three days later at Westgate, Kent. Crew Sq/Ldr. A.R Gibbs, Sgt. T. Helfer, Sgt. R.L Ross, Sgt.J. Purcell, Sgt. J. Adamson and Sgt. W.J. England.

13th October 1941 whilst with 416 squadron on Wellington Ic Z8910 based at RAF Margam, Norfolk. The aircraft departed RAF Marham at 2005LT on October 12 on an operation to Nuremberg. While returning to base the following morning, it was involved in a landing accident with another aircraft and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties. Crew: Sgt. J.R.C. McGlashan, Sgt. T. Helfer, P/O. Greigg, Sgt. R.S.C. Stewart, Sgt. J. Dobson and Sgt. F. C. Adams.

27th November 1941 whilst with 416 squadron on Wellington Ic Z1103 based at RAF Margam, Norfolk. The aircraft departed at 17:15 on an operation to Emden. It ditched at 23:06 off Wells-next-the-Sea. The pilot decided to put the bomber down in the sea, rather than land on the beach which, he supposed, might be mined. After being picked up by the combined efforts of the Wells life boat and an RAF ASR, Sgt. Helfer was told that he had been correct in his assumptions. Earlier, it is believed the Wellington was hit by Flak. Crew: Sgt. T. Helfer, Sgt. Taylor, Sgt. R.L. Ross, Sgt. J. Adamson, Sgt. J. Purcell and Sgt. W.J. England

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archives Kew AIR27-1068-37/38. Mr. René H. Torsin and the Free Belgians website.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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