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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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158 Squadron Crest
03/04.11.1943 No. 158 Squadron Halifax II LW298 NP-L Sgt. Vincent E. Horn

Operation: Düsseldorf

Date: 03/04th November 1943 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 158 Squadron

Squadron Badge: A circular chain of seven links; The chain is indicative of the combined strength and co-operation of aircrews. Motto: Strength in unity

Type: Handley Page Halifax II

Serial: LW298

Code: NP-L

Base: RAF Lissett, East Riding of Yorkshire

Location: 500 m west of Vlijtingen, Limburg, Belgium

Pilot: Sgt. Vincent Eastwood Horn MiD.1238498 RAFVR Age 21. Evaded capture (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Frank Henry Andrews 1488414 RAFVR Age 22. PoW No. 826 Stalag VI-B Muhlberg (Elbe) (2)

Nav: F/O. Frank David Hill 132036 RAFVR Age 20. Evaded capture (3)

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Robert Coats Graham 1393572 RAFVR Age 28. Killed (4)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Leslie Bennett 1127022 RAFVR Age ? PoW No. 263565 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria, Poland. (5)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Barrie York Samuels AUS/420064 RAAF Age 22. PoW No. 261529 Stalag VI-B Muhlberg (Elbe) (6)

Air/Gnr: Sgt Richard John Gould 1520035 RAFVR Age ? PoW No. 263585 Stalag VI-B Muhlberg (Elbe) (7)



We would like to appeal for any relatives to contact us to provide possible further information and perhaps a crew photo.



INTRODUCTION



RAF Lissett lies some 6 miles south west of Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire and being less than three miles from the coast, regularly enjoys the bracing north easterly, that blows off the North Sea.

On 5 September 1943 the Horn crew were posted the 50 miles or so east to Lissett, from 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Marston Moor (formerly known as RAF Tockwith, near Wetherby in the West Riding of Yorkshire) having completed conversion training on the four engine Halifax heavy bomber. Following 10 days acclimatisation were detailed for their first operation, a raid on the Dunlop Rubber Factory at Montluçon, on 15 September. It was the first and last time that the original seven crew members would fly together. For reasons unknown the position of flight engineer and mid upper gunner was to be filled by various personnel over the next six operations flown by the Horn crew. Vincent Horn was, of course, an ever present as were navigator, David Hill, wireless operator, Leslie Bennett, air bomber, Robert Graham and rear gunner Richard Gould.

Over the next two months the crew flew another five ops. but not without incident: Hannover on 22 September, Mannheim on 23 September (returned early intercom u/s), Hannover again on 27 September (attacked by fighter and mid upper turret holed), Frankfurt on 4 October and Hannover yet again on 8 October (see below).

For their first three operation Vincent Horn and his crew were allocated Halifax JN905 and for their fourth it was HR932 but for their next op, the Frankfurt raid of 4 October they got their hand on a brand spanking new Halifax II that had been delivered straight to the Squadron from the factory of manufacturer English Electric on 1 October 1943.

But it was to be an inauspicious start for LW298, which took off at 17.28 hours and from the off, began to cause problems. The aircraft returned early having jettisoned the bomb load safe at sea and Horn reported that: 'Having set course 4 minutes late at 7000ft instead of 14000ft. and reached position 50°16N.01°50E at 20.15½ hrs. 10 miles inside French coast [about 10 miles north of Abbeville]. Aircraft was 5 minutes late at this point and could not increase airspeed nor maintain height'.

On 8 October, Vincent and his crew were again allocated LW298 for the raid on Hannover which seems to have performed satisfactorily on this occasion.

However, when LW298 next flew operationally on 22 October, for a raid on Kassel and by , the aircraft once more caused problems, as pilot F/Sgt. W.H. Bishop reported: 'returned early owing to oxygen trouble. Furthest point reached 53°05N 00°23E [just off the Lincolnshire coast, about 5 miles south of Skegness]. Bombs jettisoned safe. In addition to oxygen failure, Navigator's table light and light on bomb switch panel were u/s and there was no heat on port side of aircraft in flight. Altimeter also faulty. Aircraft landed at Catfoss.'

A poor record indeed for LW298 and things were about to get worse.

On 3 November the Horn crew were one of 21 crews of 158 Squadron briefed for that night's raid on Düsseldorf. For this operation the flight engineer was Sgt. Frank Henry Andrews and the mid upper gunner was Australian, Barrie Samuels. It was to be the first operation for both men and certainly, one that they would never forget.

The Squadron ORB recorded that:

'The effort was to be made by 591 aircraft operating against Dusseldorf, the main target with a further 62 aircraft carrying out a spoof raid attack on Cologne. The attack on Dusseldorf was to be made in five waves with Squadron aircraft flying in the second [1949-1953 hours] and third waves [1953-1957 hours]'

The briefed route was:

52°15N 03°00E 51°49N 03°53E

51°03N 05°18E - 51°00N 06°17E

Dusseldorf - 51°22N - 06°39E

51°49N - 03°53E - 52°15N - 03°00E

In the event, only 589 aircraft took part in the raid, one of the absentees being 'T' Tommy of 158 Squadron due to a burst radiator.

Vincent Horn was once again allocated Halifax LW298.

Armed with a bomb load of 1 x 2000lb. HC Nose Inst., 24 x 30lb., 840 x 4lb., and 60 x 4lb X type Incendiary Bombs, the aircraft had a fuel load of 1632 gallons sufficient for 6 - 6½ hours flying.

Equipment on board was: Mark III IFF, Mark XIV Bombsight, Monica, Gee, Window and Camera. (See /site-abbreviations.html)

Zero hour for the raid was 19.45 and LW298 was designated to attack in the second wave, at Z+4 to Z+8 (1949 to 1953 hours)


REASON FOR LOSS


With sunset less than an hour away, Halifax JN919 of 158 Squadron, took off at 16.40 hours, the others following at one minute intervals. With Vincent Horn at the controls, LW298 was away at 16.46 and by 1703 all 20 of the Squadron's Halifaxes were airborne.

In the area of Lissett there were extensive patches of thin stratus and over East Anglia 8/10 - 10/10 stratocumulus, breaking at the coast.

According to navigator David Hill, they 'crossed the enemy coast [south of Rotterdam] at 1905 hours at about 18000ft about 6 miles off track.' About 1910, when 15km south of Antwerp, Hill 'consulted the repeat compass, [and] found that the aircraft heading [was] opposite to intended track. Pilot said controls were having no effect. Pilot and Flight Engineer in cockpit [were] trying everything but [having] no effect - crew ordered to bale out. Apparently a/c in wide flat spin.'

David Hill helped air bomber Robert Graham, to open the escape hatch, and having jumped first from about 15000ft, made a safe landing about 14 minutes later; Robert Graham, was waiting to jump immediately after him. Hill landed about 10 miles north of Hasselt at 19.31 hours.

Rear Air Gunner Richard Gould recalled that he 'darted along the fuselage as I did so I clipped the chute on - one side was quite easy, the other I had a lot of trouble with, so much so that the chute opened in the aircraft - I wrenched the exit open then throwing out the chute, with me attached I drifted slowly down. I landed sometime later in a tree in Belgium which was about 50' high. I started to slide down, then fell about 20' and crashed to the ground. Taken to the doctor who treated my ankle, which had fractured in two places.'

In his Liberation Statement, Barrie Samuels, the mid upper gunner said the order to bale out was acknowledged by all the crew. When he baled out at 10000ft the aircraft was out of control and only the pilot remained on board. He did not know the cause of the damage to the aircraft nor where it crashed.






Meanwhile, the main force was approaching the target, and at 19.42 hours 9 Mosquito Blind Markers, began marking the target. The Squadron ORB described the attack as follows

'The attack began dead on time and developed quickly on good concentration round TIs Built up area of town was clearly seen in light of fires. Attack spreading later towards South East. Flak was very moderate and searchlights, although numerous, were ineffective. PFF kept A/O well marked. Fighter opposition was not too heavy and the diversion attack on Cologne seemed to be effective. Several combats were seen during the attack. Aircraft 'Y' was attacked by enemy night fighters and two are claimed as destroyed. Several bullet holes in aircraft but no casualties to crew, Aircraft 'V' was also attacked and claims one enemy aircraft as destroyed. No damage to own aircraft or casualties to crew. One missing 'L' (Sgt. V. E. Horn).'


Bombing continued until 20.11 hours causing extensive damage to housing and industrial premises.

A total of 24 aircraft were lost - 18 to the Luftwaffe night fighters, 6 on either landing or take off. A further 13 returned with damage. 107 aircrew lost their lives, 5 were injured, 34 taken Pow with 7 evading capture.

Halifax LW298 was shot down by Oblt. Dietrich Schmidt (9) of 8./NJG1 with the aircraft coming down over Vlijtingen, Limburg, Belgium at 19.46 hrs. This was the 6th abschüsse for the Luftwaffe ace.









ESCAPE, EVASION, CAPTURE AND A DEATH.


F/O. Frank David Hill

The following information is taken from the his escape and evasion report (SPG 3318/1755) of navigator F/O Frank David Hill. In this report Hill gives the time of his landing as 7.20 p.m.

David Hill landed in a field, 25m off a major road 1 km south of Lummen, between Diest and Hasselt. As it was still early (evening) many people were walking along the road. He remained where he was for a while then buried all his unnecessary equipment. After removing his badges and insignia he pulled his trousers over his boots and set off in a south easterly direction. He reached a river (le Demer) but unable to cross he returned to the road (probably le Schulenseweg) and headed for Spalbeek between Herk-de-Stad and Hasselt before continuing to Kozen by the back roads.

About 3 a.m. the following morning, whilst attempting to pick fruit in an orchard, he inadvertently wakened some locals, who, thinking he was a thief, became quite hostile. Once they realised that he was a British airman, however, they invited him to eat and brought a man who spoke good English. Afterwards Hill went to bed and slept until midday. The man returned in the evening and explained to Frank that agents would come to take him through the village. He was given civilian clothes and during the morning of 5 November a truck arrived in which he was to make his escape.The truck belonged to the "Fedar" rendering company of the Smettsouse family, Naamsesteenweg 163 (Fabrique de St-Trond, Gebroeders Smettsouse), a company run by seven brothers, including Georges, Jozef, Albert, Eugene and Henri, two of whom speak English. He was then taken in the truck to St-Trond/Sint-Truiden.



The following day a Belgian gendarme came with a motor bike and sidecar and took him to a castle, at Mme Piercaud's in Houtain-L'Evêque/Walshoutem, between Saint-Trond and Hannut.

The next day, 7 November, a priest took him to Hannut tram terminus, where they were met by a young boy wearing scout insignia. The boy went with him by tram to Celles where he was met by an electrician who took him in his van to his home.

On 13 November the young scout picked him up again and they took the tram to Liege. Whilst on the tram, they heard that the Germans were searching all the houses in Hannut, so they returned [to Celles] and waited until the afternoon before going to Hannut. There, as the priest and new guide had both been arrested, a woman took him to the home of Andre Leonard at 107 Rue de Wasseiges at Accose (Ambresin), where he was sheltered until the evening of 20 November. That night he slept in a Red Cross house at Hannut, and the following day the electrician from Celles came and took him back to his house.

The next day, 22 November, the electrician took him in his van to Jehay-Bodegnée where Hill found Pilot Officer Fred Williams. He stayed there with Williams until 13 December when they were separated and Hill was taken to stay with Emile and Catherine Roiseux Ryckaert at 81 Rue de Livourne at Ixelles.


On 5 January 1944 he was reunited with Fred Williams and they were both taken to the French border by Emile Roiseux. They crossed into France with Francois Bourlard and Georgette Dieu both of Arquennes.

After arriving in Paris, Williams left on 7 January, but Hill remained with his hosts until the 9th. A man then took Hill by train from Paris to Bordeaux, then through Dax to Bayonne and finally to Saint Jean de Luz. Hill was then sheltered at the Restaurant Larre in the village of Sutar 5km from Bayonne. The proprietor of the restaurant was Jeanne Marthe Mendiara-Villenave who sheltered a great number of escapees heading for Spain on the Comete line. Escapees usually stayed there for one night only and Marthe Mendiara as she was known, ensured they were well fed before leaving, knowing it might be several days before some of them would eat again.









David Hill crossed the Pyrenees with five other escapees (Robert Poreye, Jean Cassart, Paul McConnell, Gary Hinote and Steve Krawczynski) on the 90th crossing by the Comete line. They went via the small village of Souraide and Quito Borda (the barn of the Gypsy), guided by Michel Echeveste and his brother Jose Marie, having being entrusted to them by Juanito Bidegain. They reached Irun on 12 January and were taken by Spanish air force bus to Saragossa where the group stayed in a hotel until 27 January. They then went to Alama de Aragon until 2 February when they were taken by diplomatic car to Madrid. Hill arrived in Gibraltar on 4 February 1944 and the next day flew to England.





After two weeks leave, spent with his family, David Hill joined 582 Pathfinder Squadron. On 23 September he was in the crew of Lancaster PB512 on a day training flight (fighter affiliation exercise) when the aircraft crashed into a hill west of Chipping Ongar in Essex. All seven crew were killed. F/O Frank David Hill was interred with three other crew members at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey grave ref 21.D.11


Sgt. Vincent Eastwood Horn

The following information is taken from the escape and evasion report of pilot, Sgt.Vincent Eastwood Horn (SPG 3323/2369).

In his report, Horn says that he jumped about 8 p.m. though based on the timing given by the Navigator David Hill, it was probably before this.

Vincent Horn said that he jumped about 20.00 hours, south east of Hasselt, and after walking south reached Gossoncourt/Goetsenhoven in Flemish Brabant on 4 November. There he was helped by villagers who fed him and gave him some overalls to wear, before taking him by truck to Saint Trond/Sint Truiden where he met a farmer who cooked him a meal. Vincent spent that night in a field.

The next day (5 November) Vincent walked west to Halle-Booienhoven near Zoutleeuw where he met two men, one of whom took him home and gave him clothes and forged ID. He remained with this man until 8 November when he was taken by car to a house in Leuven/Louain.

On 9 November a lady came to take him to her home in Brussels, where he stayed until 14 November, when he was taken by a man to stay with the family of Eleuthere Thiryn, at 328 Rue du Noyer in Schaerbeek. The Thiryn’s contact in London, however, could not confirm Horn’s identity, and recommended that he should be liquidated. Fortunately for Vincent, the Thiryns requested a recheck, whereupon, London finally decided that the information given by Vincent, was in fact correct. During his stay with the Thiryns, Vincent was joined by Second Lieutenant Robert Hoke (USAAF) and Sgt. William Poulton (RAF).



On 14 November he was moved to Ixelles, first to the house of Miss Mariette Gorlia, at 2 Rue de la Longue Haie, then later to the home of Olof Halvar Wigren, a Swedish tailor and his wife Marguerite Nicholls (born in Fulham of British parents), at 2 Avenue Brillat-Savarin in Ixelles, in the south-east of Brussels' city centre.

(Marguerite was arrested on 2 February 1944, for sheltering three airmen for 15 days in January (Vincent Horn, Henry Alan Lucas and Norman Michie). She later disappeared in Germany during 1944/45 age 33).

Vincent Horn was then moved to another house in Brussels, where he stayed until 19 February, when he was taken to a railway station where he met up with Norman Michie, Henry Alan Lucas, Joseph Healey, Charles Higgins and Elmer Gilcrease.

Plans for travelling to Spain had had to be changed, so Horn and four of the other five, (for some reason Lucas did not go with them), travelled by train to Charleroi then on to Cerfontaine. From there they walked to Boussu-lez-Walcourt, and after four days, moved on to the Bois du Seigneur (Forêt de Senzeille), where they were accommodated in a hut made of straw bales and with a plate glass roof. A total of twelve escapees were hiding out in the hut and sleeping in bunk beds, a sack of potatoes each week, being their only food. Vincent Horn appears on the list of airmen helped by Émile Pecriaux ("Brother Materne") of Walcourt, member of the Secret Army, and who took the names of the five other escapees above.

On 5 March, Horn with Elmer Gilcrease and Charles Higgins went by train to Le Mesnil (Viroinval). After sheltering overnight in an empty castle they took another train to Thilay where they were accommodated by Césarine ZUCCHI for two weeks.

No safe channel could be found for their evacuation to the South and the three airmen therefore requested that they be taken to Switzerland.


On 18 March, the three men were taken into the care of Georges Thévenin and Roland Tissière. These two Frenchmen took them by train, first to Paris, then to Belfort where they got on board a freight train to Montbéliard. There, they stayed in a house until 22 March when they were taken to Beaucourt and told that they would be helped later by smugglers. On the evening of 22 March, the smugglers arrived and took them across the Swiss border before handing them over to a farmer who drove them to Fahy where they were handed over to the Swiss Guard. Horn and his two companions are placed in quarantine in Olten until March 26, when they are taken to Lostorf. They remained there until April 13, being then taken care of by the British legation in Bern before being placed in detention in the Arosa camp until 17 April.



We do not know how Vincent Horn arrived in Saint-Tropez, but it is from there that he is informed as leaving on September 4, 1944 to reach England via Algiers and Casablanca, landing in Lyneham the next day.

Nothing more of Vincent Horn is known until his arrival in Saint-Tropez on 4 September 1944 and flight home to RAF Lyneham the following day.

Back in the UK Vincent was put on a glider training course before being sent to Burma.

After the war he returned to Brussels to find the families who had helped him during his escape.


Sgt. Frank Henry Andrews

Flight Engineer Sgt. Frank Henry Andrews landed in the Tongeren Region. Though the details are not recorded he made his way to Liege and was sheltered there at the home of M. and Mme. Dewen-Morimont at 5 Place de la Vielle Montagne. On 20 November two young women, Aline Dumon and Jeanne Macintosh (8) came for him.

Taken by train to Brussels Frank Andrews was sheltered at the home of Francois Hanssens and Angèle de Laender at 14 Avenue des Tulipes/Tupenlaan at Hal/Halle. Francois Hanssens was later arrested, but survived the German camps.

A few days later Jeanne Macintosh came to collect him, and two other escapees (from the same crew as bomb aimer Dennis C Clarke-Carter), Ronald E Stokes (rear gunner) and Joseph Kenneth Davis (mid upper gunner) of Halifax LK932 MP-X which had also crashed on 3 November, on the same raid as Frank Andrews’ aircraft. Jeanne took them to stay at her uncle Robert Goffaux’s house at 107 Chaussee de Mons/Bergensesteenweg at Lembeek (Halle).

Jeanne Macintosh had been born in England in 1921, the daughter of Robert Goffaux’s sister also called Jeanne and her Scottish husband Maurice Macintosh. She lived in London but had come to visit her garage owner uncle Robert and his wife Marie just before the outbreak of hostilities. With the sudden invasion and rapid occupation of the country by the Germans, Jeanne had been unable to return to England. Jeanne and her uncle both joined the Resistance and Jeanne was engaged in collecting military information but from 1942 began helping downed allied airmen to escape.

On 10 December, during a routine search of houses in the village, Frank Andrews and Ronald Stokes were discovered with their hosts and arrested. Robert Goffaux and Jeanne Macintosh were also arrested and Robert’s wife Marie, already ill, was so shocked by the incident that she died two weeks later.

Frank Andrews and Ronald Stokes were taken to the Geheimefeldpolizei (Secret Military Police) headquarters at Rue Traversiere a Sint-Josse-ten-Noude Brussels. Robert Goffaux and his niece Jeanne Macintosh are taken to the Prison de St. Gilles in Brussels where they were tortured, before being sent to Fort Breendonk, a former military installation near Mechelen, in Belgium which served as a Nazi prison camp (Auffanglager) during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II. They were both sentenced to death.

Robert Goffaux remained at Breendonk and was freed by allied troops in September 1944. Jeanne Macintosh was deported to a camp in Germany from where she was freed by the Russians before the death sentence was carried out. Passed to the American authorities Jeanne was repatriated, first to Belgium and then to England and her overjoyed parents.

Frank Andrews and Ronald Stokes were sent to Stalag 4b at Muhlberg. The camp was liberated by the Russians in April 1945 but it was to be 7 May 1945 before he was released and able to return to England. With the war in Europe over he expected to be posted to the Pacific, but Japan’s surrender in August, made such a transfer unnecessary. Frank rushed off to find Jeanne Macintosh and when he did they were married in September 1945.


Sgt. Barrie York Samuels

The following details are taken from his Liberation Statement in which he states erroneously that the raid was 2 November 1945 and subsequent details were based on this date. The information below has been changed to relect this error.

After landing Barrie slept in a barn that night and next day. He walked around the night of 4 November and contacted Belgian people, but on the morning of 5 November was captured in a village near Brussels and being identified by his uniform.

He goes on to say that he spent 6 days at Dulag Luft, and then 18 months at 261529 Stalag IV-B Muhlberg (Elbe) and given the PoW No. 261529. Information in his service file, however, would indicate that he was captured on 13 November 1943 and initially sent to Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Belaria, and in July 1944 transferred to Stalag IV-B.

Stalag IV-B was liberated by Russian forces on 23 March 1945 but it was not until 10 April that Barrie was able to leave the camp. He finally returned to England on 17 May 1945, where he was posted to 11 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre at Brighton. Whilst en route to England he had been promoted to Warrant Officer on 12 May.


Sgt.Leslie Bennett

Nothing is known of wireless operator Leslie Bennett's experiences, either before or after baling out, but he was captured and sent to Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria and given the PoW No. 263565. If you have any information please contact our helpdesk.


Sgt. Richard John Gould

Richard Gould was sent to Stalag IV-B Muhlberg (Elbe) and was given PoW No. 263585. If you have any information please contact our helpdesk.


Sgt. Robert Coats Graham

In his liberation statement, Barrie Samuels says that he was informed by Germans that Robert Graham was dead, having landed without his parachute opening.


BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS


(1) F/Sgt. Vincent Eastwood Horn was born at Preston Lancashire on 25 September 1921 the son of Norman Eastwood Horn and Eleanor Horn nee Thompson. He had one sibling: Georgina Margaret Horn (1924-1999).In 1939 the family lived at 275 North Road, Preston at which time Norman Horn was a Newsagent and Tobacconist.

He was posted to 158 Squadron from 1652 HCU on 5 September 1943 and later Mentioned in dispatches.

In 1947 Vincent married Ivy Maher at Preston and they later had two children: Barbara Horn born 1948 and Michael Horn born 1951

Vincent Horn died at Preston, Lancashire on 25 December 2011.

Horn was Mentioned in dispatches as promulgated in the London Gazette of 14 June 1945




(2) Sgt. Frank Henry Andrews was born at Brisley, East Dereham, Norfolk on 19 January 1921, the son of Henry William Andrews (a Shopkeeper) and Florence Hannah Andrews. He had three siblings: Grace Mary Andrews (1904-1994), William Charles Andrews (1908-2004) and Marjorie Florence Andrews 1916-2006)

In 1939 Frank was living with his brother William Charles Andrews, (a General Shopkeeper and Master) and sister in law, Daphne Adele Andrews at The Stores in Mitford at which time Frank Andrews, was a General Shop Assistant.

On 26 September 1945 he married Jeanne Alida Elspeth MacDonald MacIntosh at Brisley. They later had four children. Jeanne sadly died at Middlesex Hospital, St Marylebone London on 5 December 1968.

On 26 May 1970 Frank married Marian Joy Woollard Slarks at Ashford Regis Registry Office. He lived at Square House, Brisley, East Dereham, Norfolk.

Frank Henry Andrews died on 2 October 1999 at St. Peters, Ottershaw, Surrey.




(3) F/O Frank David Hill was born June quarter 1923 at Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire the son of Frank M. Hill (a Master Furrier) and Augusta L. Mammen. He had three siblings: Irene F. Hill born 1921, Ernest M. Hill (? Ralph Hill - Author) born 1928 and Pauline J. Hill born 1929.

In 1939 the family lived at 3 Ring Road, Leeds 6, at which time Frank David Hill senior was also a Special Constable.

1576801 Leading Aircraftsman Frank David Hill was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) on 9 October 1942 (London Gazette 18 December 1942), confirmed in this appointment and promoted to Flying Officer on probation (war subs) on 9 April 1943 (London Gazette 28 May 1943)

Frank David Hill died 23 September 1944 at Chipping Ongar, Essex.





(4) Sgt. Robert Coats Graham was born at 111 Castle Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 24 May 1915 the twin brother of John Pyper Graham (died 1916) the sons of James Wallace Graham (a Coal Merchant) and Jeanie Lindsay Wiseman Graham née Archibald. He had four more siblings: William Graham, born 1896, Andrew Archibald Graham, born 1898, and twins James Boyle Graham and Jeanie Wiseman Graham, born 1903.

In 1921 the family lived at 328 Clarkston Road, Cathcart, Glasgow.

In 1935 James and Jeanie Graham were baptised in Cathcart Baptist Church at which time they are recorded as living at 7 Bogton Park Glasgow.

James Wallace Graham died at Cathcart in 1946 aged 76.

Robert Coats Graham is commemorated on the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle and the War Memorial at Cathcart Baptist Church, 96, Merrylee Road, Glasgow G43 2RA.

(The above details courtesy Rev. Dr. Derrick I. Watson, Cathcart Baptist Church.)


(5) Sgt. Leslie Bennett – Nothing known. If you have any information please contact our helpdesk.




(6) W.O. Barrie York Samuels was born on 27 January 1921 at Cremorne, Sydney New South Wales, Australia the son of William Samuels (an Indent Agent) and Edna Marie Samuels née York. The family lived at Spofforth Street and 1 Murdock Street Cremorne, Sydney, Australia.

Barrie was educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, North Sydney (1933-37) and after leaving school was employed as a Clerk by The Union Trustee Company of Australia.

He enjoyed playing football, cricket, tennis, golf and swimming.

When he enlisted at Sydney on 10 October 1941 he was described as being 5'3½" tall weighing 116 lbs with a medium complexion, blue eyes, medium brown hair.

After training at 1 Initial Training School at RAAF Somers, Victoria, 2 Wireless and Gunnery School at RAAF Parkes, New South Wales and 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at RAAF Port Pirie, South Australia, he was awarded his Air Gunner Badge and promoted to Sergeant.

He embarked at Melbourne on 15 January 1943 and on disembarkation in the UK was posted to 11 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre at Bournemouth on 17 March. Posted to 10 Operational Training Centre at RAF Abingdon in Oxfordshire his promotion to Flight Sergeant was on 12 May. On 26 June he was posted to 1996 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Rufforth in the North Riding of Yorkshire and to 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire on 28 September. A month later, on 27 October he was posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Following his liberation he was posted to 11 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre at Brighton on 17 May 1945. Whilst en route to England he had been promoted to Warrant Officer on 12 May.

During quarter to 30 September 1945, his marriage to Johanna Lynch of 49 Shirley Drive, Hove in Sussex was registered at Hove. Johanna was born on 22 September 1915.

On 28 August 1945, for reasons unknown, Barrie Samuels was admitted to the RAF Hospital Halton until 7 September 1945.

He later sailed on the SS Aquitania for Australia disembarking at Sydney on 28 November 1945. From 20 - 28 November he had been hospitalised on board the ship.

On disembarkation he was posted to 2 Personnel Depot at Bradfield Park, Sydney and on 20 December to 2 Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Jervis Bay, New South Wales. He was finally discharged from the RAAF on 4 February 1946

His wife Johanna arrived at Sydney on 12 June 1946 on board the NV Stirling Castle from Southampton.

Barrie York Samuels died on 26 June 2001 at the Mosman Private Hospital, Mosman, Sydney, aged 80.

MEMORIAL SITE*

The New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia

* A structure erected in honour of someone whose remains lie elsewhere.



(7) Sgt. Richard John Gould – Nothing known. If you have any information please contact our helpdesk.




(8) Jeanne Alida Elspeth MacDonald Macintosh was born at Edmonton Middlesex on 29 January 1921, the only known child of Maurice Alfred Hall MacIntosh (born Scotland in 29 December 1889 - an electrical engineer)and Jeanne Caroline Elizabeth Macintosh née Goffaux (born Belgium 1890 and thought to have died in 1933 although no record of death found has been found).

In the National Register of 29 September 1939 Maurice Macintosh was living at 92 Sherwood Road Orpington with Cecil Crowe. At this time Jeanne junior was apparently in Belgium so does not appear in the register.

Jeanne married Frank Henry Andrews at Brisley Norfolk on 16 September 1945 and had four children, Virginia J. F. Andrews born 1946, Stuart F. M. Andrews born 1948, Sally A. M. Andrews born East 1958 and one other, details unknown.

Jeanne Andrews died at Middlesex Hospital, St. Marylebone, London on 5 December 1968. Cause of death - Breast Cancer

In probate records her address at the time of death was 7 Kempton Avenue, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex.







(9) Hptm. Dietrich Schmidt was born on 17 June 1919 at Karlsruhe. Dietrich survived the war and was credited with 43 victories in 171 combat missions

He attended Heidelberg University obtaining a doctorate in Chemistry, married and fathered three children. He retired in 1984 and died on 6 March 2002 at Hofheim aged 82



BURIAL DETAILS


Sgt. Robert Coats Graham was originally buried at Brusthem (St. Truiden) Cemetery and re-interred at Heverlee War Cemetery near Louvain/Leuven on 28 March 1947 - Grave 7.G.5.

No epitaph


F/O. Frank David Hill was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 21.D.11.

His epitaph reads:

To soar from earth

And find all fears

Lost in thy light

- Eternity

Byron




Originally researched by Aircrew Remembered, Senior Research Editor, Roy Wilcock in December 2014, revised and enhanced with additional material in May 2023.

Our thanks to the following: Cometline for extensive research and 158 Squadron website, and other sources quoted below.

RW 11.05.2023 Original 2014 version revised and enhanced with additional material

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 11 May 2023, 18:15

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