Operation: Düsseldorf, Germany

Date: 22nd/23rd April 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 466 Squadron, RAAF (motto: 'Brave and true'), 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: HX337

Code: HD:W

Base: RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire

Location: In a wood near Gesves, Belgium

Pilot: Fg Off. William Noel Thomsett Russell DFC, 410122 RAAF Age 30 KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. Gordon Percival Holder 185105 RAFVR Age 29. PoW No: 3586 *

Nav: WO. David Purcell 410379 RAAF Age 23. PoW No: 3676 ** (2)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. George Bridges Hall 21111 RAAF Age 28. Evader (3)

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Roy Sigmont 410820 RAAF Age 24. Evader (4)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Carson Richard ‘Rocky’ Draper R69143 RCAF Age 22. PoW No: 3571 ** (5)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. William Michael ‘Bill’ Cashman DFM, 410869 RAAF Age 21. KiA (1)

* Dulag Luft, Wetzlar, Frankfurt, Germany then to Stalag 357 Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.

** Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilutė in Lithuania)

Above: the usual crew of HX377: Rear L-R: Flt Sgt. Gordon Holder, WO. David Purcell, Fg Off. William Russell, Flt Sgt. George Hall, Flt Sgt. Douglas Quarti. Front: Fg Off. Roy Sigmont and Flt Sgt. William Cashman.

Flt Sgt. Douglas Edward Cameron Quarti 415825 RAAF was the usual mid-upper gunner of this crew. It is thought that he was replaced as he was injured by shrapnel on Halifax HX345 during the first of three attacks by enemy aircraft over Stuttgart 15th/16th of March 1944. The aircraft received a large hole in the port flap and over a hundred others in the fuselage. Despite this, the pilot continued to the target and released its bomb load. The pilot landed the aircraft safely at Enstone in Oxfordshire at 03:39hrs. He completed his service as a Plt Off. on the 8th of November 1945 after serving as an instructor with 7 Operational Training Unit (OTU). Douglas Edward Cameron Quart passed away on the 5th November 1989 at age 68 in Karrakatta, Westen Australia - Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium. Husband of Charlotte Lauraine Sigmont (née Beyer) - died 15th June 1991, aged 77)).

REASON FOR LOSS:

From the Squadron ORB:

15 Aircraft from the squadron were ordered and became airborne. One returned early with engine trouble and jettisoned bombs in sea. Fourteen attacked the target and returned safely.

Bombs dropped on primary target: - 105 x 1000 Lb. MC. plus 90 x 500 1b. MG. plus 6 x 500lb. GP.

Photographic Results: 11 Aircraft obtained ground detail, 2 obtained Fire Tracks, and one aircraft with slow operating shutter obtained bomb bursts and fires.

Weather.- cloudy over the enemy coast but clear over the target with a light ground haze. 10/10 S.G. tops

6,000 feet over sea dispersed inland. No cloud in the target area with good visibility. Ground haze at the target prevented observation of results but FFE were concentrated, all aircraft bombing the Red ground markers.

The master bomber directions were heard by all crews who report a terrific concentration of bombs on the markers. Early arrivals reported a little light and heavy flak but this was apparently overwhelmed. Fighter activity was negligible, a very quiet trip.

HX337 took off at 22:16 hrs and was listed as missing. Three versions of how their aircraft came down exist.

According to a statement by Fg Off. Roy Sigmont made later the aircraft had been in a collision with another aircraft, severing the tailplane at 04:00 hrs. The crew were ordered by the pilot to bale out. He evaded capture with the assistance of various locals at Châtelineau together with Flt Sgt. George Hall. They remained there until they were liberated.

Flt Sgt. Holden in his statement wrote: Flak hit us and then a night fighter shot us down.

The other version (which we feel is correct) is that they were shot down by Lt. Klaus Helm of 3,/NJG4 at 00:52hrs. Lt. Klaus Helm of 3,/NJG4 intercepted at 5,400 metres 10 kilometres south-south-east of Namur. Halifax HX337 crashed in a wooded area near Gesves in Belgium. This was his second claim of 4 before he was killed on the 3rd/4th May 1944. (see Kracker Archive for further details)

Aircrew Remembered was contacted by Olivier Gonne, a Forest Ranger for the Belgian state, who was made aware of by a villager from Gesves that Flt Sgt. Hall was hiding in his cellar for a few days. Olivier Gonne found the crash site of the aircraft and some parts of the Halifax.

(1) Fg Off. Russell and Flt Sgt. Cashman were awarded the DFC and DFM respectively for their actions on the same mission:

Citation reads: “Flying Officer William Noel Thomsett Russell (410122), Royal Australian Air Force, 466 (RAAF) Squadron. Distinguished Flying Medal. (Flight Sergeant William Michael Cashman 410869), Royal Australian Air Force, 466 (RAAF) Squadron. This officer and airman were pilot and mid-upper gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart one night in March, 1944. When nearing the target the aircraft was engaged by a fighter and sustained much damage. The rear gunner was wounded, whilst his turret was rendered unserviceable. Nevertheless, Flying Officer Russell continued his mission. Soon afterwards, another fighter attacked. Flight Sergeant Cashman used his guns with deadly effect, however, and drove off the attacker which-is believed to have been destroyed. A third fighter was also driven off and Flying Officer Russell afterwards pressed home a successful bombing attack. In trying circumstances this officer and airman displayed courage, skill and resolution of a high order.”

Fg Off. Russell’s DFC was presented to his brother Keith James Russell as his father was disabled. His Brother, Keith James Russell was born on the 19th of October 1919. Enlisted in the RAAF on the 27th of February 1942. Lived at 24 Point Nepean Road, Seaford, Victoria, Australia.

(2) After successfully baling out WO. Purcell made his way to Château de Fontaine near Emptinne, which is some 10 km (6¼ mls) SSE of the crash site, where he was given food by the Baroness along with a change of civilian clothing. She told him that she was unable to give him any further aid or shelter.

After leaving the Château he was captured by a Belgian Gendarme, who took him to his Gendarmerie and handed over to the Germans. He was then taken to the Saint-Gilles prison in Brussels. Here he met two members of his crew, who were transported to German, whilst he remained in the prison for about 10 days.

The two crew members must have been Flt Sgt. Holder and Flt Sgt. Draper who were the only other of the crew that became PoWs.

He was half-starved but was neither beaten nor interrogated. He was then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. After interrogation he was transferred to Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug arriving there on the 6th May 1944. He was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off and was transferred to Stalag 357 Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.

On the 1st September 1944 the PoWs were force-marched from Thorn (Toruń) in Poland to the site of the former Stalag 11D, with construction being carried out by the Italian PoW from Stalag 11B. The camp was commonly known as Stalag 357, Fallingbostal but officially the designation was Stalag 357, Oerbke.

In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst Hermann Ostmann that 12,000 British PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. The men marched from the camp in columns of 2,000. It appears that that he remained at the camp.

Stalag 357 was liberated on the 16th April 1945 by British troops from B Squadron 11th Hussars and the Reconnaissance Troop of the 8th Hussars. They were met at the main gate of Stalag 357 by a guard of Airborne troops, impeccably attired and led by RSM Lord.

David Purcell was born on the 31st of July 1920 in Yarraville, Victoria, Australia. He was a Civil Servant prior to enlisting in the RAAF on the 6th December 1941. Lived at 58 Powers Street, Yarraville. Left the service on the 10th of October 1945.

(3) Flt Sgt. George Bridges Hall. Born on the 23rd of July 1915 at Newcastle, New South Wales. Enlisted on the 13th of May 1949. Lived at 7 Off Union Street Cooks Hill. Left the service 22nd of August 1945.

(4) Flt Lt. Roy Andrew Sigmont - born on the 26th of February 1907 in Carlton, Victoria, Australia. Son of Walter Sigmont (died 26th November 1970) and Elva Beatrice (née Dowsett - died 12th June 1966 age 80). Lived at Pt. Nepean Road, Sleaford. Husband of Rosina Veronica Sigmont (née Sullivan - died 13th July 1992, age 87). Left the service on the 16th of April 1946. Married in 1949, Charlotte Lauraine Beyer, at the Holy Trinity Church, Kew, Australia. Roy died on the 26th of November 1970.

(5) WO1. Draper successfully baled out and was captured that day near Levant. In baling out suffered a scalp wound, which healed in a few days, and injured his shoulder and back in the landing, which affected him all through being held as a PoW.

After his short stay in the Saint-Gilles prison in Brussels, where he met Flt Sgt. Holder and WO. Purcell, he was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 26th April. On the 29th April he was transferred to Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug arriving there on the 5th may 1944.

His story from this point forward mirrors that of WO. Purcell except that he was in one of the columns that were force-marched out of Stalag 357, Fallingbostal (Oerbke) leaving on the 8th April 1945.

On the 14th April during the forced-march, he and three other PoWs, WO1. A.J. Simpson (RCAF), WO1. W.J. Miller (RCAF) and WO. S. Cooper (RAAF) escaped along the road near Soltau. They hid in woods during the day and travelled at night for 5 days until the 19th April when they were re-captured at the German lines an a village called Suroide about 9 km (5½ mls) east of Soltau.

WO1. Andrew James Simpson R6107A, RCAF. He was the Rear Gunner from 38 Sqn (Middle East Bomber Command) Wellington XIII HZ598 ‘P’ shot down by flak on a ‘Gardening’ mission to Milos Island on the night of the 8th/9th April 1944. (3 PoW, 3 KiA);

WO1. Willard James Miller R194068, RCAF. He was the Mid-Upper Gunner from 429 (Bison) Sqn, RAAF Halifax III LK802 AL:F which was hit by Flak on a mission to Düsseldorf on the 22nd April 1944.He was one of 4 PoWs. Fg Off. James F. Fennessay RCAF two of his crew were KiA;

WO. Sydney William Cooper 427454, RAAF. He was the only survivor from 460 Sqn, RAAF Lancaster III JB600 AR:O, which was shot down by a German night fighter on the 9th April 1944 during a ‘Gardening’ mission in Baltic waters.

They were sent to Oflag 83 at Weiztendorf, some 5 km (3 mls) to the south of Suroide, and were liberated by elements of the 2nd Army, 8th Corps of the British Army, 4 days later on the 22nd April 1945

Carson Richard Draper was born on the 24th October 1922. He was an Apprentice machinist in Ontario prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 14th September 1940.

Burial details:

Fg Off. William Noel Thomsett Russell DFC. Heverlee War Cemetery. Grave 2.E.7. Epitaph: 'PEACE, MY SON: ETERNAL HONOUR TO YOUR NAME'. Born on the 16th of December 1913 in Skipton, Victoria, Australia. Son of William (died 20th April 1950 and Emmeline Florence Russell (died 14th February 1962, age 79) of 11 Drummond Street, South Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

Enlisted at Melbourne on the 8th November 1941. Also remembered on family grave at Ballarat Old Cemetery.

Flt Sgt. William Michael Cashman DFM. Heverlee War Cemetery. Grave 2.R.6. Epitaph: 'HERE LIES A FEARLESS KNIGHT'. Born on the 27th of October 1922 in Mordialloc Victoria. Son of William and Marie Fernande Cashman, of Malvern, Victoria, Australia.

Enlisted on the 27th of March 1942.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to AIR-27-1926-7/8, Air 27-1926-5/6 National Archives, Theo Boiten 'Nachtjagd Combat Archive', Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Paradie Canadian Archives, National Archives of Australia (Jan 2023). Thanks to Olivier Gonne for the correction to the location of the wreckage of the aircraft (Aug 2024). Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered (Aug 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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 - 2025 Last Modified: 05 August 2024, 09:40