Operation: Kamen

Date: 03/04th march 1945 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 466 Squadron (motto: 'Brave and true'). 5 Group

Type: Halifax III

Serial: NR179

Code: HD-C

Base: RAF Driffield, Yorkshire

Location: Fridaythorpe, Yorkshire

Pilot: F/O. Alan Percy William Shelton Aus/428602 RAAF Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Walter Edward Welsh 1606174 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Patrick Joseph Hogan Aus/436464 RAAF Age 23. Safe (note)

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Roger Robert Johnson Aus/437965 RAAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Gregory Wills Dixon Aus/428968 RAAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Graham Dodge Laing Aus/115148 RAAF Age 21. Safe (note)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Vivian Donald Bullen Aus/431933 RAAF Age 26. Safe (note)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Halifax NR179 took off from RAF Driffield at 18:23 hrs to bomb the synthetic oil-producing plant at Kamen. 17 aircraft from the Squadron took part in the operation and of these NR179 and NR250 were shot down on return to base.

The Operations Record Book records 'Primary attacked from 20,000 feet at 22:03 hours'.

On return to base having completed the operation successfully the aircraft was obliged to go around again and while doing so the airfield lights were extinguished. NR179 climbed to 4,000 feet and set course for an alternative airfield only to fall to a Ju88 at 01:12 hrs and crashed at Fridaythorpe some 15 km west-north-west from Great Driffield, Yorkshire.

4 of the crew baled out, but Sgt. Welsh was killed jumping out too low, the 3 remaining crew were killed

NR250 Newspaper report:

'Tragedy came to the village of Friskney in the early hours of Sunday, when an aeroplane crashed on a cottage, situated in a field, and reduced it to rubble. The roof was carried several yards away.

The cottage was occupied at the time by George Henry Severs, aged 72, his wife, Mehetabel Severs, aged 50 and their daughter Ruth Mary, aged 15.

They were asleep at the time of the crash and both mother and daughter were discovered to have lost their lives.

The husband however although injured was alive and was conveyed to the hospital. A cow and calf in a nearby barn escaped injury but a cat was found dead not many yards away.

Mr. Severs is a smallholder and the young daughter is a pupil at Skegness Grammar School, where she was very popular and had made many friends'.

The crew of NR250 HD-N all baled out safely with the mid-upper gunner injured by splinters during the attack.

Above: Crew listed L-R as laid out in order of crew shown above

(note)

Fl/Sgt. Patrick Hogan - born on the 08th of April 1922 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Left RAAF on the 23rd of February 1946.
Fl/Sgt. Graham Laing - born on the 13th of April 1924 in Mendinie, Soth Australia. Left RAAF on the 03rd October 1945. Left RAAF on the 03rd October 1945. Died on the 11th of February 1987, at age 67.
Fl/Sgt. Vivian Bullen - born on the 18th of May 1919 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Left RAAF on the 09th of October 1945.

Burial details:

F/O. Alan Percy William Shelton. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall). Sec. H. Row H. Grave 5. Born on the 18th April 1923 in Melbourne. Son of Dr. Percy Gerald Shelton and Lily Eliza Shelton, of Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph: 'His Life Was Selfless And Unsullied. Requiescat In Pace'.

Sgt. Walter Edward Welsh. Melcombe Regis Cemetery. Grave 40. Son of Edward George and Annie Ethel Welsh, of Piddlehinton, Dorset, England. Epitaph: 'We Meet Every Day In Memory's Garden; Memories Of You Are Most Beautiful'.

Fl/Sgt. Roger Robert Johnson. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall). Sec. H. Row H. Grave 4. Born on the 05th June 1920 in Melbourne. Son of Norman Ried Johnson (died on the 24th October 1928) and Beatrice Honora Johnson (died on the 24th October 1956), of Kew, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph: 'His Duty Nobly Done RIP'.

Fl/Sgt. Gregory Wills Dixon. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall). Sec. H. Row H. Grave 6. Born on the 20t March 1923 in Strathfield, New South Wales. Son of Frank Warren Oliver and Constance Mary Dixon, of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. Epitaph: 'Beloved Only Son Of F.W.O. And C.M.Dixon. Always Remembered'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives Australia, National Archives Kew

Other sources as quoted 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: 16 February 2023, 16:00