Operation: Chemnitz, France

Date: 5th/6th March 1945 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit No: 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: NA190

Code: PT:U

Base: 8 miles South-West of Church Fenton near Aberford, York

Location: Crashed Hazlewood Castle, North Riding of Yorkshire

Pilot: Plt Off. Roald Frederick Sollie J93048 RCAF Age 27. Killed (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert Louis Dinnen 221828 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Flt Sgt. William Gaba R16301 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Emmet Solomon Kaechele J92691 RCAF Age 27. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Robert George Smith J87951 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Flt Sgt. James Harry Waugh DFM, R201625 RCAF Age 20. Baled Out/Survived (2)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Ralph Oscar Battler R205893 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Above left to right: Plt Off. Roald F. Sollie (Courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memor), Sgt. Robert L. Dinnen (Courtesy of Elizabeth Acheson), Flt Sgt. William Gaba (from his Service Record)

Above left to right: Fg Off. Emmet S. Kaechele, Fg Off. Robert G. Smith, Sgt. Ralph O. Battler (from their Service Records)

We appeal to anyone with further information and/or photographs to please contact us via our HELPDESK

REASON FOR LOSS:

Just after take-off from RAF Tholthorpe at 16:29 hrs the aircraft encountered severe icing and crashed 8 miles South-West of Church Fenton near Aberford, York.

Severe airframe icing. For further details see JB122 ADDENDUM: AIRFRAME ICING - Loss 7

(1) Plt Off. Sollie’s brother, Sgt. John Berge Sollie R150594 RCAF, was killed in a flying accident on the 29th June 1944. He was the Mid Upper Gunner aboard 17 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Wellington III HF641, DD:P which was seen to disintegrate in mid-air (cause unknown).

Above: Sgt. John Berge Sollie from his Service Record

Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery 54.J.2. Grave Inscription: “WE LOVED YOU MUCH WE MISS YOU MORE OUR GOD WE TRUST LOVE AND ADORE”. Born on the 11th August 1920 in Sortland, Norway.

(2) Flt Sgt. James Henry Waugh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron, RCAF (London Gazette 9th January 1945)

Citation: “Can/R.201625 Flight Sergeant James Harry WAUGH, RCAF 420 (RCAF) Sqn. This airman has taken part in a number of sorties and has proved himself to be a cool and confident crew member. One night in November, 1944, he was the rear gunner in an aircraft detailed to attack Oberhausen. After leaving the target area the bomber was intercepted by a fighter. The enemy aircraft came in with guns blazing. Flight Sergeant Waugh coolly withheld his fire and gave the necessary evading directions to his pilot. When the attacker was within close range, Flight Sergeant Waugh opened fire. His bullets struck the enemy aircraft which burst into flames, fell away and afterwards crashed on the ground. This airman displayed skill and coolness worthy of much praise".

Flt Sgt. Waugh was appointed to a commission and promoted to J93891 Plt Off.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron, RCAF (London Gazette 26th October 1945)

James Harry Waugh was born on the 1st June 1924 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. James passed away on the 2nd May 2001 at Bedeque, Price Edward Island.

Below: Series of funeral images from the Service Record of Plt Off. Roald F. Sollie

Burial details:

Plt Off. Roald Frederick Sollie. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row H. Grave 12. Grave inscription: “WE LOVED YOU MUCH WE MISS YOU MORE OUR GOD WE TRUST LOVE AND ADORE”. Born on the 24th April 1918 in Sortland, Norway. Son of Kristian Theodore and Emma Petrika (née Jenson) Sollie of Bentley, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. Robert Louis Dinnen. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row. H. Grave 15. Grave Inscription: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”. Son of John and Susan Dinnen of Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Irish Republic.

Plt Off. William Gaba. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row H. Grave 13. Grave Inscription: “LOVING AND KIND, UPRIGHT AND JUST TO THE END OF HIS DAYS. MOTHER, FATHER, ANNE AND MYRO”. Born on the 1st May 1923 in Ukraine. Son of Stephan and Ahafia (née Tokarska) Gaba, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Gaba was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J94503 Plt Off. with effect 4th March 1945.

Fg Off. Emmet Solomon Kaechele. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row H. Grave 14. Grave Inscription: “TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST’S REDEMPTION GLORIFIED BY GOD’S PROMOTION”. Born on the 28th November 1917 in Drumheller, Alberta. Son of the Rev. Solomon and Emma Anna (née Skode) Kaechele. Husband of Lulu Grace (née Ewing) Kaechele of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

Fg Off Robert George Smith. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row H. Grave 16. Grave Inscription: “ A TRUE CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN, A DEVOTED SON LOVED AND HONOURED BY EVERYONE”. Born on the 9th April 1923 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Son of Joseph and Florence (née Andrews) Smith of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Plt Off. Ralph Oscar Battler. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Sec. H. Row H. Grave 11. Grave Inscription : “I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH”. Born on the 30th January 1925 in Kitchener, Ontario. Son of Weston Detwiller and Clara (née Hollinger) Battler, of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Battler was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J94502 Plt Off. with effect 4th March 1945.

Researched by Co-Authors, John Naylor, Maureen Hicks, Pete Pearson, Reg Price DFC, 625 Squadron vet, John Proctor, Jack Albrecht and Nic Lewis and dedicated to the crew and families (Sep 2019). Thanks to Elizabeth Acheson for the photograph of Sgt Dinnen (Nov 2024). Additional information added by Aircrew Remembered (Nov 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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