Operation: Wanne-Eickel

Date: 2/3rd February 1945 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No.426 Squadron (RCAF-Thunderbirds)

Type: Halifax VII

Serial: NP819

Code: OW-B

Base: RAF Linton on Ouse, Yorkshire

Location: Castle Farm near Manston, Kent

Pilot: F/O. Joseph Peter Talocka J/35641 RCAF Age 26. Killed (1)

Flt/Eng: Sgt. Graham Needham 1595970 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Nav: F/O. Jack Morris Styles J/42042 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Sidney George Arlotte J/39017 RCAF Age 24. Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: WOII S. E. McAllister R/197848 RCAF Uninjured

Air/Gnr: P/O. Joseph Alexander Chisamore J/93829 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: P/O Allan George Bradley J/93961 RCAF Age 19 Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Groups 4, 6 and 8 supplied a total of 323 aircraft for this raid on the synthetic oil plant at Wanne-Eickel. Upon reaching the target, the crews found the area to be completely cloud covered and consequently the bombing accuracy was very poor.

Most bombs fell on open ground around a coal mine which local inhabitants assumed was the primary target. Later photographic reconnaissance showed only some moderate damage to the synthetic oil facility.


In all, eight Halifaxes were lost on the night. Four of the number was lost on the raid itself while three others crashed shortly after take off.

F/O. Talocka and crew in Halifax NP819, made it to the target and released their bomb load, however, in doing so, they sustained severe flak damage to the starboard aileron and holes in the main plane and fuselage.

The crew limped the wounded aircraft back to England where they sought to make an emergency landing at RAF Manston.

After making two circuits of the airfield they hit the slipstream of another aircraft as they made their approach which threw the Halifax into a steep uncontrollable bank. Although at very low altitude the wireless operator, Warrant Officer McAllister managed to bail out and was fortunate enough to survive. The rest of the crew could not escape the rapidly descending aircraft and, tragically, were all killed upon crashing into the ground.

(1) Talocka Lake east of Nejanilini Lake, Manitoba is named after F/O. Talocka.

(2) Arlotte Lake in northern Ontario is named after F/O. Arlotte

Burial Details:

F/O. Joseph Peter Talocka. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 56 G 10. Son of John and Irene Talocka of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Grave inscription reads: ‘In Life Honored, In Death Remembered.’

Sgt. Graham Needham. Scunthorpe Cemetery (Brundy and Frodingham). Section A.E. Grave 930. Son of James William and Charlotte Annie Needham of Scunthorpe. Grave inscription reads: ‘We Shall Meet Again.’

F/O. Jack Morris Styles. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 56 G 1. Son of Reuel Clarence and Jessie Styles of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: ‘He Will Live In Our Hearts For Evermore.’

F/O. Sidney George Arlotte. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 56 G 2. Son of Sidney Alma James and Edith Alice Arlotte of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: ‘Love’s Greatest Gift, Memories.’

P/O. Joseph Alexander Chisamore. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 56 G 3. Son of James and Wilhelmina Chisamore of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: ‘Son Of James And Wilhelmina Chisamore, Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada.’

P/O. Allan George Bradley. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 56 G 4. Son of Bertie Overon Bradley and Winnifred Augusta Bradley of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: ‘Peace, Perfect Peace By Thronging Duties Pressed? To Do The Will Of Jesus, This Is Rest.’

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and RCAF specialist Colin Bamford for relatives of this crew.

Service Files of the Second World War―War Dead, 1939–1947. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

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