Operation: Kiel, Germany

Date: 9th/10th April 1945 (Monday, Tuesday)

Unit No: 170 Squadron, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: PB704

Code: TC:R

Base: RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire

Location: Presumably lost in the North Sea

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Roland Henry Albert Thorpe 1393293 RAFVR Age 22. MiA (1)

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. Harry Vernon Blakey 1621031 RAFVR Age 24. MiA

Nav: Fg Off. John ‘Iain’ Wotherspoon 165703 RAFVR Age 32. MiA (2)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Frederick William Reece Goodenough 1607158 RAFVR Age 22. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Alan Aubrey Jarvis 1864299 RAFVR Age 19. MiA (3)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Richard Joseph ‘Joe’ Harford 3034035 RAFVR Age 19. MiA (4)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Lawrence Abraham Hill 3051022 RAFVR Age 19. MiA

Crew of Lancaster LB704 Back Row L-R: Sgt. Harford, Sgt. Jarvis, Sgt. Hill. Front Row L-R: Sgt. Goodenough, Fg Off. Thorpe, Fg Off. Wotherspoon.

REASON FOR LOSS:

PB704 took off from RAF Hemswell at 19:32hrs and joined a force of five-hundred and ninety-nine (599) aircraft to bomb the Deutsche Werke U-Boat yard at Kiel in Germany.

PB704 or 300 Sqn Lancaster LM632 were claimed as probables by two German pilots:

Hptm. Heinz Ferger, his 19th Abschuss from Stab III./NJG2 and Hptm. Franz-August von Tesmar, his 2nd Abschuss from 11./NJG3. There is no location or times associated with their claim. Such records were ordered to be destroyed when Germany surrendered. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten)

Hptm. Heinz Ferger was KiA on his return from this mission whilst on finals to Lübeck-Blankensee airfield by 406 Sqn Mosquito NT325 flown by Flt Lt. MacFadyen DFC and Flt Lt. Shailon. He was credited with 17 confirmed Abschüsse with 2 awaiting confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten)

Hptm. Franz-August von Tesmar survived the war. He was credited with 2 Abschüsse, both awaiting confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten)

Two (2) other aircraft lost to night fighters were:

300 Squadron Lancaster III LM632 - Flown Sqn Ldr. Henryk Anatoliusz Rudakowski P-1770 PAF with all 7 crew killed;

622 Squadron Lancaster I NG447- Flown by, Flt Lt. Lionel Arthur Sydney Hodge 131036 RAFVR with all 7 crew killed. Claimed by Lt. Arnold Döring from 10./NJG3. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten)

(1) Flt Sgt. Roland Henry Albert Thorpe was the brother of Kenneth Thorpe. He enlisted in the RAFVR on the 7th July 1941 at the age of 18. Left for training in Canada on the 18th February 1943. Returned to England, joining 170 Squadron on the 10th March 1943.

(2) John ‘Iain’ Wotherspoon was employed in a Reserved Occupation he nevertheless he volunteered to join the RAFVR. He trained as a Navigator with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada. At the time of his loss he was a father of 3 children ages 7, 4, 2.

(3) At the age of 16 having just finished two years at Dartford Technical School Alan and his older brother, Lester, having been in the Air Cadets for 3-4 years prior to the war, decided to enlist as soon as Alan was 17.

In the meantime, he worked in a local butchers shop managed by a close neighbour of the family. He was very interested in animals and birds, and had an aviary attached to the garden shed where he kept at least nine budgerigars. He also kept a few rabbits and chickens, which helped to supplement the meagre rations. His one canary was kept in a cage in the house and was found dead on the morning of Alan’s last flight. A horrific omen and so painful for his mother when the telegram from the Air Ministry arrived. Alan’s special hobbies were making planes from balsa wood and he made a plastic insignia with a golden “S” attached for his position in the crew. Through his early teenage years Alan was living just east of London and the family endured nightly air raids as well as the daily onslaught of German bombers enroute to London.

Alan enlisted on 26th November 1942 and was mobilised on 5th July 1943. He attended No 4 radio school from the 31st December 1943 where he completed 53.55 day/night hours. On 6th October 1944 he transferred to No 35 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on the Wellington. On 10th February 1945 he was assigned to 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) and started his Lancaster, flying mainly with Flt Sgt. Thorpe, completing 149.20 hours by 7th March 1945. His overseas flying commenced on 13th March 1945 and on 31st March 1945, with Flt Sgt. Thorpe as pilot, bombed the submarine yards at Hamburg. On the 3rd April 1945 bombing Nordhausen before his final, fatal mission on 9th April 1945.

Alan’s older brother, Lester Percy Jarvis also served in the RAF and went to Canada to train under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan as a pilot in October 1943. He was badly affected by Alan’s death and the fact that he himself hadn’t seen active service. Lester worked for 25 years for the Ministry of Defence, Bicester, Oxfordshire after previously contracting polio. On October 28th 1997, the Queen presented Lester with the MBE for his tireless work for the British Legion. His book “Memories of World War Two” is lodged at the War Memorial museum, London.

Una Barrett, Alan’s sister recollects that Sgt. Hill, the rear gunner spent his last leave with Alan at his home around Christmas 1944. She also recollects meeting the widow of Fg Off. Wotherspoon when she and her parents met up with her at the Northumberland Hotel, near Marble Arch in London.

(4) Richard showed great artistic talent from an early age, entering and winning many children’s painting and drawing competitions. Fascinated by aviation and enjoyed making many scale models of various aircraft.

Having lived in Deal and Ramsgate, the family moved to Maidstone in 1938, where Joe attended St Francis Roman Catholic (RC) School. After leaving school he found work as a grinder with Baker Richards. With the outbreak of war he joined the Air Training Corps (ATC) as a cadet. In 1944 he enlisted with the RAFVR as an air gunner, stationed at Regents Park and was subsequently posted to RAF Bridgnorth, Salop. After promotion to the rank of Sergeant he was posted to Husbands Bosworth, Rugby before joining 170 Squadron at RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire

Burial details:

Flt Sgt. Roland Henry Albert Thorpe. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 273. Born on the 26th October 1923 in St. Pancras, London. Son of Albert Edward and Emily Mabel (née Thorn) Thorpe of Edmonton, Middlesex, England.

Flt Sgt. Harry Vernon Blakey. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 270. Born in 2nd Qtr of 1920 in Wakefield, Yorkshire. Son of Thomas Cawood and Miriam (née Briggs) Blakey of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England.

Fg Off. John ‘Iain’ Wotherspoon. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 268. Born on the 10th November 1912 on the Isle of Gigha, Argyll, Scotland. Son of John and Margaret Wotherspoon. Husband to Efric Agnes (née Johnston) of Campbelltown, Argyll, Scotland whom he married on the 30th June 1934.

Sgt. Frederick William Reece Goodenough. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 275. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Camberwell, London. Son of Frederick William and Lucy Fanny (née Smith) Goodenough of Nunhead, London, England.

Sgt. Alan Aubrey Jarvis. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 271. Born on the 15th April 1925. In Dartford, Kent. Son of William Lester and Ethel Gertrude (née Hicks) Jarvis of Dartford, Kent, England.

Sgt. Richard Joseph ‘Joe’ Harford. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 275. Born on the 24th September 1925 in Brook, Ashford. Son of Richard Joseph and Ellen Mary (née Rutherford) Harford of Maidstone, Kent, England.

Sgt. Lawrence Abraham Hill. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 275. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1925 in Stourbridge, Staffordshire. Son of Abraham and Florence (née Bloomer) Hill of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire, England.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. With thanks to the following: Fran Smith (née Harford), Henry Mills (Richard Harford), Una Barrett (sister of Alan Jarvis), Doreen Reeve, Lawrence Hill, Anthony Hill and family (Lawrence Hill). Thanks also to Kenneth Thorpe for providing further information on his brother, the pilot. Also to Efric McNeil, daughter of John Wotherspoon who contacted us in (Nov 2017) with corrected details. With thanks to Jack Brook or advising correct aircraft serial number (Sep 2017). Reviewed and updated with correct loss information with thanks to Efric McNeil for the update to the details for Fg Off. Wotherspoon (Jan 2026)

Other sources listed below:

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