Operation: Berlin, Germany

Date: 24/25th March 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 427 (Lion) Squadron, RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LW574

Code: ZL:J

Base: RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire

Location: Ahaus near Münster, Germany

Pilot: WO1. Adolf Edward Yaworski R128270 RCAF Age 21. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Thomas King Rigby 1685848 RAFVR Age? KiA

Nav: WO2. Alastair James Young R128730 RCAF Age 23. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Joseph Jean Louis Hamel R164784 Age 23. PoW No. 3448 * (1)

WOp/Air Gnr: WO1. Herbert Roderick Armstrong R97338 Age 22. PoW No. 3433 * (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Joseph Jean Leon Jette R194134 RCAF Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Robert Alexander Mcbeath R175940 RCAF Age 21. KiA

* Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland

Above left to right: WO1. Adolf E. Yaworski, unknown, unknown, Sgt. Joseph J. L. Jette, unknown, unknown, Flt Sgt. Robert A. Mcbeath

REASON FOR LOSS:

Above: Nose art for LW574 ZL: “J for Joan”

LW574 was one of fourteen (14) aircraft detailed from the sqn for operations again Berlin on the night of the 24th/25th March 1944. They joined a force of eight-hundred and eleven (811) bombers on what was to be the last major raid on the capital of Germany.

The night became known as 'the night of the strong winds'. A powerful wind from the north carried the bombers south at every stage of the flight. Not only was this wind not forecast accurately but it was so strong that the various methods available to warn crews of wind changes during the flight failed to detect the full strength of it.

The bomber stream became very scattered, particularly on the homeward flight and radar-predicted flak batteries at many places were able to score successes. Part of the bomber force even strayed over the Ruhr defences on the return flight. It is believed that approximately fifty (50) of the seventy-two (72) aircraft lost were lost to Flak with most of the remainder victims of night-fighters. The strong winds severely affected the marking of the target with markers being carried beyond the target and well out to the SW of the city.

The Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 by Theo Boiten records that LW574 or 433 (Porcupine) Sqn, RCAF Halifax III HX284 was claimed as a probable by Oblt. Peter Ehrhardt from 8./NGJ5 as a Lancaster 20-30 km from the Rheine searchlight at 5.400m at 00:05 hrs.

LW574 was one of three (3) aircraft from the Sqn that failed to return.

A report from No. 22 Missing Research and Enquiry Section (MRES) dated 10th May 1948 reported that the aircraft crashed at 20:40 hrs into the town of Ahaus near Münster. Part of the aircraft crashed into some old offices which completed burned out.

The initial research discounted the night-fighter claim predominantly based upon the difference in the reported time of the crash and location. However, Martin Kösters contacted Aircrew Remembered and provided some additional clarifying information regarding the loss of LW574:

The MRES report erroneously reported that the aircraft crashed at 20:40 hrs, a time that was taken from a German Police report that recorded the crash of the LW574. However, further down in the German Police report the corrected time of 00:40 hrs was recorded.

Furthermore, it may have been theoretically possible for the aircraft to have been over Ahaus at 20:40 hrs after it had taken off from its base at 18:45 hrs, a distance of some 385 miles (620 km). However, it would have had to fly directly there at its best cruising speed of 200 mph which was highly improbable given the prevailing wind conditions.

It can be therefore be assumed that LW574 was homebound and may have been hit by Flak from Twente airfield or was the victim of Rheine airfield defences.

Oblt. Peter Ehrhardt’s claim for a "Lancaster" was Halifax HX284 which was intercepted while flying between Ochtrup and Gronau. So it can assumed that the main force of the bombers flew between south of Rheine and north of Münster heading west. Martin informs us that Halifax III HX284 came down near his hometown and was witnessed by Germans on the ground.

The two survivor’s thought that they had been hit by Flak which tore the aircraft apart. Flt Sgt. Hamel reported that he had been blown out of the aircraft. WO1. Armstrong was knocked unconscious and was ejected from the aircraft when it exploded. Both of the survivors managed to open their parachutes and land safely.

WO1. Armstrong later reported that WO1. Yaworski had asked him to hand him his parachute when the aircraft fell out of control. He last saw him with his parachute pack in his hand trying to clip it on. The next day he identified his parachute which was unopened.

He also reported that WO2. Young was wounded and had collapsed over the escape hatch. The aircraft then fell out of control so he could not reach him to determine the nature of his wounds. He lay perfectly still as though dead. The next day he identified his parachute which was unopened.

The Germans told the survivor’s that five (5) bodies has been recovered from the wreckage.

The other two (2) aircraft from the Sqn that failed to return were:

Halifax III LW577 ZL:K - Flown by Plt Off. Stanley Geddes Dowdell J85604 RCAF. He and three (3) of his crew were KiA, three (3) became PoWs;

Halifax III LK752 ZL:V - Flown by WO1. William Frederick Magdalinski R115617 RCAF. He and three (3) of his crew became PoWs and four (4) were KiA.

(1) Flt Sgt. Hamel was captured near Ahaus that day and was not injured

He was transferred to Dulag Luft Oberursel arriving there on the 27th March. After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transported on the 7th April 1944 to Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug arriving there on the 11th April.

On the 16th July 1944 the PoWs from the camp , which was the closest to the Russian advance, were in the "northern route" of the force-marches. He was amongst the PoWs who were transported to Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland arriving there on the 18th July.

On the 11th August 1944 he was amongst the early PoWs who were transported 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 now WO2 Hamel was not amongst the men who marched from the camp in columns of 2,000.

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. WO2 Hamel was interviewed on the 29th April 1945.

Joseph Jean Louis Hamel was born on the 27th October 1920 in Quebec. He was a student in Montreal prior to enlisting on the 18th May 1942.

(2) WO1. Armstrong was captured near Ahaus that day and was not injured.

He was transferred to Dulag Luft Oberursel arriving there on the 26th March. After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transported on the 3rd April 1944 to Stalag Luft 6 at Heydekrug arriving there on the 8th April.

On the 16th July 1944 the PoWs from the camp , which was the closest to the Russian advance, were in the "northern route" of the force-marches. He was amongst the PoWs who were transported to Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland arriving there on the 18th July.

On the 8th August 1944 he was amongst the early PoWs who were transported 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. WO1. Armstrong was amongst the men who were marched from the camp in columns of 2,000.

After ten (10) days they arrived at Gresse, east of the Elbe. There they were issued with Red Cross parcels, but were then unfortunately strafed by British Typhoonfighter-bombers, mistaking them for German troops. Sixty (60) PoW were killed and many wounded.

WO. ‘Dixie’ Deans confronted Oberst Ostmann and bluntly gave him a choice, to be captured to the Russians or the British. Ostman provided WO. Deans with a pass and a German guard, and they headed west to contact the advancing British troops. On the 1st May WO. Deans and his guard were sheltering in a house east of Lauenbergwhen they heard over the radio the news of the death of Adolf Hitler. The next morning the house was overrun by troops of the British 6th Airborne. WO. Deans was taken to the commander of VIII Corpsand explained the situation. He was given a captured Mercedes car and drove back to Gresse. Two days later the PoW column marched back across the British lines. WO1. Armstrong was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.

Herbert Roderick Armstrong was born on the 7th March 1922 in Peterborough, Ontario. He enlisted in the RCAF on the 10th March 1941. Herbert passed away on the 27th November 1973 in Cobourg, Ontario.

Burial details:

The crew who perished were initially buried at the Old Catholic Cemetery in Ahaus on the 27th of March and finally laid to rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 17th March 1947.

Above: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

WO1 Adolf Edward Yaworski. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 23.A.5. Grave Inscription: “SON OF MR. AND MRS. JACOB YAWORSKI, OF RAMA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA”. Born on the 15th of April 1923 in Rama, Saskatchewan. Son of Jacob and Mary (née Szymkiw) Yaworski (Parents of Polish origin). Fiancée of Audrey Thomason of Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

Sgt. Thomas King Rigby. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 23.A.3. Son of William and Mary Elizabeth King Rigby of Bromborough, Cheshire, England.

His brother, Able Seaman Eric King Rigby P/JX396480 serving in HMS Attack (shore Establishment, Portland) accidently drowned in the River Hamble on the 24th July 1945. He is buried at the Bromborough (St. Barnabas) Churchyard.

WO2. Alastair James Young. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 23.A.2. Grave Inscription: “THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY DWELLING PLACE, AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS”. Born on the 16th of December 1920 in Dumfries, Scotland. Son of John and of Mary Donald Young (née Bryson) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Sgt. Joseph Jean Leon Jette. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 23.A.4. Born on the 3rd August 1922 in Montreal. Son of Leon Arcadius and Helene Jette of Belveil Station, Verchers County, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Robert Alexander Mcbeath. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 23.A.1. Born on the 21st November 1923 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Son of Robert Lamond Ritchie and Isabella Anderson Stronach (née McNeill) Mcbeath of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Mar 2023). Reviewed and updated with new information for the loss of the aircraft and additional photographs with thanks to Martin Kösters (Mar 2026)

Other sources listed below:

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