I am trying to shed some light on the above raid in which sergeant Bewick J Dowse was killed when his Halifax Bomber from 35 sqdn was shot down and his body never found.
Out of 19 Halifax's from 35 Sqdn that took part in the raid that night, i think either 6 or 9 were shot down, presumably one of these was the one in which Bewick was in.
Over the years, when i was a child my grandparents told me that the rest of the crew got out but he was killed in the aircraft.
I have got no idea how they came to this understanding and maybe it is just a bit of myth and i also have no idea what his role in the aircraft was.
Can anyone help me find out any information please ??
Regards
Geoff
-- Edited by Geoff on Wednesday 24th of November 2010 04:44:22 AM
Hi Geoff, The target was Krefeld, and not Fredrickshaven as you thought. 35sqdn lost 6 a/c on this operation, Sgt B.J. Dowse was on board Halifax W7878, TL-J which went into the sea off Holland, only the bodies of 3 of the crew were found. The rest are rmembered on the Runnymede Memorial. Going by Chorley's format, it looks as if B.J. Dowse was the Air Bomber (Bomb Aimer) of the crew F/O M.W.P. Clarke. Bergen-op-Zoom cemetery. Sgt C.M. Harcombe. Bergen General Cemetery. Sgt F.M. Mazin. Sgt B.J. Dowse. Sgt H.R. Fink. Bergen General Cemetery. Sgt J.G.P.E. Richer, RCAF. Sgt A.C. Mcleod. Details are from BC Losses (Chorley) Alan.
-- Edited by AW on Wednesday 24th of November 2010 05:24:35 AM
RICHER, Joseph Georges Paul Emille, Flt. Sgt. (Air Gunner) R81607
From Montreal, Que. KIA June 22/43 age 30 when Halifax W9787 of No. 35 Squadron PFF went missing during Operations. Last message from the crew was an S.O.S. giving their position as over the North Sea off Haarlem, Holland. 6 members of the crew (not Canadian) missing and believed killed. F/S Richer has no known grave. His name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial.
You're most welcome. I cannot account for the discrepancy in the serial number of the Halifax. Obviously one of the sources (or perhaps both?) is in error. I double checked to ensure it wasn't a transcription or typo error on my behalf but that is the # cited in the publication. Perhaps you have access to an additional source such as an Airman's Flying Log which lists the actual aircraft to remedey the apparent conflict.
