LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 464 Squadron Ventura aircraft AE781), France, 3 February 1943
Ventura AE781 took off from RAF Station Feltwell, Norfolk, at 1420 hours on the 3 February 1943 to carry out an attack on the aerodrome at St Omer, France. There were twelve aircraft from the Squadron on the mission and of these AE781 failed to return.
The crew members of AE781 were:
Flight Sergeant John Bowling (922973) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW
Pilot Officer Peter Charles Middleton (128416) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Pilot Officer Philip Roy Roberts (404116) (Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 17 October 1945
Sergeant John Francis Webb (405959) (Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 25 October 1945
In a 1945 report the then Flight Lieutenant Roberts stated “The aircraft was hit by flak and both engines were on fire. The bale out was ordered and acknowledged. The aircraft was under control when the crew baled out but smoke continued from the starboard engine until the aircraft crashed. My chute opened in the aircraft when the chute release caught on the flame floats, so I went back to the controls. The aircraft crashed between Calais and Dunkirk about 300 yards from the shore. I crash landed in flames in the midst of the 15th Panzer Division. I evacuated the aircraft and was captured near Marek, France. Released by the Russians on 24 April 1945.”
The then Warrant Officer Webb reported in 1945 “Flak hit the aircraft and the starboard engine and fuselage were damaged. Then the port motor was damaged and both engines became unserviceable. I baled out at 10,000 feet. All the crew acknowledge the bale out order. The Pilot remained in the aircraft and crash landed off the French coast. I landed in a village and was captured by German soldiers. Released by the Americans on 9 April 1945.”
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
Bibliography:
Lax, M. (Mark) and Leon Kane-Maguire The Gestapo Hunters: 464 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 1999