LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Charles Ernest CURRIE
Service No: 437402
Born: Alberton SA, 20 November 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 30 January 1943
Unit: No. 467 Squadron, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 467 Squadron Lancaster aircraft PD230), Belgium, 13 August 1944, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Hotton War Cemetery, Luxembourg, Belgium
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Nicholas Charles Ernest and Agnes Sarah Currie, of Salisbury, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Alberton SA
Remembered: Panel 110, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
The force assembled for the first raid on Russelsheim on 12th-13th August was composed of 287 Halifaxes and Lancasters drawn from five separate groups, the Australian contribution being 17 Lancasters from No. 463, 17 from No. 467 and 22 aircraft with RAAF captains spread among the other squadrons. There was little cloud and the main bomber stream arrived to find that ground markers had been laid on time by the pathfinders and were both plentiful and well grouped. Moderate heavy ground defences could not spoil the rhythm of attack and German fighters appeared in force only towards the end of the operation, being particularly persistent in their attacks as the gaggle of bombers streamed homewards. Despite these favourable bombing conditions only a dispersed attack developed, although some heavy explosions were reported an d many fires seen.
Australian crews gave very conflicting reports at their debriefing. Some thought that bombing was concentrated, others believed it was scattered; many stated that fires were of no great magnitude, but some said that they covered the whole area. Subsequent photographs showed that there was damage only in the south-west area of the huge works and was confined mainly to storage, loading and dispatch sections; residential property to the south-east of the factory had suffered considerably and there was evidence of fires in the surrounding woods. The bomb-load expended had been some 510 tons of high explosive and 450 tons of incendiary bombs, so that as a whole the raid could not be described as having achieved great success. For this moderate result Bomber Command lost 20 aircraft including one from No. 467 and 3 piloted by Australians of Nos. 50, 102 and 622 Squadrons.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 183
Lancaster PD230 took off from RAF Waddington at 2130 hours on the night of 12/13th August 1944 to bomb Russelsheim. The bomb load 1 x 2000 lb (pound) (900 kg) bomb and 12 “J” clusters.
Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base.
The crew members of PD230 were:
Sergeant Albert Hankinson Baldwin (1579824) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Thomas Cromwell Berry (1391597) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Charles Ernest Currie (437402) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Wentworth Hore (419509) (Wireless Operator Air)
Flying Officer Rodney James Mellowship (417870) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Trevor Ian Ramsay (428124) (Air Gunner) Evaded capture: Discharged from the RAAF: 23 August 1946
Warrant Officer Francis White (425252) (Navigator) Evaded capture, Discharged from the RAAF: 26 February 1946
In a later report Warrant Officer White stated “About 45 minutes after leaving the target an explosion occurred. The aircraft went into a dive from 15,000 to 13,000 feet when the Pilot managed to temporarily steady. After further difficulty the Rear Gunner reported a fire in the fuselage. The Pilot ordered abandon which was acknowledged by the crew. At 12,000 feet the Engineer and Bomb Aimer attempted to open the escape hatch and were having considerable difficulty. I struggled through an opening in the side of the fuselage and abandoned at 10,000 feet. I was hit by the propeller or some other part of the aircraft and rendered unconscious. I do not know how the chute opened but landed safely. The Resistance Movement advised the pilot was killed while still at the controls. Also that four others were killed. Also that one was being sheltered in French territory. I consider this likely to be the Rear Gunner, but have no definite information. No other details re crew members.”
The aircraft lost identified in Herington’s extract were No. 50 Squadron Lancaster NE 135 (Flying Officer Douglas Leslie Haynes (422517) (Pilot)), No. 102 Squadron Halifax MZ 647 (Flight Lieutenant Philip Edward Young (422825) (Pilot)) and No. 622 Squadron Lancaster PD 230 (Flying Officer John Harold Busby (418798) (Pilot)).
In addition, RAAF members were lost in No. 514 Squadron Lancaster LM 215 (Pilot Officer Henry Frederick Roome (434016) (Second Pilot)), No. 578 Squadron Halifax LM 393 (Pilot Officer Owen Scott MacPhillamy MID (423850) (Pilot)) and No. 635 Squadron Lancaster ND 694 (Warrant Officer Alwyn Terence Till (410756) (Air Bomber)).
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
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/8/597