LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 464 Squadron Ventura aircraft AJ213), Netherlands, 6 December 1942
Ventura AJ213 took off from RAF Feltwell at 1120 hours on 6 December 1942 to bomb the Phillips Radio valve factory at Eindhoven, Netherlands. Fourteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and three of these including AJ213 failed to return. It was later established that AJ213 was shot down by flak shortly after crossing the Dutch coast and crashed at Vrouwenpolder (Zeeland) on the north part of the island and all the crew became Prisoners of War.
The crew members of AJ213 were:
Sergeant Frederick George Lindsay (411921) (Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 31 October 1945
Sergeant Stanley Charles Moss (408513) (Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 16 January 1946
Sergeant Reginald Ambrose Wagner (1293901) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Sergeant J A Wallis (1377049) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW
In a 1945 report the then Warrant Officer Lindsay stated “Aircraft shot down by flak and crash landed. No bale out order received as I/C U/S. Pilot, Nav and WOP wounded. I was last to leave. Captured immediately. Released by British troops April 1945.”
The mission was 464 Squadron’s first operational mission. The 464 Squadron aircraft formed up with aircraft from No. 487 Squadron (RNZAF) and No. 21 Squadron (RAF), a total of 47 aircraft mission of which nine failed to return. The formation was led by the Commanding Officer No. 464 Squadron Wing Commander Ronald Hillyard Young CBE DSO AFC MID (32214) (RAF).
The 464 Squadron Operations Record Book records the following “All Squadron aircraft took off on 6 December 1942 and formed with Nos. 487 and 21 Squadrons. The target was the Phillips Radio valve factory at Eindhoven. Low level was maintained by the formation and was uneventful until the Dutch coast was crossed when a good deal of light flak was experienced. This produced the first casualty when one machine was seen to dive into the sea but nobody knew who it was. The route taken was slightly south of track which led to the crossing of an enemy emergency landing ground which was well defended. The flak was extremely accurate and accounted for another aircraft piloted by Commanding Officer No. 487 Squadron, Wing Commander Francis Cecil Seavill (29216) (RAF). The aircraft was seen to blow up and crash in flames on the aerodrome. Sergeant Swan (RCAF) was also hit at this stage when 5 feet of the port main plane was shot away. He jettisoned the bombs which were seen to burst on a gun emplacement and made a safe return to base. Pilot Officer Sydney Charles Bertram Abbott DFC (400404) was also hit by a flak shell in the port engine but continued to the target, bombed and made it back to base. Heavy opposition was met over the target by flak guns mounted on the roof. Ventura AE702 (Flying Officer Maurice Gordon Moor (J/10139) (RCAF)) was shot down by the flak and was seen to dive into houses surrounding the target area. Course was set for home at low level. Heavy opposition by flak again met on crossing the Dutch coast. All machines and some members of crews suffered damage with birds, seagulls and ducks being brought back jammed in various positions with some penetrating the Perspex. Wing Commander Young who led the formation was awarded the DSO and Flight Lieutenant E F Hart (45488) (RAF) his Navigator the DFC.”
The Dutch Government conveyed their appreciation for the gallantry of the crews.
No. 464 Squadron lost Ventura AE702 (Sergeant Mervyn Lionel Vivian Hass (414026) (Air Gunner)) on 6 December 1942.
No. 464 Squadron lost Ventura AE945 (Sergeant Farquharson Proctor (8063) (Air Gunner)) on 6 December 1942
No. 21 Squadron (RAF) lost Ventura AE940 (Flight Lieutenant Wallace Martin DFC (402450) (Navigator)) on 6 December 1942.
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