LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Thomas ARCHIBALD DFC

Service No: 412606
Born: Hamilton, Scotland, 11 September 1910
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 July 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 77 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Elvington
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 25 May 1943
Died: Air Operations (No. 77 Squadron Halifax aircraft JB865), Yorkshire, 13 May 1943, Aged 32 Years
Buried: Barnaby-on-the-Moor (St Catherine) Churchyard, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John and Janet Archibald; husband of Perla Doris Archibald, of North Sydney, New South Wales. Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

DFC Citation: One night in April 1943, this officer captained an aircraft whish attacked Essen. Whilst over the target area, the aircraft was repeatedly hit by fire from the ground defences and one engine was put out of action. It was then discovered that one bomb had failed to release. Flying Officer Archibald made a second run over the target and released the bomb successfully. His aircraft sustained much damage but he flew it back to base with one engine unserviceable. This officer displayed great courage and devotion to duty. (London Gazette 25 May 1943, Page 2320)

At 2345 hours on the night of 12 May 1943 Halifax JB865 took off from Elvington detailed to bomb Duisberg, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Bishop Wilton five miles east south east of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, at 0620 hours on 13 May 1943.

The crew members of JB865 were:

Flying Officer Thomas Archibald DFC (412606) (Pilot)
Sergeant James Currie (1573760) (RAFVR) (Tail Gunner) Injured
Sergeant J Gerry (1438258) (RAFVR) (Navigator) Injured
Sergeant G Harlow (1085425) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured
Sergeant C Hewitson (535057) (RAF) (Flight Engineer) Injured
Sergeant Gerard Scully (1219445) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant F K Smith (1433744) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) Injured

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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/4/37

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