LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Harold FERME
Service No: 416844
Born: Port Pirie SA, 27 January 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 78 Squadron (RAF), RAF Breighton, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 78 Squadron Halifax aircraft JD476), Germany, 27 September 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Hanover War Cemetery, Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alice Eva Maude Ferme, of Port Pirie, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Port Pirie SA
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Halifax JD476 took off from RAF Breighton at 1916 hours on the night of 27/28th September 1943, detailed to attack Hanover, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research & Enquiry team report stated “the aircraft crashed at Wiechendorf, which is about 20 kms north west of Hanover.” Six of the crew were killed and one became a Prisoner of War.
The crew members of JD476 were:
Sergeant Eric James Bream (1319137) (RAF) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas Andrew Cuthbertson Dorn (1036353) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Robert James Drinkwater (1497401) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Harold Ferme (416844) (Pilot)
Sergeant Frederick Walter Hucker (1585982) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Leslie Edgar Hughes (1318634) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant G W Preston (1390162) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Sergeant Preston later stated that “the aircraft caught fire and bale out was ordered. He opened the escape hatch and immediately baled out after which he had no further news re the other members of the crew.”
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, 166/13/136