LEST WE FORGET

Flying Officer Russell Richard Napier FORREST MID

Service No: 421587
Born: Randwick NSW, 22 November 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February 1942
Unit: No. 466 Squadron, RAF Driffield, Yorkshire
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 466 Squadron Halifax aircraft NP968), Germany, 9 April 1945, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Hanover War Cemetery, Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard John and Amelia Bertha Forrest, of Balgowlah, New South Wales Australia; husband of Joan Forrest, of Balgowlah.
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 110, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Manly ANZAC War Memorial, Manly NSW

The squadron (No. 466) was not so fortunate four nights later (8-9 April) when 12 crews took off to attack the Blohm and Voss submarine yards at Hamburg: one Halifax failed to return and another crashed near the airfield.

Extract Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 445

Halifax NP968 took off from RAF Driffield at 1945 hours on the night of 8/9th April 1945 to bomb Hamburg, Germany. Twelve aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and of these NP 968 failed to return and one crashed on return. It was later reported that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed approximately20/30 miles south of Hamburg.

The crew members of NP968 were:

Sergeant Frank Nicholas Bridger (1589113) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW
Warrant Officer Alan Shand Caddie (426064) (RNZAF) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant James Morris Dyer (436640) (Bomb Aimer) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 23 October 1945
Flying Officer Russell Richard Napier Forrest MID (421587) (Pilot)
Sergeant Bertram Max Frankal (1605533) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Dennis Smith (1805654) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner) PoW
Sergeant Philip Reginald Woodmore (1890708) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) PoW

Flight Sergeant Dyer reported “The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter, but although an ME410 was seen below us no one saw the attack. The Captain ordered prepare to abandon and then abandon. The aircraft appeared to be going down to port but not completely out of control but on fire from the rest position backwards and the rudder controls were shot away. The port inner was on fire. The aircraft crashed some 20-30 miles south of Hamburg. The Mid Upper was wounded in the leg but baled out. The Eng. Nav and WOP also. The Captain had not baled out and did not know if the others had baled out. Not heard of Nav since he baled out. Met up with MID Upper, Rear Gunner and Engineer. Landed in open country. Captured next evening by civilians. Released by British 21st Army 2 May 1945.”

No. 466 Squadron lost Halifax LW172 (Flying Officer Dugald John Watson (417914) (Pilot)) on 8/9 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
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/14/399
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line

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