LEST WE FORGET

Flight Lieutenant John Frederick SAMUEL DFC

Service No: 400999
Born: Rose Bay NSW, 2 February 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 December 1940 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 156 Squadron (RAF), RAF Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 13 July 1943 (Citation Title: No. 12 Squadron RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 156 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JB216), North West Europe, 16 December 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alfred Laurence and Ellen Samuel, of Malvern, Victoria, Australia. B.A. (Melbourne); Radio Announcer 3AR
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 187, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

DFC Citation: Pilot Officer Samuel has completed a very creditable operational tour as navigator. He has taken part in sorties to such strongly defended enemy targets as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and the Ruhr. His co-operation, coolness and determination have contributed in a large measure to the success secured by his crew. Despite the most severe opposition Pilot Officer Samuel has invariably displayed cool courage and devotion to duty.

Lancaster JB216 of 156 Squadron took off from RAF Station Warboys at 1628 hours on 16 December 1943, to carry out a bombing attack on Berlin. At 1845 hours a fix was obtained of the aircraft over North Sea in position 52.22N 002.48E approximately 200 miles from base. No further message received from the aircraft which did not return to base. The aircraft and crew were lost without trace.

The crew members of JB216 were:

Flight Lieutenant Charles Oscar Aubert DFM (403490) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant William Starkey Fisher (1098374) (RAFVR)
Squadron Leader Ronald Hadley DFC (102608) (RAFVR)
Flight Lieutenant Norman Thomas Riggall Poulton DFM (400820) (Bomb Aimer)
Flight Lieutenant Leslie John Powell DFC (406873) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant John Frederick Samuel DFC (400999) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Robert Sidney Smith DFC (403766) (Wireless Operator)
Flight Lieutenant Theodore Trilsbeck DFC (J/10163) (RCAF)

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, 166/37/280

Book Now Book Now