LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John Grylls WATSON DFM
Service No: 424485
Born: Rosewell NSW, 6 August 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1942
Unit: No. 582 Squadron (RAF)
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), 23 February 1945
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 582 Squadron Lancaster aircraft PB983), Northamptonshire, 28 April 1945, Aged 20 Years
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edmund Lionel Grylls Watson and Hetty Ruth Watson, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Manly NSW
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFM Citation: “Whilst acting as Rear Gunner in a daylight raid on Cologne on the 23rd December 1944, Flight Sergeant’s Watson turret was rendered exceptionally sluggish by sever flak damage the aircraft received on the run into the target. On leaving the target area, the aircraft was set upon by fighters which constantly attacked scoring many hits. Flight Sergeant Watson continued to fire at the enemy and directed evasive action despite the fact that the turret had to be rotated by hand and stoppages prevented him from using two of his guns. One fighter pressing home his attack scored a direct hit on the rear turret with cannon fire mashing the perspex, intercom, and jamming the turret doors. Despite the fact that he was trapped in his turret, Flight Sergeant Watson remained calm and continued to return fire as best he could whilst the fighters attacked, until he was eventually released from outside. By his courage and devotion to duty, Flight Sergeant Watson undoubtedly prevented the fighters from closing min and destroying the aircraft and so aided the safe return of the whole crew. He is strongly recommended for the immediate award of the DFM.” In his remarks the Station Commander said: “A courageous and cool action. This NCO fought with complete disregard for his own personal safety and I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the DFM.” (London Gazette 23/2/1945)
On a training flight on the 28 April 1945, Lancaster PB983 iced up after flying into a snow cloud and lost power on both port engines. At 100 feet, all control was lost and the aircraft crashed at 1150 hours near Deenethorpe airfield, 5 miles east north east from the centre of Corby, Northamptonshire. Two of the crew members were killed in the crash and the other five were injured.
The crew members of PB983 were:
Warrant Officer Arnold Andreas Anderson DFC (426001) (Wireless Air Gunner) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 14 March 1946
Flight Lieutenant A E C Derrett (82961) (RAFVR) (First Navigator) Injured
Aircraftman Class II R G Lloyd (3036306) (RAFVR) (Supernumerary) Injured
Warrant Officer Allan William McIlrath, DFC (428985) (Mid Upper Gunner) Injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 14 March 1946
Pilot Officer R A B Newman (1868086) (RAFVR) (Second Navigator) Injured
Flying Officer Robert Patrick Terpening DFC (424312) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer John Grylls Watson DFM (424485) (Air Gunner)
In the above action set out in the DFM Citation awarded to Flight Sergeant Watson, another RAAF member of the crew, Warrant Officer Anderson, the Wireless Air Gunner, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his part in the action. Realising that his comrade Flight Sergeant Watson was trapped in the rear turret, Anderson went to render assistance. It was a dangerous task as the Pilot was taking violent evasive action, and the fuselage had suffered considerable damage. Nevertheless he negotiated a safe passage to the rear turret and extricated his comrade, after forcing the turret open with an axe.
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, 166/43/1334
Bibliography:
Feast, Sean Master Bombers: the experiences of a Pathfinder Squadron at war, 1944-1945, Grub Street, London, 2008