LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Bruce Wilfred WESTERBERG
Service No: 420319
Born: Balmain NSW, 11 April 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 11 October 1941
Unit: No. 427 Squadron (RCAF), RAF Station Leeming
Died: Air Operations: (No. 427 squadron Halifax aircraft EB242), Germany, 31 July 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Linrfort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Oscar and Ruby Ida Westerberg, of Balmain, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Betty Westerberg, of Bondi Beach, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Balmain NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Memorial Department of Main Roads Employees, North Sydney NSW
At 2220 hours on the night of 30/31 July 1943, Halifax EB242 took off from Leeming detailed to bomb Remscheld, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was lost near the target and Sergeant Westerberg was killed in the crash and all the other crew members became Prisoners of War.
The crew members of ED242 were:
Sergeant William Rex Black (417292) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 28 November 1945
Sergeant Robert Stanley Bodycote (1433692) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW
Sergeant Thomas Kitchener Boord (410829) (Rear Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 29 October 1945
Sergeant Leonard Charles Gross (1803289) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) PoW
Sergeant Richard Allingham Marriott (1190134) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Sergeant Robert Thomas Andrew Marshall (1515973) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber) PoW
Flight Sergeant Bruce Wilfred Westerberg (420319) (Pilot)
In a PoW report, the then Warrant Officer Boord stated: “The aircraft was hit by ack-ack just prior to the target, and by two attacks by enemy night fighters. In the first attack by enemy fighters broke the rear turret and the port tail fin. The second attack set fire to the starboard wing and the rest position, and shot away the petrol cocks. The fire became worse and the Captain ordered bale out. I baled out from the rear turret at a height of 19,000 feet, and didn’t see the others leave. The aircraft seemed to be in control but the fire was out of control, and the petrol pipes were broken and flaming. The aircraft crashed near Dusseldorf. The remainder of the crew were captured except the Captain.”
In his PoW report, the then Warrant Officer Black stated: “after being hit by ack-ack and attacked by night fighters, the starboard inner was on fire. A portion of the port fin was damaged. Also the rear turret The Captain ordered bale out. Am not sure who was in the aircraft when I baled out, but know the pilot was still at the controls. No injuries to any of the crew. The aircraft seemed to be in a dive but otherwise under control. All members were POWs except the pilot. The pilot crash landed the aircraft and was killed.”
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, 166/43/275
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line