Squadron 434 August 17/18 1943

Squadron 434  August 17/18  1943

Halifax V  EB258  WL-T Crew 6

Halifax V is the type of aircraft

EB-258 is the serial #

WL-T is the call letters

 

Peenemunde Raid 17/18 August 1943

A total of 596 bombers took off during the evening of August 17, 1943. Fred and his crew took off, in his first bombing mission as pilot, in the Halifax V ED 258 from Tholthorpe at 2113hrs, their mission was to attack a research facility in Peenemunde, Germany, the site where Hilter’s scientists were developing the V-1 and V-2 rockets. A cloudless night made them a good target for the German night-fighters. It was hit by flak over Westerland, on the Isle of Sylt and crashed onto the island.  Most of the crew were killed by the flak bursts and the two who managed to parachute to safety landed on the Naval Dockyards in Westerland and were taken Prisoners of War. The others were found dead in the aircraft by the Germans, and buried in a Parish Cemetery in Westerland.

Squadron 434 Crew #6 Consisted of

 

Pilot Officer F.J. Piper J18462 Pilot  R.C.A.F.

Seated on the left hand side of the cockpit

He was born Frederick James Piper, on 22 May 1920, the son of Archibald Piper and Eliza Clayton, in Tuxford,  Saskatchewan, Canada. Fred was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave 8

 

Sergeant G.N. Irving R60913 Flight Engineer R.C.A.F

Seated next to the pilot on a folding seat

He was born George Norman Irving in December 1920, he was the son of George and Georgina Irving. George was captured that held Prisoner of War for 2 years POW #222520, Camp Stalag $B, Camp location Muhlberg, Germany, Section RCAF.
 He died 22 January 2006 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Regina, SK

 
 

Pilot Officer A.H. Wetter  J21826  Navigator R.C.A.F

Seated at a table facing to the port (left) of the aircraft and directly behind the pilot and flight engineer

He was born Arlo Henry Wetter 30 Jan 1915 in Minnesota, USA, he was the son of Lawrence Wetter and Cleo Coomes. Arlo was captured that night and held Prisoner of War for 2 years in Luft III 100 miles south of Berlin.POW# 2291, Camp Stalag Luft 4, Location Sagan and Nelana Poland, Section RCAF

 
 

Flight Sergeant R.C. Jordan  R137382  Bomb Aimer R.C.A.F

Seated when operating the front gun turret, but positioned in a laying position when directing the pilot on the aiming point prior to releasing the bombload

 Fred called him “Tex” in his letters home

He was the born Robert Carson Jordon on 25 April 1916 the son of R.D. and Myrtle Glen Jordan of Glen Rose, Texas, USA Robert was Killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave5

 

Flight Sergeant G.P. Connor R114897 Wireless Operator Air Gunners R.C.A.F. 

Seated facing forward and directly beside the navigator

Fred called him “Ron” in his letters home

He was born George Ronald Connor, son of Ward Lowell Connor and Anne Georgina McDonald of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Ronald was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Plot 3, Row B, Grave 7

 

Flight Sergeant C.A.Brown R106507 Air Gunner R.C.A.F.   

Seated in the mid upper turret, which is also the unheated section of the fuselage

Fred called him “Brown” in his letters home

He was born Cecil Allan Brown on 12 July 1911, son of Bruce Everett and Sarah Louise Brown, born Gilbert Plains, MB. Cecil was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.  Plot 3 Row B, Grave 6

 

Sergeant of Section J.I.R.R. Renaud R82532 Air Gunner  R.C.A.F.  

Seated in the rear turret this too was in the unheated section of the fuselage and was also the most isolated position.  

Fred called him “Frenchy” in his letters home

He was born Joseph Isidore Ronald Romuald Renauld on 28 March 1922 in Fassett, Quebec, Canada. Son of Cecia Renaud of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Joseph was killed in action that night and is buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany  Plot 3 Row B, Grave 9