Gordon Anzac Seward Rank: Flight Lieutenant Status: Survived 1942-10-01

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"A" Able flying through the Eiffel Tower? (although this event likely happened, this photograph is likely fake.) It is signed by the late Bill Bryant RAF who was the navigator of that aircraft piloted by Bob Boorman RCAF. The caption reads "This Stars Stripes photograph was taken on 14 September 1944 and shows a Mosquito Mk XIII of 409 Squadron RCAF. Pilot - W/O Bob Boorman RCAF Navigator F/S Bill Bryant RAF Flying through the Eiffel Tower."
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Seward, Gordon Anzac (Flight Lieutenant)

Survived 1942-October-01

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Birth Date: 1917-February-26 (age 25)

Born: Weston, New South Wales, Australia

Home: Weston, New South Wales, Australia

Enlistment: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Enlistment Date: 1941-05-25

Service
RAAF

Unit
45 Group (RAF)

Base
Natal, Brazil

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Marshal
Air Chief Marshal	A/C/M
Air Marshal	A/M
Air Vice Marshal	A/V/M
Air Commodore	A/C
Group Captain	G/C
Wing Commander	W/C
Squadron Leader	S/L
Flight Lieutenant	F/L
Flying Officer	F/O
Pilot Officer	P/O
Warrant Officer 1st Class	WO1
Warrant Officer 2nd Class	WO2
Flight Sergeant	FS
Sergeant	SGT
Corporal	CPL
Senior Aircraftman	SAC
Leading Aircraftman	LAC
Aircraftman 1st Class	AC1
Aircraftman 2nd Class	AC2

Position
Wireless Operator

Service Numbers
411841

Hudson Mk. VI FK499

Aircraft Ferrying 1942-October-01 to 1942-October-01

(Ferry) Ferry Command (RAF) Natal, Brazil

RAF Ferry Command Hudson aircraft FK 499 having originally departed from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, made its way south, making several stops along the way before reaching Natal, Brazil. From here the crew flew out over the Atlantic Ocean. During the flight, fuel pump problems arose, which were repaired upon reaching Ascension Island. The crew then elected to continue their flight to Africa rather than wait until the next morning. Nightfall hampered their navigation and after a severe electrical storm knocked out the radio, they made a forced landing at Cotonou, Dahomey, West Africa, an area then under the control of the Vichy French Government. The crew survived the landing but George Phillips, William Campbell and Gordon Seward become interned prisoners until after the Allied landings in North Africa. They were returned to West Palm Beach Florida, USA 1943-01-20 and continued to work for Ferry Command. The impounded Hudson FK 499 was also saved, repaired and went on to serve with the RAF

Ocean Bridge, The History of RAF Ferry Command by Carl A Christie pages 166-8

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Post on RAF Commands by Col Bruggy, 2009-03-04

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Weston, New South Wales, Australia

Hudson FK499

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Flying Officer Campbell, William G (RCAF)
Navigator
Survived
1942-October-01
cemetery unknown

Squadron Leader Phillips, George Hector Reid (RCAF)
Pilot
Survived
1942-October-01
cemetery unknown

Male Head

Flight Lieutenant Seward, Gordon Anzac (RAAF)
Wireless Operator
Survived
1942-October-01
cemetery unknown

Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18

Lockheed Hudson
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons. National Air Force Museum of Canada.

YouTube Hudson