Previous Events
1943-05-13 Flight Lieutenant - Evader | |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II DT801 TLA | 35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) |
Take-off: 00:23:00 | Target: Duisburg Germany |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II DT801Combat Duisburg Germany 1943-May-12 to 1943-May-13
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax II aircraft DT 801 TL-A was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant August Geiger of the 7/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Twente airfield while on an operation to Duisburg, Germany, crashing behind a house in Buurse, Overijssel, Netherlands
Sawyer and Richards were killed. Elford, Heard, Moores, and Rowley survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. Elford evaded capture for several days but was picked up by the Gestapo and became a Prisoner of War. The pilot, Sale evaded capture, was reported safe in Gibraltar on August 4, 1943 and returned to service with his squadron.In Enemy Hands - Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-1945
Others on the Aircraft
1943-05-13 RCAF Warrant Officer 1st Class Ross Oliver Elford PoW 2022-06-271943-05-13 RAF Flying Officer Geoffrey Edward Heard PoW 2022-06-27
1943-05-13 RAF Sergeant Samuel Angus Moores PoW 2022-06-27
1943-05-13 RAFVR Sergeant David John Osborne Richards KIA 2022-06-27
1943-05-13 RAF Sergeant Clarence Washington Rowley PoW 2022-06-27
1943-05-13 RAFVR Flight Lieutenant Rupert Claude Sawyer KIA 2022-06-27
Previous Events
1943-12-20 Squadron Leader - Survived | |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX328 TLJ | 35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) |
Take-off: 17:29:00 | Target: Frankfurt Germany |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX328Combat Frankfurt Germany 1943-December-19 to 1943-December-20
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX 328 TL-J, returning from an operation to Frankfurt, Germany had a Target Illuminator (TI) munition malfunction, which ignited in the aircraft bomb bay as it was preparing to land. Sale gained altitude to allow his crew to bale from the burning aircraft, which most were able to do. As Sale was himself about to bale, he realized that his mid-upper gunner, Lamb was unable to bale due to a fire-damaged parachute. Sale resumed control of the bomber and managed to land it safely and taxi off the runway. Both he and Lamb escaped from the aircraft, which exploded as they ran to get clear. Both men survived and continued to fly together. Carpenter suffered a broken ankle.
Sale was awarded a Bar to his DSO for this act of determination and braveryinformation from book: The Pathfinder Companion War Diaries of the RAF Pathfinder Force-1942-1945 by Sean Feast, Grub Street Press 2012
Others on the Aircraft
1943-12-20 RAF Flying Officer Carpenter,George Carpenter DFC Survived 2024-01-061943-12-20 RCAF Squadron Leader Gordon Henry Francis Carter DFC & Bar Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Warrant Officer George Henry Cross DFC, DFM Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Flight Lieutenant Alan James Dowling DFC & Bar Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Flight Lieutenant Robert Lionel Lamb Survived 2022-06-27
1943-12-20 RAF Warrant Officer Marcus Rees DFC Survived 2022-06-27