Channing, ManitobaRichard was a Prisoner of War at Camp Luft 3 where he stayed for three months. He transferred to Luft 6 in East Prussia where he stayed for thirteen months. He was a prisoner for more than two years. Flight Sergeant Desjardines returned home in 1945. Manitoba Legion WWII Veterans Publication
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 280Desjardins, Richard (Warrant Officer 1)
Prisoner of War 1943-April-17
Birth Date: 1919-January-20
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Channing, Manitoba
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
78 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nemo Non Paratus Nobody unprepared
Base
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Rank
Warrant Officer 1
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
R/79743
PoW: 1148
Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax DT773
Mission
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II DT773
Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia 1943-April-16 to 1943-April-17
78 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Linton-on-Ouse
78 (Preston's Own) Squadron (Nemo non paratus) RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax BII aircraft DT 773 EY was shot down by night fighter pilot Lt Joseph Nabrich III/NJG101 returning from an operation against the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Dowse gave the order to abandon the aircraft and stayed at the controls. Sadly, Flight Lieutenant Dowse was not able to get free himself and went down with his bomber. The Halifax crashed crashed in the dry lake bed of Max Eyth in the Hofen district of Stuttgart, Germany
Flight Lieutenant AP Dowse (RAFVR) was killed in action
FS R Desjardins (RCAF), Sergeant AW Hoare (RAFVR), Sergeant P Lansford (RNZAF), Flying Officer AN Orr (RAFVR), Sergeant TT Slater (RAFVR) and Sergeant HE Thompson (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands
Halifax DT773 B/GR.Mk.II - Bombing Pilsen Czechoslovakia - 1943-04-16 to 1943-04-17
Squadron: 78 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-04-16
Completion Date: 1943-04-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Pilsen Czechoslovakia
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Take Off Time: 21:00
Squadron Code: EY-?
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: dry lake bed of Max Eyth in the Hofen district of Stuttgart
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Lt Joseph Nabrich III/NJG101
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group April 16/17, 1943
27 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Pilsen. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 31,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was a failure as there was no damage to the Skoda armaments factory.
While the Halifaxes went to Pilsen, 100 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425,426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Mannheim.The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing118,000 lbs of high explosives and 91,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
78 (Preston's Own) Squadron (Nemo non paratus) RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax BII aircraft DT 773 EY was shot down by night fighter pilot Lt Joseph Nabrich III/NJG101 returning from an operation against the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Dowse gave the order to abandon the aircraft and stayed at the controls. Sadly, Flight Lieutenant Dowse was not able to get free himself and went down with his bomber. The Halifax crashed crashed in the dry lake bed of Max Eyth in the Hofen district of Stuttgart, Germany
Flight Lieutenant AP Dowse (RAFVR) was killed in action
FS R Desjardins (RCAF), Sergeant AW Hoare (RAFVR), Sergeant P Lansford (RNZAF), Flying Officer AN Orr (RAFVR), Sergeant TT Slater (RAFVR) and Sergeant HE Thompson (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands
Operations Record Book Monthly Summary