Rainville, Guy Henri H (Flight Lieutenant )

Prisoner of War 1944-January-14

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Distinguished Flying Medal

Service

RCAF

Unit

432 (B) Sqn- Squadron
Saeviter Ad Lucem Ferociously toward the light

Base

East Moor

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Air Gunner (Rear)

Service Numbers

J/15751
Prev: R55373
PoW: 3386

Target
Google MapBrunswick Germany

RAINVILLE, FS (now F/L) Guy Henri (R55373/J15751) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.419 Squadron - Award effective 16 June 1942 as per London Gazette dated 22 September 1942 and AFRO 1653/42 dated 16 October 1942. Born in Montreal, 12 June 1913; home in Quebec (agriculture student); enlisted there 29 June 1940. To No.1 ITS, 22 July 1940; promoted LAC, 16 September 1940 and posted that date to No.2 WS; to No.2 BGS, 19 January 1941. Graduated and promoted Sergeant, 17 February 1941. Reported overseas, 5 April 1941. Later served in No.425 Squadron. Commissioned 21 July 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 4 December 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 7 April 1943. Invested with award by King George, 18 May 1943. Shot down and taken prisoner, 14 January 1944 while with No.432 Squadron (Lancaster DS850). Repatriated to Canada, 1 June 1945; to Composite Training School, 12 June 1945; to Release Centre, 12 September 1945. Released 18 September 1945. Died in Ottawa, 15 November 1981. Numerous papers deposited with Canadian War Museum including unpublished autobiography (CWM Call Number: 58A 1 192. 19)

This airman is employed as an air gunner. He has at all times displayed exemplary qualities and his work had been completed in an assuming yet forceful manner. By his skill and teamwork he has played a good part in the success of the crews with whom he has flown. He has participated in attacks on dockyard installations and industrial targets both in Germany and German occupied territory. His courage and tenacity have been noteworthy.

Flight Sergeant Rainville has completed 38 sorties against the enemy, 31 of which were with this squadron. His determination in the execution of his duties account in a large part for this number of sorties. He displayed at all times most exemplary qualities and his work was carried out in an unassuming yet forceful manner. His cool and cooperative execution of his duties while on operations has played a great part in the successes of the crews with which he has flown.

Flight Sergeant Rainville is of French-Canadian descent, and as such he has set a fine example for future French-Canadian aircrew. His ability, courage, tenacity and coolness qualify him for official recognition.

The website “Lost Bombers” has two entries respecting his latter experiences with No.432 Squadron. The first relates to Lancaster DS851 (QO-D), target Berlin, 2/3 December 1943. This aircraft was delivered to No.432 Squadron in October 1943 and took part in the following operations: Sea Search, 18/19 November 1943 (aborted); subsequently lost on its first combat operation (LL618 also lostt). Airborne at 1706 hours, 2 December 1943 from East Moor. Badly shot about by a night- fighter and crashed at 0035 hours on return to base, finishing up in a field beyond the upwind end of the runway. Crew consisted to F/O C.Wales, RCAF; Sergeant J.Dickinson; Flight Sergeant J.Evans; Flight Sergeant J.Garvey ;Sergeant J.Aplin ;Sergeant D.Thomas; F/L G.Rainville, DFM ,RCAF. The second account of DS850 is detailed below. (Source: Public Records Office Air 2/9598 has recommendation (date missing) listing 38 sorties (188 hours 35 minutes)

Crew or Other Personnel

Lancaster DS850

Sergeant John Howard Aplin RAFVR

Sergeant Aplin, John Howard (RAFVR)
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-January-14
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany

Flight Sergeant John Sidney Evans RAFVR

Flight Sergeant Evans, John Sidney (RAFVR)
Navigator
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Flight Sergeant William John Thomas Garvey RAFVR

Flight Sergeant Garvey, William John Thomas (RAFVR)
Bomb Aimer
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Robert Anthony Hutchinson RAFVR

Sergeant Hutchinson, Robert Anthony (RAFVR)
Air Gunner (Mid-Upper)
Killed in Action
1944-January-14
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany

Flight Sergeant Gordon Chesley Pike RCAF

Flight Sergeant Pike, Gordon Chesley (RCAF)
2nd Pilot
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Flight Lieutenant Guy Henri H Rainville RCAF

Flight Lieutenant Rainville, Guy Henri H (RCAF)
Air Gunner (Rear)
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Alfred Leonard Joseph Thomas RAFVR

Sergeant Thomas, Alfred Leonard Joseph (RAFVR)
Flight Engineer
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Flight Lieutenant Crawford Vincent Wales RCAF

Flight Lieutenant Wales, Crawford Vincent (RCAF)
Pilot
Prisoner of War
1944-January-14
cemetery unknown

Mission

Lancaster Mk.II DS850

Bombing Brunswick Germany 1944-January-14 to 1944-January-14

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

Battle of Berlin

496 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes on the first major raid to Brunswick of the war. 38 Lancasters Jost, 7·6 per cent of the force. The German running commentary was heard following the progress of the bomber force from a position only 40 miles from the English coast and many German fighters entered the bomber stream soon after the German frontier was crossed near Bremen. The German fighters scored steadily until the Dutch coast was crossed on the return flight. Ir of the lost aircraft were Pathfinders.

Brunswick was smaller than Bomber Command's usual targets and this raid was not a success. The city report describes this only as a 'light' raid, with bombs in the south of the city which had only ro houses destroyed and 14 people killed. Most of the attack fell either in the countryside or in Wolfenbiittel and other small towns and villages well to the south of Brunswick.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Lancaster DS850 (QO-M), target Brunswick, 14/15 January 1944. This aircraft was delivered to No.432 Squadron in October 1943. It took part in the following operations; Berlin, 2/3 December 1943; Berlin, 1-2 January 1944; Berlin, 2/3 January 1944; Brunswick, 14/15 January 19 when lost, as was Lancaster DS740. Airborne at 1703 hours, 14 January 1944 from East Moor. Hit by flak over the target which severely wounded Sergeant J.H. Aplin and caused much structural damage. Petrol tanks were ruptured and the order to bale out was given in the vicinity of Rheine, the Lancaster crashing on the Engdener Wuste, east of Nordhorn. Crew were F/L C.V.Wales, RCAF (POW); Flight Sergeant G.C.Pike, RCAF (POW); Sergeant A.L.Thomas (wounded); Flight Sergeant J.S.Evans (POW); Flight Sergeant W.J.T.Garvey (wounded); Sergeant J.H.Aplin (killed); Sergeant R.A.Hutchinson (killed); F/L G.H.Rainville. DFM, RCAF (Squadron Gunnery Leader, POW, subsequently held in Camp L3, POW number 3386.

Rainville subsequently filed a “Loss of Bomber Aircraft’ report, stating he had flown 50 sorties and that his position on this night was rear gunner. He was interrogated on 10 April 1945.

We were on the bombing run when a flak shell exploded very near the aircraft. I immediately opened the rear turret doors in order to get out because I thought we had been seriously hit. The aircraft was shuddering violently and skidding for a minute or so. Almost at the same time an incendiary bomb dropped from above crashed through the astro hatch and the WOP who was standing there was fatally wounded in the head. Pilot gave order to second pilot and engineer to look after WOP after our bombs had been dropped. Soon after this a strong smell of petrol enveloped the aircraft, which I reported to pilot who immediately asked engineer if he could find the leak and stop it. From the answer given by engineer I gathered he could not reach the location of leak owing to the wounded WOP who was lying down in the passage. A check of the petrol gauges revealed we were losing a great amount of petrol and after 50 minutes on the return journey the engineer stated he had ten minutes left. The pilot gave the order to get ready to abandon aircraft. I came out of the turret, as I found there was not enough room to maneuver quickly and safely. I put my chute on and plugged the intercom in standing near the rear door and waiting for orders. Meanwhile the mid-upper had been ordered out of his turret and asked to try and move the WOP to either front or rear exit with the help of second pilot. This had already been found impossible to do owing to lack of room and the condition of the wounded. While standing by I heard engineer say he had only four minutes or so to go. The bomb aimer asked permission to bale out and half a minute later I made the same request which was granted immediately by pilot. Opening the rear door I jumped out from 11,000 feet and a few minutes later hit a ploughed field near the Osnabruck-Rheine road approximately 15 miles from Rheine.

Details: The incendiary bomb did not explode; it tore a big gap in the WOP’s head and his brains could be seen. He regained consciousness now and again. In Dulag Luft (cooler) the navigator told me he had been informed by the Germans that the WOP and mid-upper had been found dead in aircraft. The aircraft did not climb above 18 or 19,000 feet. According to later information given by pilot, most of his instruments were faulty. Dropped height gradually on return trip.

Unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

Unvetted Source Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire

Unit Desciption

432 (B) Sqn Saeviter Ad Lucem ("Leaside")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Wellington X, Lancaster II, Halifax III, VII)

The Squadron was the twelfth RCAF bomber squadron to be formed overseas in WWII. It was formed on May 1, 1943 at Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, UK as a unit of No 6 (RCAF) Group of RAF Bomber Command: indeed, it was the first bomber squadron to be formed directly into No 6 Group. Using the squadron identification letters QO it flew Vickers Wellington Mk X medium bombers until it moved to East Moor, Yorkshire on 19th September 1943, when it re-equipped with Avro Lancaster Mk II aircraft. East Moor was part of No 62 (RCAF) Base. The squadron re-equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk III aircraft in February 1944, and with Halifax Mk VII in July of that year, and continued with them until the squadron was disbanded at East Moor on May 15, 1945.

In the course of operations the squadron flew 246 missions, involving 3130 individual sorties, for the loss of 73 aircraft. 8980 tons of bombs were dropped. Awards to squadron members included 2 DSOs, 119 DFCs,1 Bar to DFC, 1 CGM, 20 DFMs and 1 Croix de Guerre (France). Battle Honours were: English Channel and North Sea 1943, Fortress Europe 1943-44, France and Germany 1944-45, Biscay Ports 1944, Ruhr 1943-45, Berlin 1943-44, German Ports 1943-45, Normandy 1944, Rhine, Biscay 1943.Moyes, Kostenuk and Griffin

Squadron History (Bomber Command Museum PDF)

Maps for Movements of 432 Squadron 1943-45

MAP 1: 432 Squadron Bases 1943-45 (marked in green). Right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab

432 Squadron History Summary 1943-45

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Canuck)

The squadron was re-formed at Bagotville, Quebec as an All-Weather Fighter unit on 1 October 1954. The squadron flew Avro CF-100 Canuck aircraft on North American Air Defence until it was disbanded on 15 October 1961.