Hi There! I have a trip planned to northern Germany later this year, and plan to visit Becklingen War Cemetery to honour the memory of my uncle who is buried there. I've just recently learned that my sister has received (on loan) a box full of his memorabilia, which I am anxious to go see in the near future. She has already sent me a scan of a long letter that he wrote to a young poltician named John Deifenbaker, whom he had met just prior to heading overseas. (Deifenbaker would later serve as Prime Minister during the 60's.)

The letter has certainly made an impact on me: articulate, thoughtful, hopeful and yet foreboding. I guess all of the mixed feelings that a 25 yr old would feel in that situation. Anyway, sorry for the long pre-amble.....I will cut to the chase.

Wilfrid (Wilfred) Bruce Smith; RCAF, arrived in England in March 1941 with the rank of Sgt. Pilot. He served with 78 Squadron RAF, and as I recall my late mom telling me, he was shot down during a night time raid possibly at Kiel, on May 29 1941. His body was recovered sometime later, and now rests in Becklingen. The entire crew was apparently lost. It was Bruce's first mission.

I am interested in learning about the history of 78 Squadron, and in Bomber Command in general. I have ordered V. Holland's book "Nobody Unprepared" which is about 78 Sqdn., thanks to information I gleaned on this board. I would be grateful if anyone else has further information on 78 Sqdn, Bruce or his crew members (I don't have their names). If I come across any interesting info from his items I will gladly share it here.

Sorry for the long post.....and thanks in advance.

Neil

Hello Neil,
Inspired as you are by an RCAF uncle who died serving with 'Preston's Own' RAF, I studied 78 Sqdn in depth and in great detail until about 15 years. I have a copy of the sqdn's operational records on microfilm, much of which I have transcribed.

Over the course of 10 years in the late '80s and mid 90's I was quite connected to this squadron, attending two of their reunions in York and corresponding with over 380 former Sqdn members, collecting stories, photos etc.

Below is my entry for your uncle's crew. If you should have any further questions, feel free to contact me. While I seem to have only the most basic information on this crew (based ona quick scan of my data base) I do have other information on their immediate contemporaries on base - something which can go far to help you recover 'the spirit' of your uncle.

Regards,
Michael Moores LeBlanc
Acton, Ontario, Canada

28/29 May 1941 Take-Off: 21:55 hours
Whitley V Z6484 FTR Kiel
Pilot Sgt Alfred Thomas Copley. 903447. † Becklingen, Soltau, Germany.
Pilot Sgt Wilfred Bruce Smith. R62188. † Becklingen, Soltau, Germany.
Obs Sgt Albert Cooke. 754743. † Becklingen, Soltau, Germany.
W/Op Sgt Alfred Gregory. 975990. † Becklingen, Soltau, Germany.
WAG Sgt D.R. Strickland 974773. † Becklingen, Soltau, Germany.
Took off at 21:55 hours, to attack the ‘Tirpitz’ at Keil.
One Unidentified Crew - BCATPM)

Crew Biographies:
Sgt Alfred Thomas Copley. 903447. RAF (VR). Pilot.
† Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 21. A. 11.

Sgt Wilfred Bruce Smith. R62188. RCAF. Pilot.
Age 25. From Hawarden, Saskatchewan, Canada.
† Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 21. A. ?

Sgt Albert Cooke. 754743. RAF (VR). Observer.
† Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 21. A. 9.

Sgt Alfred Gregory. 975990. RAF (VR). Wireless Operator. † Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 21. A. 9.

Sgt D.R. Strickland. 974773. RAF (VR).
Wireless Operator/Airgunner. † Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Germany. 21. A. ?.

Hi there
Does anyone have any records relating to my father Sgt. Alan Schofield Fletcher who did about 30 missions 1940 to 41 I think
I know he got the DFM but no details

Thanks
Roger Fletcher

Hello Roger,
The rank & file data is spare for 78 Sqdn in the early records. Usually only a family name rank and trades are shown in the postings and some of these are missing in my records.

Fortunately, Fletcher is a relatively rare name with the Sqdn and in this case, one was KIA prior to the info I have added below. I'm chancing the idea your father was an W/Op . . . ?

If so, I believe I may have a reference to him in a letter from one of 78 Sqdn's 1941 era pilot's, Jack Moorfoot.

If I am wrong at least this message will give you a sense of the 'time' your father was flying on Ops.

All the best,
Michael Moores LeBlanc

Below: 'Preston's Own' 78 Sqdn, RAF.

16/17 August 1941 Ex Ops to Cologne
Whitley V Z6495
Take-Off: 23:32 Landed: 01:00
Pilot Sgt Jack Moorfoot
2 Plt Sgt? Thomas
Obs Sgt ? Logan
W/Op Sgt ? Fletcher
R/G Sgt John Duffield
Details of Sortie: The primary target was not reached owing to mechanical trouble, and the bombs were jetissoned in the sea. The aircraft made for Waddington but owing to a pin-point error landed at the ‘Q’ Site causing slight damage to the undercarriage.

As per Jack Moorfoot, Pilot: ‘On the night of 16 August I flew to Cologne. Our starboard engine went on fire and I had to close it down using the Gravener. We contacted Waddington for landing. All was dark and a flare-path came up. My crew checked the position which appeared to tie up with the relationship with the flashing beacon. To cut a long story short, the ‘flare-path’ turned out to be a ‘Q’ Site. Miraculously, we landed on it, the only damage being a broken starboard wheel. In the light of day, we had escaped high trees deliberately in the approach; ditches across and at the side of what was apparently the flare-path and a pit into which we would have gone had not the wheel broken and thrown us to the right. We found the building, which housed the airmen who looked after the ‘Q’ Site, and you can imagine their surprise when we went into the room where they were playing cards.’

As per John Duffield: ‘After OTU at Abingdon, I was posted to 78 Sqdn at Middleton St George, flying as a Rear Gunner in Whitleys. I was there from late spring to early summer, 1941. I was then posted to the other sqdn on the base i.e. 76 Sqdn on Halifaxes. My only rise to fame was to be able to claim that I was on the Whitley crew that crash-landed on Waddington’s dummy airfield.We had originally taken off for Cologne but had trouble with the starboard engine with the result that we were unable to reach any altitude. It was decided to fly down country hoping the engine would clear. By the time we reached Lincoln, we had been fired on three times by our own anti-aircraft. It was then decided to ask for emergency landing and make for the ‘Wash’ to drop the bombs. By the time we reached the Wash we were doen to 5,000 feet and soon after 2,000 feet. It would appear that whilst all this was going on two ‘Erks’, in charge of Waddington’s dummy airfield, thought they heard a German airplane and put the flare-path of the ‘Dummy Airfield’ on. We went in to make a normal landing with the wheels down, not knowing until later that the field had ditches cut across it. You can imagine what happened when we came into contact with the ditches. However, we managed to break the Whitley into a lot of small pieces scattered over a considerable area. This was the only occasion when I was able to stand upright and walk out of a rear turret. As a result of this farcas, the only injuries among the crew were a few bruises. This is my story and I am sticking to it!

3 July 1941 Wing Commander Tom Sawyer takes command

As per Jack Moorfoot, Pilot: ‘I joined 78 Squadron on 6 July, 1941. At this time we were at Middleton St George. There was a Mess party going on so I met nearly all rthe aircrew which included one or two I had met at OTU Abingdon. One of the pilots was an American named Sherman*. I do not recall his first name which is a pity because I had known him well at Abingdon and we became firm friends. Unhappily, he failed to return from a trip which was in early 1942. You mentioned Douglas Knox. He was in ‘A’ Flight and joined, I believe, about the same day I did, in July 1941. The first two trips I did after joining were on 7th and 8th of July. . . We ran out of petrol and crash-landed in the Cleveland Hills some miles from Thirsk. It was a miraculous landing . . . After that I did three trips as a second pilot to Jock Calder, I recall at that time P/O Pat Lowry and Sgt Mutlast? - (Muttard) were on ‘B’ Flight with me. You mentioned Fransden.

On 27 July he and I did about an hour in the air together on an Air Firing exercise. Sgt Woodhatch I remember well. S/Ldr Jock Mercer was my Flight Commander. On 8 August I had a night flying exercise with P/O Roy as my Second Pilot. Between then and 16 August we had no operations but I had four Air Tests in preparation, two with Sgt Beardmore as 2nd Pilot and one with Sgt Thomas.
On the night of 16 August I flew to Cologne with Sgt Thomas as 2nd Pilot, Sgt Logan (Observer), Sgt Fletcher (W/Op) and Sgt Duffield (R/G), then came the landing at the ‘Q’ Site on August 16th, 1941. I had Sgt Thomas with me for a trip to Le Harve on 19 August and to Dusseldorf on the 24th. Sgt Logan was Navigator but my W/Op was Sgt Fudge - a great character who stayed with me until I was posted to become an Instructor at 1502 BAT Flight in 1942.
On the 29th of August another Sgt Jones flew as second pilot with me to Frankfurt. On 7/8 September P/O Beadle joined me as my 2nd Pilot in a trip to Berlin. It was the brightest moonlit night I had ever seen. It was almost like day and there was little or no cloud.We saw many fighters and the target was surrounded by lots of anti-aircraft guns. I think I am right when I say that there we were the only 78 Sqdn aircraft to get there. (Note: Of the other two Sqdn a/c detailed for Berlin, Sgt Simmons also reached the target but crashed on return at Houghton Le Springs). We had a number of losses and a number landed else where.
On 19 September F/O Thomas came as my 2nd Pilot to Stettin. P/O Pearson was my Navigator. He was a Canadian and a first class person in all respects. His astro-navigation was spot on. We took excellent photographs of the target area in which was the Pocket Battleship Prince Eugen. Because of the weather we were BFX to Driffield. For quite a number of operations I had P/O Pearson as navigator. He was in the RAF but I believe he went over to the RCAF later on.
On 29 September the same team went to Stettin again. In fact we had trouble with the aircraft which made us quite late to take off. The trouble came back and we lost our intercom altogether. We bombed Wardenmorde, near Rostock, so we clearly were unlikely to get to Stettin and back.
21 October - Trip to Bremin. We spent some unpleasant time coned by searchlights. We had damage occasioned by two Me110s and eventually landed in Dorking, Norfolk.
I see from your letter that P/O Leyland and P/O Fransden collided on 10 October. I do not remember that. On that night I went to Essen with Sgt Lunan as my 2nd Pilot.
Some time later, I believe in 1942 (Dec. 1941) P/O Beadle who was then a Captain himself had a remarkable escape. His aircraft ran into a hillside but no one was hurt as far as I remember.
Sgt Weatherston flew with me number of times in December, 1941. I recall Sgt Cox and F/Lt Clapperton during November, 1941. F/Lt Clapperton became ‘B’ Flight C/O and O/C 78 Squadron in early 1942.
Sgt McColl was my 2nd Pilot on a trip to Rotterdam in January, 1942. Sgt Hockley was with me on two occasions. Wing Commander Corbally took over ‘78’ at some time between the end of December 1941 and March, 1942, I believe.W/Cdr Tom Sawyer was C/O. I met him at another station some time later.
Throughout most, if not all the time, I was with the squadron G/Capt Traill was the Station Commander. Certainly he was there until we moved to Croft to mae room for the canadians. He was a great character and a pleasure to serve. He had both ‘78’ and ‘76’ to look after.
Life on the Squadron of course was not always flying True, we worked hard during Moon Periods but meterological problems gave us a number of days off when we had to be satisfied by doing an air test but our evenings were our own. I have many memories of my time with 78. Visits to ‘The George’ at Piercebridge. ‘Briefing’ in the Belivar, of a special Pub in Darlington, The Imperial. Excellent meals in the ‘Black Lion’, at Stockton. These were hostelries which looed after us very well. Visits to the local theatre in Darlington where 78 would take one box and 76 the other. These are just a few.’
I left the Squadron, which by then had moved to Croft in order to accomodate the Canadians, in February, 1942. I was posted then to Driffield, where I spent over a year as an Instructor on a BAT flight.

Crew History: * Sgt Thomas Anthony Sherman, R69619. FTR Hannover 16/17 August, 1941

For the information of anyone who has a personal interest in 78 Sqn . . .

"Exercise Halifax Shadow" - a 78 Sqn commemerative event is taking place between 4th-7th June 2010 at various locations in the greater York area

This event is open to all former members of 78 Sqn (from any era of our operational past) be they aircrew or groundcrew. Additionally we welcome the relatives/families of those 979 78 Sqn personnel KIA/MIA during WWII and also the 20+ personnel lost since the end of WWII

So if you have served with No 78 Squadron at; Al Mazra, Breighton, Croft, Dishforth, Kabrit, Khormaksar, Linton on Ouse, Middleton St. George, Mount Pleasant or Sharjah - or are related to someone that did and are interested in attending, please contact me for further information. Thanks

Nemo Non Paratus

Tony H

Hi Tony,

I am the Grandson of Sgt. Harry Braithwaite who served in 78 Squadron at Breighton. I am interested in receiving more information about the 78 Sqn event and am sure that my Grandfather would love to attend. Please can I have your contact details so I can speak/email you directly?

Regards

Mike Fairclough

Hi Mike

I did send you a personal message, however if you didn't get it, my email address is as below . . .

tonyhibberd752 at yahoo.co.uk
Kind Regards

Tony H

Dear Michael,

I am new to WWII forums and I read your post from 2009 with interest, as I would love to find out as much about 78 Squadron RAF as I can. My Grandfather (Plt.Of WCR Foale) flew with 78 Sqdn at an RAF VR in WWII until his death in 1943, his Halifax being shot down over Holland and he and his crew are buried in Eindhoven. My Grandmother died in 2006 and then my own father in 2008, so I am now feel I am the member of the family who needs to keep the memories of my Grandfather alive. Any information you may be able to share with me, in particular relating to my Grandad, I would be most grateful for.

Yours sincerely,

Rob Foale

It seems that Michael hasn't been on the forum since early December. I might suggest sending him an email indicating your interest. You can do so by clicking on his user name in one of the above posts. You might also contact Tony H who also seems to have a connection to 78 Sqdn.

In the meantime, welcome to the forum. You'll find the palce chock full of useful information and friendly folk willing to share.

__________________
"Faint heart never won fair maiden", so I say "Go for it!"

Lou

Hi Tony, I have collated the history around my Uncle`s loss on a mission over France 7/8 June 1944. As such I would be very interested in "Exercise Halifax Shadow" - taking place between 4th-7th June 2010.
Thanks in advance
David T.

In case others want to know more about 78 RAF Squadron:

RAF - History

No. 78 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

Yorkshire. RAF Breighton

Sqn Histories 76-80_P

Wilfred Bruce Smith
CWGC :: Casualty Details From an hour south of where I live.....

William Charles Robert Foale
CWGC :: Casualty Details

__________________
Regards, Michelle

Oliver Goldsmith, "I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines."

David

Apologies for the delay in replying, I only got back from the Falklands this morning and am catching op on a weeks worth of emails . . . !

Please email me at tonyhibberd752@yahoo.co.uk for further info on Halfax Shadow

Rgds

T