427 squadron rcaf

Looking for information on my uncle Don Ferguson tail gunner
aircraft lancaster named betty boop any help or direction

 

Sorry, not a Lancaster but a Wellington (Wimpy) so a cartoon character such as "Betty Boop" was no doubt suitable!

427 Squadron Wellington Mk.III. Serial Number BK343. Coded: ZL-V
Operation: St-Nazaire
28th February / 1st March 1943
Airborne 18:10 28th February 1943 from Croft. Crashed in the sea off Belle Ile. Of those killed, four are buried in Pornic War Cemetery, but F/Sgt Ferguson is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 181.
W/O 2 W.D. Hartney RCAF KIA;
F/Sgt J.A. Kilpatrick RCAF KIA;
Sgt D.A. Ferguson RCAF KIA;
Sgt R.W. Radford KIA;
Sgt E. Allison RAF; PoW; (Service No. 982287) was interned in Camp 344. PoW No.27268)
F/Sgt J.L. Ward RCAF KIA.

Name: FERGUSON, DONALD ALEXANDER. Initials: D A. Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. Unit Text: 427 Sqdn.
Age: 26. Date of Death: 28/02/1943. Service No: R/101891
Additional information: Son of A. Clifton Ferguson and Nellie Ferguson, of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 181. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Name: HARTNEY, WILLIAM DOUGLAS. Initials: W D. Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Warrant Officer Class II
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. Unit Text: 427 Sqdn.
Age: 21. Date of Death: 28/02/1943. Service No: R/103722
Additional information: Son of Harlow M. and Nan C. Hartney, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 6. Cemetery: PORNIC WAR CEMETERY

Name: KILPATRICK, JAMES AUGUSTUS. Initials: J A. Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Obs.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. Unit Text: 427 Sqdn.
Age: 32. Date of Death: 28/02/1943. Service No: R/118065
Additional information: Son of Joseph Augustus and Jennie Kilpatrick, of Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 4. Cemetery: PORNIC WAR CEMETERY

Name: WARD, JOHN LANGMEAEL. Initials: J L. Nationality: Canadian.
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. Unit Text: 427 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 28/02/1943. Service No: R/115679
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 3. Cemetery: PORNIC WAR CEMETERY

Name: RADFORD, REGINALD WILLIAM. Initials: R W. Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn
Age: 20. Date of Death: 28/02/1943. Service No: 1389706
Additional information: Son of Charles William and Alice Fanny Radford, of Battersea, London.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 5. Cemetery: PORNIC WAR CEMETERY

As there were RCAF crew aboard, you should be able to obtain their Service Files and also request full information about the crash any MREU Report etc, as RCAF files tend to contain more info than standard RAF ones... That's if you haven't done so already.

There may also be a copy of the Lost Aircraft Report completed by Allison after his release from PoW camp.

The rear gunners frequently were able to exit the plane more quickly after the order had been given to abandon the aircraft, by revolving the turret as far as it would go to one side, opening the rear door and simply falling out backwards. In his case it may be that his parachute was blown out to sea and his body never identified. At least the rest of his crew are still together in adjacent plots.

I can't tell you the cause of loss, but Saint Nazaire was a heavily defended port and U boat base so likely the flak defences were massed in the area. If it was a night fighter I would expect there to be some Luftwaffe record as each "kill" was scrutinised before the crew were awarded a successful claim.

Hope that helps
Edit: Now been able to access the Bomber Command Campaign Diary for the Operation:
28 February/1 March 1943

Having destroyed Lorient, Bomber Command was now ready to start on the second target on the list of French U-boat base ports - St Nazaire - which the directive of 14 January had ordered to be destroyed. 437 aircraft - 152 Lancasters, 119 Wellingtons, 100 Halifaxes, 62 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitos - were dispatched. 5 aircraft - 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, (NB: both from 427) 1 Stirling - were lost, 1.1 per cent of the force. This initial raid caused widespread destruction. Local reports say that many bombs fell into the port area and that 60 per cent of the town was destroyed. 29 people are reported as being killed and 12 injured; it is presumed that most of the local population had left the town.

 

This thread is quite old, but if anyone is still interested in information on this crew/aircraft I am the son of the sole survivor Sgt E. ALLISON, and i have a full account of what happened on that fateful night. Just reply, and i can send you the scans....or e-mail me:
jonnyzchivago@yahoo.co.uk

 

Hello--I am the great niece of Sgt James Kilpatrick who was on your dad's plane, shot down Feb 28th 1943 over Belle Ile Island. I am very interested in learning the full account of what happened that night. I live in Seattle. Kilpatrick is buried in Pornic with three fellow crewman. I visited a few years ago. Look forward to hearing from you, Paige Hodges Stockley, Seattle. My email: stockleypaige@gmail.com

 

hello, my great uncle was also on that ill fated plane---Sgt James Kilpatrick. Please write to me!
Paige Stockley, Seattle Wa.

 

My email: stockleypaige@gmail.com