My neighbours Uncle flew with 102 Sqn RAF as a Canadian during the War. His Uncle was a Navigator/Bombadier on the Halifax and was lost around Apr/ May 1944 on a bombing raid over France. Although he has done some research trying to find out information while he was in the UK he has not had the best of luck. Recently I noticed while searching the net for him that somebody had written a book about 102Sqn called “It’s suicide but its fun” I was wondering if anybody on here had this book and could check to see if there is any mention about this fellow and possibly and info as to what happened on his last mission. His name was Roach and he was a P/O I believe at the time of his loss. Thanks for any assistance you could give.
HH Mulder
By: haroldmulder - 16th November 2008 at 18:04
Thanks very much for the info will pass it on.
HH Mulder
By: jettisoning - 16th November 2008 at 08:39
102 Sq Halifax missing
i have a copy of ‘suicide but fun’ as mentioned .
the loss of HR978 DY-V is confirmed with the added comment ‘Missing in early hours’ (p196)
on p117 it says of operations in March 1944 :-
March 1944 saw the squadron concentrating on ‘GARDENING’ trips and , for the first time in many months , targets in France . Again it was a very quiet month with only one Halifax , that flown by F/Sgt James Garside , lost without trace during an attack on Laon on the night of the 23rd/24th of March 1944 .
By: haroldmulder - 16th November 2008 at 02:48
Halifax crewman
Thanks muchly will print and give this to him.
HH Mulder
By: kev35 - 15th November 2008 at 23:45
I suspect you are looking for this man:
ROACH, RICHARD JOHN
Initials: R J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit Text: 102 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 24/03/1944
Service No: J/23756
Additional information: Son of John and Hilda Roach, of Long Branch, Ontario, Canada.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 248.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
The above taken from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Further to that, Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses for 1944 has the following:
Halifax II HR978 coded DT-V took off from Pocklington at 1920 on an operation to bomb railway yards at Laon. The aircraft was lost without trace and accordingly the crew, listed below, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
F/S J Garside.
Sgt. R Catlow.
WO2 J C Owens RCAF.
F/O R J Roach RCAF. Air Bomber.
Sgt. L D Maynard.
Sgt. T A Smith.
Sgt. G Walker.
143 aircraft were despatched to bomb the yards but the Master Bomber called off the raid after 72 aircraft had bombed. Lines were cut but repaired the following day. 9 French civilians were killed. Two aircraft were lost, the 102 Squadron Halifax and a Halifax of 77 Squadron, also lost without trace. I can see no Luftwaffe claims for aircraft on the night of 23rd/24th March 1944.
I believe F/O Roach’s service Records will be available from the Library & Archives of Canada but unfortunately their site is down for maintenance till Monday.
Sorry I couldn’t help more.
Regards,
kev35
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November 15, 2008 at 11:10 pm