Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting and talking for a long while with my Uncle Arthur, an 8th Army veteran (ex RHA), who was hideously wounded in a Stuka attack at the Battle of Knightsbridge in 1942. Now 92, and almost totally blind, he has just lost his wife – our much loved Aunt Mary. (She was also commended for bravery for staying at her post as a telephonist during a 1943 air raid when her exchange was hit) However, he wanted to tell me all about his brother, Norman, who was lost with 619 Squadron.
Some detail here:
Mission: Cologne, Germany
Date: 28/29th June 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit: No. 619 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ED979
Code: PG-?
Base: R.A.F. Woodhall Spa. Lincolnshire.
Location: Aalst-Waalre, just south of Eindhoven, Holland
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Terence Peter Murphy 1246721 R.A.F. Age 23. Killed
Nav: F/O. Eric Harper 134213 R.A.F.V.R. Age 35. Killed
Flt/Engr.: Sgt. Jack Adsetts 531481 R.A.F. Age ? Killed
Air/Bomber: F/O. Alexander Mackay 131976 R.A.F.V.R. Age 29. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Norman Evan Rivers 1330344 R.A.F.V.R. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Raymond Archibald Grace 614065 R.A.F. Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Harvey William Walker R/64856 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22.58 hrs from R.A.F. Woodhall Spa. 608 aircraft took part.
(267 Lancaster’s, 169 Halifax’s, 85 Wellington’s, 75 Stirling’s and 12 Mosquitoes).
The raid took place with a cloud covered Cologne but even with that and the fact that only 6 Mosquitoes dropped their markers, the raid was devastating to Cologne.
4,377 people were killed on the ground, 10,000 were injured and another 230,000 were forced to leave their damaged homes.
The R.A.F. lost 25 aircraft. 157 Aircrew were killed and another 19 made pow’s.
Lancaster ED979 was shot down by Maj. Günter Radusch (1), night fighter ace of Stab II NJG3 over Waaire, 7 KM South Eindhoven at a height of 6,200 mtrs at 02.24 hrs.
I will be going to have a longer chat with Uncle Arthur next week, but I’d be keen to know if anyone in Holland might know more about the incident in which Norman lost his life?
I have appended a photograph of Norman, with my Dad, during Norman’s last leave before he was killed. This is outside Grandma’s house in Hailsham, and I am very familiar with that little gateway and dashing through it most Saturday mornings to see Grandma & Grandad. It is still there, all just the same. And I swear that I can ‘see’ Norman and Dad standing there whenever I might pass by. Even that missing brick. Still the same…
Must say I fely very humbled talking to him about his and Aunty’s war.
By: lancaster1 - 21st January 2014 at 20:21
Well…I get around to things. Eventually!
Visiting Uncle Arthur reminded me this was still a long way down my ‘to do’ list and I have scanned the photo of Norman Rivers to researchers who requested it in The Netherlands. If you’d like to e-mail me Lancaster1 I’d be happy to send you a high-res scan.
I was also reminded of this outstanding task when writing an article for a forthcoming ‘Britain at War’ edition which looks at another Bomber Command loss just a few days before Norman failed to come home.
Hi Andy,
Would like to send you a PM but was unable to send you one. Email me at a.zantvoortATonsneteindhoven.nl
Thanks very much,
Adrian
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st January 2014 at 14:59
Well…I get around to things. Eventually!
Visiting Uncle Arthur reminded me this was still a long way down my ‘to do’ list and I have scanned the photo of Norman Rivers to researchers who requested it in The Netherlands. If you’d like to e-mail me Lancaster1 I’d be happy to send you a high-res scan.
I was also reminded of this outstanding task when writing an article for a forthcoming ‘Britain at War’ edition which looks at another Bomber Command loss just a few days before Norman failed to come home.
By: TwinOtter23 - 16th February 2013 at 17:09
Bryan Clark’s book – “619 – The History of a Forgotten Squadron” lists ED979 as 619 Squadron’s 7th loss after its start of ops; and details the loss as:
“Shot down by night-fighter [Maj Günter Raduach I./NJG], crashing near Aalst [Noord Brabant]”
…. with ….. “Sgt Walker RCAF being reburied after the War in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek.”
By: lancaster1 - 15th February 2013 at 22:20
Lancaster ED979
Hello Andy,
Sgt N.E. Rivers was the Wop of Lanc ED979,PG-? and shotdown by FLAK over Eindhoven and crashed near Waalre/Aalst. The Lanc was returned from a raid on Cologne. The entire crew was killed and buried at Eindhoven General Cemetery. I know more about this crash which is in my research. Also I can put you in touch with someone who found the site where the a/c crashed and he is in touch with the relatives of other crewmember families. Is it possible to send me a high resolution pic of Rivers?? Contact me off board.
Cheers,
Adrian
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th February 2013 at 16:48
Thank you very much Sonderman and Glider Spit…
By: Sonderman - 15th February 2013 at 13:17
Hi,
Another Dutch forum were there might be people who can help:
www.nederlandseluchtvaart.nl/forums
Regards,
Mathieu.
By: GliderSpit - 15th February 2013 at 11:00
Hi Andy,
Posted your question on this Dutch WW2 forum: http://www.stiwotforum.nl/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=14599
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th February 2013 at 10:47
TO…thanks!
I am also dashing to get to the funeral of Mick Avann, formerly RAS, ex RAF and until recently a valued part of the Retrotec/Aerovintage/HAC team.
Catch up later, Howard.
By: TwinOtter23 - 15th February 2013 at 10:44
Andy, is he involved with the 619 Squadron Association, open to families of former sqaudron members?
I have quite a bit to do with their various activities, search ME846 and John Whiteley on here.
I will email you some items later but I have to dash as I have to attend the funeral of a former Newark Air Museum volunteer who recently passed away!
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February 15, 2013 at 10:28 am