At this exact time (0235 20/02/1944) my Grandfather was under attack whilst flying Halifax LW324 (ZA-J) on the disastrous raid of Leipzig.
He was shot down by Oblt Brinkhaus in a Ju88 and ordered the crew to bail, all of whom safely evacuated the stricken bomber. They were all taken PoW where they remained until the end of the war. The plane found its final resting place near Wesendorf.
F/Sgt J.L. Walker
Sgt R. McArthur
Sgt T. Stewart
Sgt J. Thorpe
Sgt D.H. Thomas
Sgt P. Croal
Sgt H. Hopkinson
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/minimadandy/Grandpas10Squadroncrew1943.jpg
Just though I’d share a little bit of history with you all 🙂
By: John Green - 18th February 2012 at 11:55
Re 11
Hear, Hear. This brought a tear to my raddled old eye.
John Green
By: Andy in Beds - 18th February 2012 at 00:27
What a marvellous thread.
Thank you for posting this.
My respect for the men of RAF Bomber Command never diminishes, in fact it increases as I get older and realise more and more what it really took to do the things they did.
Andy.
By: ajw - 17th February 2012 at 23:10
So, another year has passed since my Grandfather got shot down (68 years now) and it has only taken me a year to speak to Dad and find out some more details!!
Jettisoning – D. Thomas isn’t in the photo….the photo I put up is the ‘normal’ crew
The crew members in the original photo are:
Top: Jack Thorpe, Harry Hopkinson, Eddy Lampen, Blackie Stewart
Bottom: Bob McArthur, Jack ‘Johnny’ Walker, Peter Croal
Having spoken to Dad, he thinks it was actually Blackie Stewart who committed suicide. Eddie Lampen was devastated that his normal crew went missing on the raid and was understandably very depressed about the whole situation. He did not want to fly, but was told that if he did not, he would be labelled as a coward and reluctantly continued his flying duties.
And some more photos:
This was taken shortly after the war ended…Some of the crew met up in Saltburn – J. Walker, J. Thorpe, T. Stewart, R. McArthur
This is the remaining crew members meeting up at Melbourne some time after the war. This was the largest gathering of the crew after bailing out of the Halifax.
My Grandfather (right) seeing the Elvington Halifax on the day it was unveiled to the public
And a few random pics that I couldn’t help but put in!
This was taken in Amman in ’58 during the Suez crisis. He was flying Hastings at the time. Obviously had enough spare time for a game of cricket!!
A claim to fame during his VC10 days:
And finally, Jack Ostley (left), a member of 617 Sqdn and JW on Remembrance Day in 2003.
ps….Sorry about the quality of some of the pics…..I don’t have access to a scanner and the photos are stuck in photo albums that I am loathed to disturb!
By: ajw - 21st February 2011 at 22:39
I’ll get back to you on who is who on the photo……I can’t remember off the top of my head. I’ll have to check with Dad!
The ‘normal’ m/u was ill on the night of the raid and went AWOL after because he was so distraught and I am led to believe (although nobody knows for sure) that he committed suicide some time later.
As far as I am aware, the crew never met up in their entirety after the war. Sadly my Dad and I never asked my Grandfather any of the questions we wanted to before he died in 2004. He suffered a massive stroke in 1997 and was left mute as a result, so we have many unanswered questions about a lot of things like when he got shot down.
I have the book ‘Target Leipzig’ about the raid and in the back it says who shot him down. I also believe that he met up with Oblt Brinkhaus some years later!
The last time any members of the crew met was when Bob McArthur and Jack Thorpe came to visit my Grandfather after he had had his stroke in Oxford where he lived. All three of them (the last survivors) died very close together, my Grandfather the last of the three.
We have at home a picture of some of the crew together by the 10 Squadron memorial at Melbourne where they were stationed.
I’ll get some more info from Dad and share it all with you!
By: jettisoning - 20th February 2011 at 11:00
LW324 crew
according to GORDON’S TOUR WITH SHINY 10* this crew started tour 09 11 43 .
‘The usual m/u Sgt Lampkin was ill for this raid and Sgt D Thomas took his place’ .
which is a/g Sgt D Thomas in the photo ?
* Gordon’s Tour With Shiny 10 – A Wartime Record of a Tour with RAF 10 Squadron – by J Gordon Shirt . First edition April 1994
By: bazv - 20th February 2011 at 10:10
Do you know any details about the Air Gunner who looks a little older than the rest of the crew ?
By: Moggy C - 20th February 2011 at 10:02
A brilliant bit of personal history. And as above I am so pleased they all made it.
Did they stay in contact much after the war?
Moggy
By: inkworm - 20th February 2011 at 08:29
Thanks for sharing and glad they all survived.
By: piston power! - 20th February 2011 at 08:21
He was shot down by Oblt Brinkhaus.
How do you find out which pilot shot down which plane is there some records to view online.?
By: bazv - 20th February 2011 at 08:10
Yes lovely photo,thanks for sharing !!
By: Hornchurch - 20th February 2011 at 06:46
–
cheers for that A.J.
Cracking picture of his crew !
.
Sign In
February 20, 2011 at 2:38 am