Personnel Index - Detail

Name
CHURCH
First Names
Harold D
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1610171
Crew Position
Navigator
PoW Date
03/11/1943
Aircraft
Lancaster JB305
Target
Düsseldorf
PoW Camp(s)
PoW Number
261506

 

John Ward 49Sqn Association
 

Via John Ward 49Sqn Association
 

Via John Ward 49Sqn Association
 

3/4 November, 1943; DÜSSELDORF:

It wasn't until 3rd November that Bomber Command was able to send a large force out again, when almost 600 bombers were sent against the German city of Düsseldorf. The 'rest' period had enabled most squadrons to replenish their establishment of aircraft and 49 was no exception. Now re-settled back at Fiskerton (from Dunholme Lodge), the unit was able to provide 18 aircraft for the evening’s operation. The raid was successful with many fires reported but Command did lose 18 aircraft and crews.
For the second raid in succession 49 Squadron lost two aircraft. The second aircraft reported missing, was that piloted by F/Lt Carfoot (JB305) and crew on only their second trip.
F/Lt Norman Carfoot had previously served in Coastal Command (having flown over 2,000hrs) before volunteering for Bomber Command... in search of more excitement! Over Düsseldorf, his Lancaster became coned in searchlights and almost instantly suffered hits from heavy flak. Sgt Church, the crew's navigator, recalls the final moments aboard the aircraft:

"Flak set the port wing on fire and the next moment tracer shells from an attacking JU88 passed inches in front of my chest (Sgt Wood, the W/Op, was killed instantly during this attack). The pilot ordered us all to bale out, but first he asked me to check if the rear gunner was OK; just then, over the intercom, the Aussie voice of F/Sgt Steve List confirmed that he had in fact heard the bale out order. I then put my chute on and followed the flight engineer, Sgt Mason down the steps into the nose ready to jump; the bomb aimer, Sgt Putnam RCAF went first. I turned to take one last look at my skipper, Norman Carfoot, silhouetted by the flames from the blazing wing as he held our doomed Lanc as steady as a rock... he just waved ... I think we both knew then that he wasn't going to make it." Just those three crew members who jumped from the nose hatch survived; Sgt Church believes that the Lancaster must have exploded shortly after he left the aircraft.
 

Lancaster JB305 (EA-E)
F/L N.H. Carfoot Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.S. Mason F/E (P.o.W.)
Sgt H.D. Church NAV (P.o.W.)
Sgt H.L. Wood W/AG (Killed)
Sgt W.H. Marson A/G (Killed)
F/S S.G. Putnam RCAF B/A (P.o.W.)
F/S S.M. List RAAF A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 2nd operation

Posted out........May 2015.