Augsburg Raid April 17, 1942

J.J. · Oct 8, 2009

Hello all...I have posted a site with Mom's first fiance, Sgt. Brian Ignatius Joseph Daly Remember Site
He was K.I.A. in the Augsburg raid of 17/4/42. There would probably be a lot of information to be found about that raid....or perhaps more on Brian himself, and I invite you to please find it for me, so that I can post a link back to this thread for reference...
I already have a link to some of the Lost Bombers & bombercommand-Augsburg information.
I will thank you all in advance for now, as too many interruptions might spoil the thread! I will add a thank you once all resources seem exhausted. Gratefully yours, J.J.

liverpool annie · Oct 10, 2009

What a lovely remembrance JJ !!!!!

That page is smashing ! .... I can tell how proud you are !

I found this ... but I think you already have this ... but I'll post just in case ! You may find out a little more by tracking the others in the crew .... though you've probably done that too !! :doh:

Serial No - L7536
Date - 17 April 1942
Type - Lancaster
Service History - Started out as Manchester MkI, 44 Sqn del'd 28-12-41 KM-H
Classification - Shot Down
Night/Day Raid - Day
Target/Tasking - Augsburg
SOC/Crash Site - Vieil-Evreux, France
Crew Names - Sgt. G.T. Rhodes +; Sgt. L.H. Baxter, RNZAF +; Sgt. B.I.J. Daly +; Sgt. C.L. Merricks +; Sgt. J.A.
Wynton +; F/Sgt. G.A. Edwards +; F/Sgt. H.V. Gill +

http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_losses apr42.pdf

Sergeant L. H. Baxter; born New Plymouth, 11 Dec 1918; clerk; joined RNZAF Jan 1941; killed on air operations, 17 Apr 1942.

CHAPTER 12 — Heavier Bombing Raids—Advent of No. 487 Squadron | NZETC

Annie

liverpool annie · Oct 10, 2009

J.J. said: ↑

Here we go...My first request...if anyone wants to look for some good real information on the net re: Augburg raid and post them here, that would be great! I know you will see which sites have real solid information for me to refer a link to them...Thanks!
http://ww2chat.com/forums/air-campa...-augsburg-raid-april-17-1942-a.html#post36030
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The Augsburg Raid, April 17th 1942 Wing Commander Rod Rodley DSO DFC AE

'When the curtain drew back at the briefing there was a roar of laughter instead of a gasp of horror. No one believed that the airforce would be so stupid as to send 12 of its newest four-engined bombers all that distance inside Germany in daylight. We sat back and waited calmly for someone to say "Now the real target is this". Unfortunately it was the real target, a factory near Munich that was a major manufacturer of diesel engines for submarines.

At that time it was touch and go in the North Atlantic between Britain having enough to eat and not having enough to eat. The crews were determined that these diesels should not go forth in submarines. The route took us low, at about 100 feet, down to the south coast, across the Channel. We were to join 44 Squadron at the south coast, six aircraft from each squadron, and we were to go as a formation of 12 the rest of the way. We saw 44 Squadron slightly ahead of us, but we realised that they were drifting to port, and we continued in the direction we should have been going.

Our six aircraft pressed on very, very low across the Channel so that we were underneath the radar. I could see the sandbanks of France coming up ahead of us. We had no opposition at all crossing the defended coast. We proceeded south of Paris where I saw the second enemy aircraft I saw during the whole war. It was probably a courier - a Heinkel 111. It approached and, recognising us, did a 90-degree bank turn back towards Paris. We continued on flying at 100 feet.

Occasionally you would see some Frenchmen take a second look and wave their berets or their shovels. A bunch of German soldiers doing PT in their singlets broke hurriedly for their shelters as we roared over. The next opposition was a German officer on one of the steamers on Lake Constanz firing a revolver at us. I could see him quite clearly, defending the ladies with his Luger against 48 Browning machine guns.

Our route took us from the north end of Lake Constanz across another lake, where we turned north towards the target. We hadn't seen a thing on the way of the German Air Force. We were belting at full throttle at about 100 feet towards the targets. I dropped the bombs along the side wall. We flashed across the target and down the other side to about 50 feet, because flak was quite heavy. As we went away I could see light flak shells overtaking us, green balls flowing away on our right and hitting the ground ahead of us. Leaving the target I looked down at our leader's aircraft and saw that there was a little wisp of steam trailing back from it. The white steam turned to black smoke, with fire in the wing. I was slightly above him. In the top of the Lancaster there was a little wooden hatch for getting out if you had to land at sea. I realised that this wooden hatch had burned away and I could look down into the fuselage. It looked like a blow lamp with the petrol swilling around the wings and the centre section, igniting the fuselage and the slipstream blowing it down. Just like a blow lamp.

He dropped back and I asked our gunner to keep an eye on him. Suddenly he said, "Oh God, Skip, he's gone. He looks like a chrysanthemum of fire."

One other of our aircraft caught fire just short of the target, but kept on, dropped the bombs and then crashed. The raid was suicidal. Four from 97 Squadron got back, but only one from 44 Squadron. Five out of twelve."
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Personal stories | Dangers of war

liverpool annie · Oct 10, 2009

Heres a few quotes .......

The following has been received from AOC-in-C Bomber Command – the following message has been received by the AOC from the Prime Minister – “We must plainly regard the attack of the Lancasters on the U-boat engine factory at Augsburg as an outstanding achievement of the Royal Air Force. Undeterred by heavy losses at the outset, 44 and 97 Squadrons pierced and struck a vital point with deadly precision in broad daylight. Pray convey the thanks of His Majesty’s Government to the officers and men who accomplished this memorial feat of arms in which no life was lost in vain”
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Message from Chief of the Air Staff – “I would like 44 and 97 Squadrons to know the great importance I attach to this gallant and successful attack on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg. Please give my warmest congratulations and thanks”
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From Air Marshal A.T.Harris “Convey to the crews of 44 and 97 Squadrons who took part in the Augsburg raid, the following; - the resounding blow which has been struck at the enemy’s submarine and tank building programme will echo round the world. The full effects of his submarine campaigns cannot be immediately apparent, but nevertheless they will be enormous. The gallant adventure penetrating deep into the heart of Germany in daylight and pressed home with outstanding determination in the face of bitter and unforeseen opposition takes its place amongst the most courageous operations of the war. It is moreover yet another fine example of effective cooperation with the other services by striking at the very sources of the enemy effort. The officers and men who took part, those who returned and those who fell, have indeed served their country well "
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liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

My Dad was a stamp collector ... so I have a soft spot for First Day Covers and Commemorative stamps ... thought this maybe of interest !

MF2 - 60th Anniversary of the Augsburg Raid

To mark the 60th Anniversary of this daring daylight raid on the MAN Factory at Augsburg, which was supplying the diesel engines for the German U-boat fleet, a stunning commemorative cover has been produced. The cover artwork shows the Waddington based No 44 Squadron Lancaster R5508, ‘KM-B’ which Squadron Leader John Nettleton flew on the raid and whose courage and devotion to duty won him the Victoria Cross, the scene below shows the Lancaster L7573, ‘OF-K’ being ‘bombed up’ at Woodhall Spa with the four 1,000 lb high explosives, on the raid this aircraft was flown by Squadron Leader J.S. Sherwood DFC, who having led the 97 squadron contingent and bombed the factory was shot down moments later.

The raid called for the bravest of aircrew as the target was over 1,000 miles from England and to make matters worse the raid was to take place in broad daylight with no fighter escort, flying at less than 250ft in order to avoid enemy radar. Despite a diversionary raid to draw the German fighters away from the intended target and route, the six 44 Squadron Lancasters were savaged by Bf 109s and FW 190s returning home to their airfield. Only two of No 44 Squadron’s Lancasters made it to the target and only Nettleton’s aircraft made it back across the channel. The No 97 Squadron Lancasters all made it to the target, but two were shot down over the target. In all seven of the twelve Lancasters that took part failed to return and 49 out of the 85 airmen who took part were posted as ‘missing’ – however they had succeeded in causing severe disruption at the factory.

Each cover bears a British Forces Post Office special handstamp, dated the 17 April 2002, which shows Lancaster ‘KM-B’ and commemorates both the 60th Anniversary of the raid and also the award of the Victoria Cross to Nettleton. Furthermore the covers have been flown in Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which was formerly painted in the markings of ‘KM-B’. The reverse of the cover bears an illustration of the Victoria Cross and a brief write up on the raid, along with the flight details, while inside the covers there are two detailed inserts. All covers are issued as signed covers and currently there are four variants available:

The first is signed by Warrant Officer Bert Dowty, who was an air gunner with No 44 Squadron and had completed one operational sortie. On the Augsburg Raid he was the front gunner on Lancaster ‘T’ for Tommy, which was attacked by German fighters and forced to crash land. He managed to evade capture for over two weeks before being made a POW. The cover bears a 33p definitive stamp. Dowty is also the Vice-President of the 44 Squadron Association.

The second special is signed by Flight Lieutenant Pat Dorehill DSO DFC*, who was Nettleton’s co-pilot on the Augsburg Raid in ‘B’ for Baker of No 44 Squadron and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his part in the raid. The cover bears the 20p 1990 Gallantry Victoria Cross stamp with an 8p definitive stamp on the reverse.

The third special is signed by Wing Commander Rod Rodley DSO DFC* AFC, who was the pilot of one of the six No 97 Squadron Lancaster’s that took part in the Augsburg Raid for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The cover bears a 40p definitive stamp.

The final special is signed by Wing Commander Kenneth Cook DFC, Chairman of the 97 Squadron Association and a former wartime Pathfinder Force Navigator with No 97 Squadron, awarded his DFC in June 1944.
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J.J. · Oct 11, 2009

Please note that each name is linked to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Starting with Daly's lost crew, so that full names can be found....

Squadron 44 KM-H - Lanc L7536 - Crash Site: Vieil-Evreux, France link to lost bombers
+ 1. Sgt. George Thomas RHODES - Pilot
+ 2. Sgt. Lawrence Heaton BAXTER - Pilot RNZAF
+ 3. Sgt. Brian Ignatius Joseph DALY - Nav.
+ 4. Sgt. John Alfred WYNTON - W.Op./ Air Gnr.
+ 5. Sgt. Cyril Leonard MERRICKS - W.Op./ Air Gnr.
+ 6. F/Sgt. Henry Verdun GILL - Air Gnr
+ 7. F/Sgt. George Alfred EDWARDS - Air Gnr

Squadron 44 KM-P - Lanc R5506 - Crash Site: Ormes, France link to lost bombers
+ 1. F/L Reginald Robert SANDFORD DFC - Pilot
+ 2. P/O Hurworth Anthony Paul PEALL - pilot
+ 3. F/O Alexander GERRIE - Obs
+ 4. Sgt. George William James HADGRAFT - W.Op./ Air Gnr.
+ 5. Sgt. Peter Johannes VENTER - W.Op./ Air Gnr
+ 6. F/Sgt. Leonard LAW - Bomb Aimer / Air Gnr.
+ 7. Sgt. Robert Edward WING - Air Gnr.

Squadron 44 KM-T - Lanc 7548 Prisoners of War - Crash Site: Ormes, France link to lost bombers
~1~W/O H.V. Crum, DFM - P.O.W.
~2~ Sgt. A.D.C. Dedman - P.O.W.
~3~Sgt. N.T. Birkett - P.O.W.
~4~F/Sgt. J. Saunderson - P.O.W.
~5~ Sgt. Bertram Arthur Dowty - P.O.W. -R.I.P. 2004
~6~Sgt. J. Miller - P.O.W.
~7~Sgt. A. Cobb - P.O.W.

Squadron 44 KM-V - Lanc L7565 - Crash Site: Tilleul-Lambert, France - link to lost bombers
+ 1. W/O John Frank BECKETT, DFM - Pilot
+ 2. Sgt. Brian Douglas MOSS - Pilot
+ 3. F/Sgt. Alfred Edgar ROSS RCAF - Air Obs.
+ 4. Sgt. Bryden Grange SEAGOE - W.Op / Air Gnr.
+ 5. Sgt. John Henry HACKETT - W.Op./ Air Gnr.
+ 6. Sgt. Richard Lattimore TRUSTRAM - W.Op./ Air Gnr.
+ 7. Sgt. Alfred James HARRISON - Air Gnr.

Squadron 44 KM-A - Lanc R5510 - Crash Site: Augsburg, Germany link to lost bombers
~1~ F/O A. F. Garwell - DFC DFM P.O.W.
~2~ Sgt. L.L. Dando - DFM P.O.W.
~3~ Sgt. F.S. Kirke -RNZAF DFM P.O.W.
~4~ Sgt. J. Watson DFM P.O.W.
+ 5. F/Sgt. FLUX, ROBERT JAMES, DFM - W.Op.
+ 6. F/Sgt. Douglas Haig McALPINE RCAF - Air Gnr.
+ 7. Sgt. Ivor EDWARDS - Air Gnr

97 SQUADRON
L7573 K S/L Sherwood DFC, P/O Webb, F/O Hepburn, Sgts Page, Cox, F/Sgt Harrington, F/Sgt Wilding. Up 1455. Formation leader / Shot down over target - link to lost bombers
R5537 B F/O Hallows, P/O Friend, P/O Cutting, F/Sgt Louch, Sgts L.G.Jones, Broomfield, Goacher. . returned
R5488 F F/O Rodley, P/O Colquhoun, Sgts Henley, Merralls, Cummings, Ratcliffe, Crisp. returned
R5496 U F/L Penman DFC, P/O Hooey, P/O Ifould, F/Sgt Elwood, Sgts Tales, Overton, Hebdon. returned
L7575 Y F/O Deverill DFM, Sgt Cooper, P/O Butler, Sgts Irons, Mackay, Devine, F/Sgt Keane. returned
R5513 P W/O Mycock DFC, Sgt Hayes, W/O Harrison, Sgts Eades, Macdonald, Shelley, Donoghue. shot down near target link to lost bombers

liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

Heres some pictures of the 97th .... even though it's not the 44th .... theres some interesting stuff there !

97 Squadron Association - Gallery of Images

liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

The public was still unaware that Bomber Command had a new heavy bomber and Air Ministry took the occasion of a successful if costly daylight mission to unveil their new weapon to both the Third Reich and the British public.
Just before 3PM on 17 April six machines each from 44 and 97 Squadrons were dispatched to carry out a daring daylight raid against the submarine engine producing MAN. plant at Augsburg, deep inside Germany. In four formations of three each the bombers headed out toward Bavaria. There and back would mean some 1500 miles of flying, over enemy territory. Just after crossing the channel No. 44 Squadron was attacked by fighters. L7536 in the first V was the first to go down, then one after another No. 44’s second V, R5506, L7548 and L7565, was shot down. Determined, but with little hope of reaching their target, the two remaining aircraft closed up and pressed on. Once away from the coastal area, however, the remaining two machines had few problems until the sirens at Augsburg announced their arrival. Going in at chimney top level the two raiders were literally unable to miss. Meeting heavy defensive fire R5510 was set on fire and went down about two miles outside of town.
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LancHistory

liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

OBITUARIES.

We regret to report the passing away of the following members; Bert Dowty who was shot down in a 44 Squadron Lancaster on a raid to Augsburg on 17th April 1942. He was a resident of Stalags 7A, 11A and 357 after avoiding capture for about ten days. The rest of the crew including the skipper F/O A J Garwell fell in the bag at Augsburg and were assumed to be the first Lancaster operations POWs.
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Autumn 2004

liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

The Augsburg raid of 1942 was one of the most daring and heroic missions ever undertaken by RAF Bomber Command

On 17 April 1942 an audacious daylight bombing mission was flown by RAF Bomber Command against the MAN diesel engine factory at Augsburg, in Bavaria, which was responsible for the production of roughly half of Germany’s output of U‑boat engines. The raid was notable for two main reasons: it was the longest low‑level penetration ever made during World war II, and it was the first daylight mission flown by the Command’s new Lancasters in the teeth of strong enemy opposition.

Because of the havoc wrought by Hitler s U‑boats the MAN factories at Augsburg had long been high on the list of priority targets, but there was a problem. Getting there and back involved a round trip of 1,250 miles over enemy territory, and the MAN factories occupied a relatively small area. With the navigation and bombing aids then available, the chances of a night attack pinpointing and destroying such an objective were very remote, and a daylight precision attack, going on past experience, would be prohibitively costly.

Then, in early 1942 the Lancaster arrived. With its relatively high speed and strong defensive armament, it was possible that a force of Lancasters could reach Augsburg if they went in at low level, underneath the German early‑warning radar. Also, Lancasters flying ‘on the deck’ could not be subjected to attacks from below on their vulnerable underbellies. With the new aircraft, the idea of a deep‑penetration precision attack in daylight was resurrected.

The operation was to be carried out by six crews from No. 44 Squadron, based at Waddington and six from No. 97, stationed at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire ‑ the two most experienced Lancaster units. A seventh crew from each squadron would train with the others, to be held in reserve in case anything went wrong at the last moment.

Training for the mission began on 14 April 1942 and for three days the two squadrons practised formation flying at low level, making 1000‑mile flights around Britain and carrying out simulated attacks on targets in northern Scotland. Speculation ran high over the nature of the target. To most of the experienced crews, a low‑level mission signified an attack on enemy warships, a long, straight run into a nightmare of flak. When they eventually filed into their briefing rooms early on 17Apri1, and saw the long red ribbon marking their attack route on the map stretching to Augsburg, a stunned silence descended on them. Even an attack on a major battleship would have been preferable to this.

Flying south to their departure point on the coast, the Lancasters were to cross the English Channel at low level and make landfall at Dives‑sur‑Mer, on the French coast. Shortly before this, bombers of No 2 Group, covered by a massive fighter ‘umbrella’, were to make a series of diversionary attacks on Luftwaffe airfields in the Pas de Calais, Rouen, and Cherbourg areas. The Lancasters’ flight track would take them across enemy territory via Ludwigshafen, where they would cross the Rhine, to the northern tip of the Ammersee, a large lake to the west of Munich and about 20 miles south of Augsburg.

As they approached the target, the bombers were to spread out and create a three‑mile gap between each section Sections would then bomb from low level, in formation, each Lancaster dropping a salvo of four 10001b bombs The ordnance would befitted with 11‑second delayed‑action fuzes, which would give the bombers time to get clear, and would explode well before the next section arrived over the target. Take‑off was to be at 1500 hours. This meant that, if all went well, the first Lancasters would reach the target at 2015, just before dusk. They would thus have the shelter of darkness by the time they reached the danger areas along the Channel coast on the homeward flight.

The Lancasters of No. 44 Squadron were to form the two leading sections. This unit was known as the ‘Rhodesia’ Squadron, and with good reason‑about a quarter of its personnel came from that country. No 44 also contained a number of South Africans, and one of them was chosen to lead the mission. He was Squadron Leader John Dering Nettleton, a tall, dark-haired 25‑year‑old, who had already shown himself to be a highly competent commander, rock‑steady in an emergency.

At three o’clock in the afternoon of 17 April, the quiet Lincolnshire village of Waddington was rudely shaken by the roar of 24 Rolls Royce Merlins as No. 44 Squadron’s six Lancasters took off and headed south for Selsey Bill, the promontory of land jutting out into the Channel between Portsmouth and Bognor Regis. Ten miles due east, at Woodhall Spa, the six bombers of No. 97 Squadron, led by Squadron Leader Sherwood, were also taking off.

Each section left Selsey Bill bang on schedule, the sea a blur below the Lancasters as they sped on. The bombers to left and right of Nettleton were piloted by Flying Officer John Garwell and Warrant Officer Rhodes; the Lancasters in the following section were flown by Flight Lieutenant Sandford, Warrant Officer Crum, and Warrant Officer Beckett. The sky was clear and the hot afternoon sun beat down through the Perspex of cockpits and gun turrets. Before they reached the French coast, most of the crews were flying in shirt sleeves.

The bombers were flying over wooded, hilly country near Breteuil when the flak hit them. Lines of tracer from concealed gun positions met the speeding Lancasters, and the ugly black stains of shell-bursts dotted the sky around them. Shrapnel ripped into two of the aircraft, but they held their course. The most serious damage was to Warrant Officer Beckett’s machine, which had its rear gun turret put out of action.

Then, near Evreux, the Lancaster formation was spotted by enemy fighters. A Messerschmitt Bf 109 came streaking in, singling out Warrant Officer Crum’s Lancaster (in 44’s second section) for his first firing pass. Bullets tore through the cockpit canopy, showering Crum and his navigator, Rhodesian Alan Dedman, with razor‑sharp slivers of Perspex. Dedman looked across at the pilot and saw blood streaming down his face, but when he went to help, Crum just grinned and waved him away. The Lancaster’s own guns hammered, there was a fleeting glimpse of the 109’s pale grey, oil‑streaked belly as it flashed overhead, and then it was gone.

The Lancasters closed up into even tighter formation as 30 more Messerschmitts pounced on them like sharks It was the first time that Luftwaffe fighters had encountered Lancasters, and to begin with the enemy pilots showed a certain amount of caution until they got the measure of the new bomber’s defences. As soon as they realised that its defensive armament consisted of. 303in machine gun:, however, they began to press home their attacks skillfully, coming m from the port quarter and opening fire with their cannon at about 700yds, At 400yds, the limit of the 303’s effective range, they broke away sharply and climbed to repeat the process.

Warrant Officer Beckett was the first to go. A great ball of orange flame ballooned from a wing of his aircraft as cannon shells hit a fuel tank. Seconds later the bomber was a mass of fire. Slowly, the nose went down Spewing burning fragments, the shattered Lancaster hit a clump of trees and disintegrated.
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Tragically, the sacrifice of seven Lancasters and 49 young men on the Augsburg raid had been in vain. Many of the delayed‑action bombs failed to explode, and the effect on production at the MAN factory was negligible. Never again would the RAF send out its four-engined bombers on a daylight ‘extreme danger’ mission of this kind.
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liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

I don't know if you know this already JJ ... or even if you want to know ..... but I thought you maybe interested !!

Walter "Gulle" Oesau

Walter “Gulle” Oesau was born on 28 June 1913 at Farnewinkel in the Dithmarschen region of Holst. He enlisted in the army in 1933 and served in an artillery regiment. By 1934 he had become a Fahnenjunker and was undertaking flying training with the Deutschen Verkehrsfliegerschule. On completing his flying training he was posted to Jagdgeschwader “Richtofen”. Leutnant Oesau was one of the first fighter pilots to join J/88 in Spain in April 1938. Here he served with 3. J/88 and gained nine victories. He became one of only 27 recipients of the Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Brillanten . He was also wounded in this campaign and was awarded the Spanish Wound Badge.

On 1 March 1939, Oesau joined the Stabsschwarm of I./JG 2. On 15 July, Oberleutnant Oesau was appointed Staffelkapitan of 1./JG 20 which was later redesignated 7./JG 51. Oesau gained his first victory of World War 2 on 13 May 1940. He ended the French campaign with five victories to his credit. On 18 August 1940 he became the fifth Luftwaffe pilot to reach 20 World War 2 victories, bringing him the award of the Ritterkreuz. On 25 August 1940, Hauptmann Oesau was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51. On 11 November 1940, Oesau was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 3. He led the Gruppe to the Eastern front where the invasion of Russia was launched. He recorded his 40th victory on 5 February 1941. On 6 February, he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 9). He recorded his 50th victory on 30 June. He claimed five enemy aircraft shot down on 10 July 1941 for his 64th to 68th victories. He recorded his 70th victory on 11 July and his 80th on 17 July. On 15 July his victory tally had reached 80 and he became only the third man to be awarded the Schwertern. At the end of July 1941 he was recalled to the Western Front to take command of JG 2. He recorded his 100th victory on 26 October, only the third Luftwaffe pilot to reach this landmark. He was forbidden to fly further combat missions, his combat experience and leadership qualities being considered too valuable to risk. A series of staff appointments followed, including being appointed Jagdfliegerfuhrer 4 Brittany.... he did fly on occasional sorties however , the most famous involving the shooting down of a Lancaster bomber in April 1942, during a rare RAF daylight raid on targets in Augsberg. It was his 101st kill ( ? ) This bomber belonged to No. 44 Squadron RAF piloted by Warrant Officer G. T. Rhodes.

On 12 November 1943, Oberst Oesau returned to combat when he was appointed Kommodore of JG 1 following the death of Oberst Hans Philipp (206 victories, RK-S). He soon added at least 14 victories against the USAAF formations of B-17 and B-24 four-engined bombers. On 11 May 1944, Oesau, leading three aircraft of the Stabsschwarm, took off from Paderborn to intercept Allied bombers raiding north-eastern Belgium and Luxembourg. During his attack on the bombers he was bounced by escorting P-38s. In the ensuing combat he was shot down and killed in his Bf 109 G-6/AS (W.Nr. 20 601) “Green 13” near St Vith.

“Gulle” Oesau scored 127 victories in over 300 combat missions. 9 victories were scored during the Spanish Civil War, 74 were scored on the Western front including 14 four-engined bombers (one B-17 as engultige Vernichtung) and 44 over the Eastern front.
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110. 17.4.1942 Lancaster Stab JG 2 S Beaumont-le-Roger / Lancaster of 44 Sqn RAF, L7536, KM-H
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Aces of the Luftwaffe - Walter Oesau

liverpool annie · Oct 11, 2009

44 Sqn aircraft -
Warrant Officer G. T. Rhodes, L7536 H (Crew lost, shot down by Major Oesau)
Flying Officer J. Garwell DFC DFM, R5510, A (3 Crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
Flight Lieutenant N. Sandford, R5506, P (Crew Lost, shot down by Feldwebel Bosseckert)
Warrant Officer J. E. Beckett, L7565, V (Crew Lost, shot down by Hauptmann Heine Greisert )
Warrant Officer H. V. Crum in L7548, T (Crew POW, shot down by Unteroffizier Pohl)

97 Sqn Aircraft -
Squadron Leader J. S. Sherwood DFC in Lancaster L7573, OF-K. (crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
Warrant Officer Mycock DFC in Lancaster, R5513, P (crew lost, shot down by AA over target)
Flying Officer E. A. Deverill DFM (RTB, severely damaged)
Wing Commander Rod Rodley DSO
Flight Lt Hallows,
Flight Lt Penman DFC

J.J. · Oct 11, 2009

Brian Ignatius Joseph Daly - K.I.A. Augsburg Raid

I never remembered they didn't have his information on the CWGC site ..I put the link there years ago so here is his birth registered in the Sept. quarter of 1919 in Pancras district
Daly, Brian I J ( mother O 'Flaherty ) vol. 1b page-185 ...he was 23 the same age as mum...
( also a birth for Dympna M C Daly in Hampstead ...Mum had a long letter from his sister )

and this marriage of his parents Sept. quarter of 1918
Elizabeth T O'Flaherty and Michael L J Daly / St Martin district / vol.1a page-1387

J.J. · Oct 11, 2009

Oh, this is fabulous, thank you so much, Annie! I have now posted a link to this thread from my site...I am sure it will become a great resource for those looking for the Augsburg raid....

I was just putting the full names of the 44 Sqdn onto a reply when it all disappeared ! Yikes...thank goodness it was just you pasying earlier postings above me...and I was just put back several replies... whew...
I am going to probably add the 97 Sqdn to that reply as well, but eyes sore now, from back & forth from CWGC site., so will add another time. I think the men had different jobs on that day, than normal, as you will notice few are down as bomb aimers or navigators....but if more is found I'll add to the list.

I am glad I made this thread for another reason, finding Brian's age & parents.... :hug: J.J.

B.T.W. re: post#11 realize Oesau was just doing his duty as were they all, sadly

liverpool annie · Oct 12, 2009

Do you have photos of the cemetery JJ ? maybe thats the next thing to find !!

"Serial range L7276 - L7584 This aircraft was one of 200 Manchesters ordered from A.V.Roe (Manchester) in Aug 36 to Air Ministry Spec 19/37 and built as 157 Manchester 1/1A from 31 Jul 40, and 43 Lancaster MK.1 from Oct 41 to Mar 42.

L7536 was delivered to 44 Squadron 28 Dec 41. L7536 took part in the Key Operation against Essen 10/11 Mar 42 - the first Lancaster operation.

This aircraft was one of five Lancasters lost by 44 Squadron on the same operation. See L7537: L7565: R5506: R5510 L7536 Lanc.Mk.1

Airborne from Waddington 1512 17 Apr 42. Shot down 1655 by fighters near leVieil-Evreux (Eure), 6 km ESE of Evreux, France. All are buried in Evreux Communal Cemetry.

It is thought that this Lancaster was shot down by Major Oesau, 11./JG2 Richthofen.

Sgt G.T.Rhodes KIA Sgt L.H.Baxter RNZAF KIA Sgt B.I.J.Daly KIA Sgt C.L.Merricks KIA Sgt J.A.Wynton KIA F/S G.A.Edwards KIA F/S H.V.Gill KIA "
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J.J. · Oct 12, 2009

liverpool annie said: ↑

Send them an email with the correction ... it's a newsletter ... so I imagine there are a few mistakes made !

Annie
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done... thanks annie

Would you mind deleting that reply and I'll delete these 2 as well, to clean up the thread as more of a resource....less junky...
Thanks much

liverpool annie · Oct 20, 2009

Hi JJ !

Augsburg L7573 K S/L Sherwood DFC, P/O Webb, F/O Hepburn, Sgts Page, Cox, F/Sgt Harrington, F/Sgt Wilding. Up 1455. Leader of the formation. Shot down over the target by flak. Seen by other aircraft to be in flames and crash. Missing
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S/Ldr. Sherwood’s wife lived at the Station (Woodhall Spa) and when crews confirmed to her they saw his Lancaster explode when crashing and he was dead, she refused to believe it. Consequently a couple of months later it was established he was a POW. When the plane crashed, he was thrown out from the burning Lancaster, still stuck in his seat, but doesn’t remember it. All the rest of his crew were killed. Sherwood was awarded his DSO and Penman was awarded VC

BBC - WW2 People's War - The 'Augsburg Raid'

balloon1 · Nov 28, 2010

Hubert Victor Crum D.F.M, (09 OCT1919 -16 NOV1990), Augsberg Raid

Hubert Victor Crum D.F.M, (09 OCT1913 -16 NOV1990), lived in my village. He was well known and very modest about his WWII activiities , his brother, George Edward Crum, a former policeman, was killled training with the Fleet Air Arm in Pensacola in WWII. When Hubert Victor returned from POW camp the local newspaper announced that he weighed 7 stone. Many of the family still live around here. A great man and another of those quiet heroes we would pass in the street without knowing the story behind the man.
He is buried in St. Nicholas's Church, Trellech, Monmouthshire.

J.J. · Nov 28, 2010

Thank you for your welcome addition to the Augsberg Raid thread, honouring members of your community, WWII veteran Hubert Victor Crum & his fallen brother George Edward Crum. all the best, J.J.

sniper · Nov 29, 2010

Hi JJ,
Do you have photos of the graves of the brave airmen that lost thier lives on this raid? If not i can see what i have in my archives and let you have any i have.

Sniper

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