RAAF man shot down over Holland

[Kyt]

Information sought on Bellingen man shot down over Holland - Local - General - Bellingen Courier Sun

Mike Kleinlugtebeld from Zwolle in the Netherlands has contacted to the Courier-Sun seeking information on a pilot from Bellingen shot down over Holland in 1943. Mr Kleinlugtebeld says he is very interested in the air war over Overijssel during the World War 11. “Of each airplane that crashed I try to find information as much as possible.” “With the information I try to make a story which will help to remember the men who gave their lives in my country during the second world war,” he said. “On the night of 13 June 1944 a Lancaster bomber of 460 RAAF squadron crashed in a town named Olst, some 15 kilometres from my hometown, killing all seven crew members. They were buried in Olst. “I have no information about this crew. I am trying to find out more about these men, which will help to give them the recognition and honour they deserve. And make sure they will never be forgotten. Mr Kleinlugtebeld said one of the crew members was Flight Sergeant Robert Trevor Hill. He was born in Bellingen. His name appears at the Roll of Honour in Bowraville. “I am deeply impressed by the dreadful losses suffered by the Airforces of the Commonwealth in my country (and of course other forces also). Thousands of Commonwealth airmen were killed in my country during world war II and are buried in hundreds of cemeteries in the Netherlands. And seven of them were the crew members of the Lancaster which crashed on 13 June 1944.They are now buried in Olst, along with eight other airmen. “Despite it happening a long time ago I try to make sure that these men will not be forgotten. They gave their young lives for our freedom. Over the years many soldiers are remembered in books, monuments, etc. But there are still also soldiers who are not remembered. Not because a lack of interest but simply because there were so many who died. “I was hoping if it is possible that you make a story about my search and put it in your newspaper,” he said. “Hopefully it will bring up some information and photo’s of F/S Hill.” “I would very like to come into contact of relatives or other people who can tell me more about this brave pilot. “I hope that a story will make clear to the people in Australia that there are still many people in the Netherlands who have not forgotten the sacrifices made by all those men. Mike Kleinlugtebeld contact details are: Meppelerdiep 3 8032 TB Zwolle The Netherlands Telephone0031) 06-24102627.

[Kyt]

Lancaster ME785 AR-H2
Mission to Gelsenkirchen

T/O 2305 from Binbrook. Crashed near Wesepe in the Dutch Province of Overijssel, coming down on the Raalte to Deventer road. All were taken to nearby Duur and buried in Olst (Duur) General Cemetery on 16 June 1944.

P/O Fry was an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Name: ROCHE, AUSTIN FREDERICK
Initials: A F
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 26
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 5136
Additional information: Son of Dr. Cedric Watson Gray Roche and Mabel Roche, of Balwyn, Victoria, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 24.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY
WW2 Nominal Roll

Name: ROSS, JOSEPH BEADDIE
Initials: J B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 1673067
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 22.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

Name: FRY, JAMES ROLLO
Initials: J R
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 33
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 422165
Additional information: Son of James Arthur Barrett Fry and Caroline Fraser Fry; husband of Jean Palmer Fry, of Roseville, New South Wales, Australia. A.C.A., A.A.I.S.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 23.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY
WW2 Nominal Roll

Name: HILL, ROBERT TREVOR
Initials: R T
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 24
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 20076
Additional information: Son of Robert and Florence Nellie Louisa Hill, of Bowraville, New South Wales, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 20.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY
WW2 Nominal Roll

Name: SAGE, THOMAS EDWIN
Initials: T E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn
Age: 22
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 1146986
Additional information: Son of Francis Edwin and Annie Sage, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 25.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

Name: WHITTENBURY, MERVYN THOMAS
Initials: M T
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 21
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 417920
Additional information: Son of Alfred Horace and Ellen Whittenbury, of Largs Bay, South Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 21.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY
WW2 Nominal Roll

Name: BARKER, GERALD GORDON
Initials: G G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn
Age: 19
Date of Death: 13/06/1944
Service No: 1894666
Additional information: Son of Charles Edmund Barker, and of Grace Elizabeth Barker, of East Sheen, Surrey; stepson of Mr. D. Hollings, of East Sheen.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 19.
Cemetery: OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

[Kyt]

The ORB entries

[Antipodean Andy]

From the AWM is this group picture which includes Merv Whittenbury.

Australian War Memorial Collections Database

[Antipodean Andy]

For some reason the post above woudn't let me edit this text in so here's the text for the photo above:

Group portrait of 30 Course, 4 Initial Training School, Royal Australian Air Force, B Squadron, 17 Flight, held between July and September 1942 at Victor Harbour in SA. Identified, left to right, back row: R R Woolcock; J B Sincock; D H M Roeger; G R Thompson; R S Trigg; C C Westwood; W L Stephenson; J L Watts; R J Whittle; K Woodroffe. Third row: A Watson; M H H Rowe; A G Scott; 417914 Dugald John Watson (later killed in action (KIA) on 9 April 1945 whilst serving with 466 Squadron, RAF); J L Venning; F H Zander; G S Wise; A J Vial; 417917 Malcolm George Western (later KIA on 16 December 1943 whilst serving with 576 Squadron, RAF). Second row: E J Rowlands; 417920 Mervyn Thomas Whittenbury (later KIA on 13 June 1944 whilst serving with 460 Squadron, RAF); C Symonds; 427484 Cavan Beadon Robinson (later KIA on 21 February 1945 whilst serving with 576 Squadron, RAF); R C Scott; L D Zilm; 417916 Lionel Warwick Weeden (later KIA on 22 April 1944 whilst serving with 463 Squadron, RAF) ; C L Roberts; H J White; 417903 John Edwin Thomas (later KIA on 28 December 1943 whilst serving with 20 Operational Training, RAF). Front row: A J Walker; R A Stoner; C J Thomson; K R Swain; 417898 Ronald Stephen Seaman DFM (later KIA on 2 February 1945 whilst serving with 464 Squadron, RAF); Sergeant J C James (staff); A G Tyson; K E White; A R Tuck; D D Rowe; C J H Turner.

[spidge]

When I was looking up my "posting at death" for my RAAF people, I marked all their names in red if there was a photo held at the Australian War Memorial.

Quite a few got knocked in this photo!

[spidge]

Buried here with three other 460sq crew!

FRY, JAMES ROLLO Pilot Officer 422165 460sq 13/06/1944 33 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 23. OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

HILL, ROBERT TREVOR Flight Sergeant 20076 460sq 13/06/1944 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 20. OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

ROCHE, AUSTIN FREDERICK Pilot Officer 5136 460sq 13/06/1944 26 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 24. OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

WHITTENBURY, MERVYN THOMAS Flight Sergeant 417920 460sq 13/06/1944 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 21. OLST (DUUR) GENERAL CEMETERY

[Antipodean Andy]

Yep, other Aussie members of his Lanc crew. Same sort of thing in a pic of airmen on the deck of the Akaroa which left New Zealand in March 1940 (from Max Lambert's Night after Night) - of the 11 pilots pictured, seven were killed (six on bombers) and another two became POWs. The other 36 men in the pic are gunners and 19 of them did not survive.

The more I read about Bomber Command, and I have read a bit but nowhere near as much as some, the more evident the need for official recognition from the government.

[Kyt]

I emailed the newspaper last night to ask them to forward this info (and link) to the researcher. He may find it interesting.

[zwolle]

Originally Posted by Kyt

The ORB entries

Hello Everybody,

First of all I want to thank you all for your responses on my article.Very much appreciated.
I have also another question.I did already receive the ORB from 460 sqdn of the 12/13 junu 1943 raid.Behind the Lancaster of F/S Hill and his crew is written C52.Does anyone knows what that means?Is that a reference number to a formular with specific details about the loss of F/S Hill and his crew?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards Mike