Crew of Halifax HR910
August 30/31st. 1942 Munchen-Gladbach
Most of the crew members had been together since their meeting at Operational Training Unit and flying Wellington bombers.
F/O Laidlaw Pilot, F/O Rempel Navigator, P/O Kemp Bomb Aimer, Sgt. Miller Air Gunner, Sgt. Brakes(RAF) WAG Sgt. Bachand Air Gunner were the full crew that arrived at 419 Squadron fron No.1659 HCU.
Together they develped a tight crew through HCU training and would have their mettle as a crew tested during their tenth sortie, a raid on Muenchen-Gladbach.
Where an attack by a night fighter ripped up the bomb doors with heavy cannon fire taking with it the bomb camera, hydraulics and then the shells raked forward to rip up the radio, the "GEE" guidance set and the important IFF unit. Batteries located in the cabin started a fire in a section of the fuselage. The F/E Sgt. Ashton managed to put out that fire, but still had a fire going in the bomb-bay area. Working without the use of an oxygen mask at an altitude were where one was necessary and working within the needed oxygen mask managed to hold a fire extinguisher into the bomb bay area through an access panel. Although he did managed he to get the fire out he was seriously hampered by the flames jumping into the fuselage when the access panel was opened. No mention is made of how or if he was injured by the flames leaping out of the panel as it was first opened. For his actions he was awarded the DFM.
November 18/19 where a new wireless operator joined them, Sgt. Lagdon was now the crew's permanent wireless operator.
A Gardening Sortie
On the night of February 12/13 1944 Halifax VR-R flew off into the night with a highly experienced crew and was never seen or heard from again. The mission was a mine laying trip to Borkum Islands
The loss of the crew was a mysterious one. Five other crews in the area saw no enemy aircraft or other enemy action such as flak.
No mayday was received back from Halifax HR910 and no explosions were seen by the other aircraft. No Luftwaffe records show any claims for aircraft during that time and place.
And so this experienced crew and their aircraft disappeared somewhere after there leaving their base. Leaving no trace or record of what happened.
Sgt. Brakes their original wireless operator survived the war.
P/O John Norman Ashton's DFM Comments:
This airman was flight engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Munchen-Gladbach one night in August 1943. Soon after leaving the target the bomber was hit by fire from an enemy fighter. Some batteries were set alight, the flames sweeping back along the fuselage. Displaying great promptitude, Sergeant Ashton sprayed the flames around the batteries with an extinguisher until they subsided. Having secured another extinguisher he went to mid position and raised the bomb bay inspection panels to investigate further. Flames immediately blazed up into his face. With his gloved hands he held and rotated the extinguisher in an opening in the floor so that the wind in the slip stream sprayed the fluid around the bomb bay and thus the flames were put out. By his promptitude and resource this gallant airman contributed materially to safe return of aircraft. NOTE: The original recommendation, dated 21 May 1943 when he had flown eight sorties (62 hours 54 minutes),
was found in Public Record Office Air 2/5002 and reproduced by Ian Tavender in his book The Distinguished Flying Medal Register of the Second World War (London, Savannah Press, 2000) which is an important work on this award at this period. On the night of 30th/31st August 1943, Sergeant Ashton was detailed to attack Munchen Gladbach as engineer of a Halifax aircraft. Shortly after leaving the target, the aircraft in which he was flying was attacked by a night fighter and the length of the fuselage raked by cannon and machine gun fire.
Almost immediately, the rear and mid-upper gunners reported flames sweeping back along the fuselage. Sergeant Ashton then noticed that the batteries had caught fire and saw smoke and sparks rising in the rest position. Without hesitation, he lifted a fire extinguisher and played it on the flames surrounding the batteries. Eventually the flames began to subside and Sergeant Ashton left this fire extinguisher at this position and obtained another. He then proceeded to the mid-position where he lifted the bomb-bay door inspection panels. On doing so, the flames blew up in his face. Disregarding personal danger, with his gloved hands he held and rotated the fire extinguisher in the opening in the floor so the fluid, with the assistance of the slip stream, was thrown about the bomb bays and eventually extinguished the fire. This action took place at an altitude of 18,000 feet and Sergeant Ashton was without the use of oxygen for the entire period. His courage, devotion to duty and disregard of personal danger were undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft. In view of the above, I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
This airman was flight engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Munchen-Gladbach one night in August 1943. Soon after leaving the target the bomber was hit by fire from an enemy fighter. Some batteries were set alight, the flames sweeping back along the fuselage. Displaying great promptitude, Sergeant Ashton sprayed the flames around the batteries with an extinguisher until they subsided. Having secured another extinguisher he went to mid position and raised the bomb bay inspection panels to investigate further. Flames immediately blazed up into his face. With his gloved hands he held and rotated the extinguisher in an opening in the floor so that the wind in the slip stream sprayed the fluid around the bomb bay and thus the flames were put out. By his promptitude and resource this gallant airman contributed materially to safe return of aircraft. NOTE: The original recommendation, dated 21 May 1943 when he had flown eight sorties (62 hours 54 minutes),
was found in Public Record Office Air 2/5002 and reproduced by Ian Tavender in his book The Distinguished Flying Medal Register of the Second World War (London, Savannah Press, 2000) which is an important work on this award at this period. On the night of 30th/31st August 1943, Sergeant Ashton was detailed to attack Munchen Gladbach as engineer of a Halifax aircraft. Shortly after leaving the target, the aircraft in which he was flying was attacked by a night fighter and the length of the fuselage raked by cannon and machine gun fire.
Almost immediately, the rear and mid-upper gunners reported flames sweeping back along the fuselage. Sergeant Ashton then noticed that the batteries had caught fire and saw smoke and sparks rising in the rest position. Without hesitation, he lifted a fire extinguisher and played it on the flames surrounding the batteries. Eventually the flames began to subside and Sergeant Ashton left this fire extinguisher at this position and obtained another. He then proceeded to the mid-position where he lifted the bomb-bay door inspection panels. On doing so, the flames blew up in his face. Disregarding personal danger, with his gloved hands he held and rotated the fire extinguisher in the opening in the floor so the fluid, with the assistance of the slip stream, was thrown about the bomb bays and eventually extinguished the fire. This action took place at an altitude of 18,000 feet and Sergeant Ashton was without the use of oxygen for the entire period. His courage, devotion to duty and disregard of personal danger were undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft. In view of the above, I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
