419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax JD466

Crew of Halifax JD466

November 29th of 1943 F/L Hermitage and crew arrived at 419 squadron after their conversion training at No. 1664 CU at Croft. The crew consisted of:

F/L A.G. Hermitage Pilot
Sgt. R.H. Walton Navigator
Sgt. W.B/ Tobin Bomb Aimer
WO J.B. Chess WAG
Sgt. R.W. Edwards Air Gunner
Sgt. J. A. Wilson F/E
Sgt. R. Shields RAF Upper Gunner

On the evening of December 3/4th, F/L Hermitage took part in a raid on Leipzig, in his position as 2nd pilot, part of the training before captaining his own crew on a full operation with 419 squadron. The crew had already been on a number of operations while at No. 1664 CU.

First Operation
On January 4/5th Hermitages crew took off for the Bay of Biscay for a "Gardening' operation as part of a twelve aircraft force. The weather had different effects on each aircraft. Some reporting clear visibility while others reported mild to heavy haze over the area.
For Hermitage and crew the operation was hampered by failure of the "Gee" guidance system once they had passed Brest. They were unable to make out the coastline and returned to base with the two mines still on board the aircraft.

Magdeburg Raid
Their next operation was not until the night of January 21/22 when they were assigned to an operation against Magdeburg and the dock and storage warehouses in the area. The large formation was made up of bombers from other squadrons, and 419 was to loose two crews on the operation. Hermitages crew would be one of them. No record of exactly what happened to the crew and the aircraft but the reports given back at base will give an indication of what the crew faced.

Facing The Enemy Defences
Other crews reported "heavy and intense flak over the coast" and reports of many fighter dropped flares lighting up the bomber formation. S/L Hamber's aircraft was holed in about 85 places while over Hannover an area in which flak was expected but not to that degree.
Maybe F/S Marjoram's report reflects what may have become of the crew of JD466.
"Enemy appear using tracerless fire as several A/C seen to explode for no apparent reason, 3 along route, 3 over T/A, 2 over our coast"
One of these could have been JD466 attacked from a dark quarter of the skies by an enemy night fighter which may never have been seen until the last moments.

Crew of Halifax JD466

First Operation

Magdeburg Raid

Facing The Enemy Defences

Sergeant

Robert William Edwards

Rear Gunner Age 21 2nd. op.
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

James Barry Chess

WAG Age 21 2nd. op.
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Flight Lieutenant

Arthur George Hermitage

Pilot Age 23 3rd.op.
Killed In Action January 21st1944
From Montreal Quebec
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Warrant Officer II

Roy Harold Walton

Navigator Age 23
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Archibald Wilson

F/E Age 22
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From St. John New Brunswick
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

Robert Shields

Air Gunner Age not known RAF
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Warrant Officer

William Benedict Tobin

Bomb Aimer Age 20
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Crew of Halifax JD466

First Operation

Magdeburg Raid

Facing The Enemy Defences

Sergeant

Robert William Edwards

Rear Gunner Age 21 2nd. op. Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From Winnipeg Manitoba Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

James Barry Chess

WAG Age 21 2nd. op. Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From Winnipeg Manitoba Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Flight Lieutenant

Arthur George Hermitage

Pilot Age 23 3rd.op. Killed In Action January 21st1944 From Montreal Quebec Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Warrant Officer II

Roy Harold Walton

Navigator Age 23 Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From not known Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

James Archibald Wilson

F/E Age 22 Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From St. John New Brunswick Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Sergeant

Robert Shields

Air Gunner Age not known RAF Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From not known Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Warrant Officer

William Benedict Tobin

Bomb Aimer Age 20 Killed In Action January 21st 1944 From not known Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Rear Gunner Age 21 2nd. op.
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

WAG Age 21 2nd. op.
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From Winnipeg Manitoba
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Pilot Age 23 3rd.op.
Killed In Action January 21st1944
From Montreal Quebec
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Navigator Age 23
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

F/E Age 22
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From St. John New Brunswick
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Air Gunner Age not known RAF
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery

Bomb Aimer Age 20
Killed In Action January 21st 1944
From not known
Burial Berlin 1939 -1945 War Cemetery