Crew of Halifax JD971

Halifax VR-X set off at 1909 for a raid on Mannheim Germany.
The crew were with the squadron just over one month and this was their first Operation together as a crew.
Sgt. Griffiths had taken part in two 2nd. Pilot Operations prior to this raid.
The raid took place on a mainly cloudless night. A high number of attacks by night fighters due to the clear skies plus an intense boxed barrage by anti-aircraft took its toll on 419 Squadron with the loss of two aircraft and crews.
JD971 was the third VR-X lost by the squadron.
The other was Halifax JD457, Luftwaffe records show at least 20 aircraft brought down that night in and around Mannheim.

F/Sgt. Robert Thomas Griffiths

F/Sergeant

Robert Thomas Griffiths

Pilot Age 20
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Saskatoon Saskatchewn
Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Sgt. Joseph Lucien Roger Rainville

Sergeant

Joseph Lucien Roger Rainville

Rear Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Vancouver B. C. Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Flight Sergeant

James Edward Dayton

Bomb Aimer Age 20 1st Op.
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Abbotsford B.C. Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Sergeant

Richard Dempster

Navigator Age 22
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Melville Saskatchewan
Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Sergeant

Laurie George Bender RAF

F/E
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Sergeant

Aubrey Ernest Charles Willig RAF

Air Gunner Age 19
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Brixton, London
Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany

Sergeant

Cecil George Rolph RAF

Wag Age 20
Killed in Action Sept.23 1943
From Englefield Green, Surrey
Burial Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Kleve, Germany