Submitted by Larry Jarvis
P/O Lee Morgan Rear Gunner for F/L Roy Kent crew
Lee Morgan was the youngest of the Roy Kent crew and was born on June 15th, 1925 in Amhurstburg, Ontario.
His parents lived in the United States but had travelled to Amherstburg for his birth, since his
grandfather was a doctor.
Lee enlisted in the RCAF at the age of 17 on may 18th 1943 and wanted to be a gunner. He completed his gunnery training at
No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mont Joli Quebec on October 29th 1943.
Both the rear gunner and mid-upper gunner were extremely vulnerable and in the coldest part of the
aircraft. The rear gunner was the most dangerous position on the plane since most fighter attacks
came from the rear and the guns on the Lancaster did not have the range of the cannons carried by
the German fighters.
The rear gunner was also in the loneliest place on the aircraft, separated from the rest of the crew more
so then the Mid Upper gunner.
Both gunners continuously scanned the darkness of night sky looking for that hard to spot small
just darker than the sky around it, for this would most likely be an enemy fighter.
From the moment of take off until the aircraft landed, sometimes ten hours later. Their most
important contribution was to spot the fighter and instruct the pilot to take evasive action.
When this occurred the fighter sometimes broke off the contact as the fighter was unable to
keep on target my these series of dives, rolls and climbs made by the bomber. But not all corkscrew
manoeuvres worked at putting the enemy off his attack. In many incidents the night fighter could keep up with
the bombers movements. It was at times like these that gunners had to fire bursts and drive off the
attacking fighters in the midst of these twists and turns.
Once the fighter broke off the attack and all proved to be clear the gunner would give the "resume course"
command to the pilot.
During all this action the rest of the crew with the exception of the Navigator were the ones who were responsible
for scanning the dark skies, for the enemy did not always attack alone.
The Kent Crew
Lee was selected to be part of the Roy Kent crew at No. 24 OTU in Long Marston in early 1944.
Roy selected him because he was at the top of his gunnery class.
Lee and the rest of the Roy Kent crew were posted to the 419th squadron at Middleton St. George and arrived on May 26 1944.
He and the crew flew 32 operational missions between June and October 1944. By August of 1944 he had been promoted
to Flight Sergeant quickly followed in September with a commission and rank of Pilot Officer.
P/O Morgan was screened from the squadron on Novembe 7th 1944 and was posted to "R" Depot prior to returning to Canada.
Lee was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on two of their missions.
P/O Lee Morgan's DFC Comments
"When leaving the target area on the night of 14.6.44, Lancaster K of 419(RCAF) Squadron was intercepted by a
Ju88. enemy aircraft was first observed by Rear Gunner off the port beam at a range of 400 yds. flying parallel in the
dark part of the sky; momentarily illuminated by a flash from the target. At that moment he was observed to bank and close in. rear Gunner gave a corkscrew
to port and opened fire at a range of 200 yrds. Enemy aircraft slid across the stern and broke away
starboard quarter down and was not seen again."
Post RCAF
Lee Morgan on completion of his RCAF missions Lee signed up with the US Army in Counter Intelligence
