Crew of Halifax W1271
On the night of June21/22 of 1943, Bomber Command was sending a large formation of bombers to their target in
Krefeld,Germany. A force of 705 aircraft were assigned the operation from many different squadrons. In addition to the
Halifax aircraft of 419 squadron were Lancasters and Stirling heavy bombers. The formation also included Mosquitoes and Wellingtons.
The raid was pinpointed by Pathfinder aircraft, but the timing was all wrong as the waves of bombers were caught before the
moon period was over. As a result over 40 aircraft were lost. Most of the losses were from the Luftwaffe night fighters attacking the
bombers visible in the moon light.
The contribution of 419 was 17 Halifax aircraft and crews, this was augmented by three crews from 428 Ghost squadron.
All reference material mentions that these were for these crews to gain operational experience. 428 squadron was in
a move to their new base at Middleton St. George and a good number of their crews were involved in conversion
training from Wellingtons to the Halifax bomber.
In the case of the Pearce crew they had completed their Halifax training and were already at Middleton St. George. I can find no record of the number of operations they had completed before the temporary posting to 419 squadron. The crew had taken part in the raid on the Schneider Works at Le Creusot. In fact they had a rough go at it, having to make three passes on the target to make sure they did not hit any French homes near the factory. Which says lot for the crew that they dared to make that many passes rather than harm civilians.
This may have been their first squadron op. and most certainly their first Halifax operation. Although they were part of 428 RCAF squadron only one of the crew was an RCAF airman, three were RNZAF and three RAF airmen.
On that night of June 21/22 of 1943 the exact cause of the loss of Sgt. Pearce's crew is not know. Whether they made it to the target or if they were intercepted before reaching the target is not known or recorded. The moonlight played more into the hands of the Luftwaffe night fighters then it did to aircraft of Bomber Command. The Halifax came down in De Posthoorn a hamlet 1km South of Rucphen in Holland. The bodies were originally buried at Breda a 150 km North West of Krefeld. They were later buried at Bergen Op Zoom War Cemetery.
Three of the men were posthumously promoted to Pilot Officer's.
On July 13th 1943 P/O Pearce was awarded the DFM.
Many Thanks to Mr. C. Lorne for sharing his research material and photos on W1271
The contribution of 419 was 17 Halifax aircraft and crews, this was augmented by three crews from 428 Ghost squadron.
All reference material mentions that these were for these crews to gain operational experience. 428 squadron was in
a move to their new base at Middleton St. George and a good number of their crews were involved in conversion
training from Wellingtons to the Halifax bomber.In the case of the Pearce crew they had completed their Halifax training and were already at Middleton St. George. I can find no record of the number of operations they had completed before the temporary posting to 419 squadron. The crew had taken part in the raid on the Schneider Works at Le Creusot. In fact they had a rough go at it, having to make three passes on the target to make sure they did not hit any French homes near the factory. Which says lot for the crew that they dared to make that many passes rather than harm civilians.
This may have been their first squadron op. and most certainly their first Halifax operation. Although they were part of 428 RCAF squadron only one of the crew was an RCAF airman, three were RNZAF and three RAF airmen.
On that night of June 21/22 of 1943 the exact cause of the loss of Sgt. Pearce's crew is not know. Whether they made it to the target or if they were intercepted before reaching the target is not known or recorded. The moonlight played more into the hands of the Luftwaffe night fighters then it did to aircraft of Bomber Command. The Halifax came down in De Posthoorn a hamlet 1km South of Rucphen in Holland. The bodies were originally buried at Breda a 150 km North West of Krefeld. They were later buried at Bergen Op Zoom War Cemetery.
Three of the men were posthumously promoted to Pilot Officer's.
On July 13th 1943 P/O Pearce was awarded the DFM.
Under a calm, quiet manner this airman has a fine fighting spirit which inspires confidence in his fellow pilots.
He has successfully completed a number of operational sorties, included in which are several to some of the
enemy's most heavily defended targets in Germany and northwest France. Sergeant Pearce has secured some
excellent photographs. This airman has shown by his work that he has the courage and determination to press
home his attacks with the utmost vigour, setting a fine example to all.
Under a calm and quiet manner this Non-Commissioned Officer has a fine offensive spirit in action which inspires confidence in his fellow pilots and in his own crew. He has successfully completed fourteen sorties, included in which are several to extremely heavily defended targets in the Ruhr Valley. From these and from other targets in Germany and northwest France, Sergeant Pearce has brought back repeatedly photographic evidence of having bombed the precise target, obtaining, in some cases, clear ground detail showing the aiming point. This has borne out his determination always to press home his attack despite intense flak opposition.
Under a calm and quiet manner this Non-Commissioned Officer has a fine offensive spirit in action which inspires confidence in his fellow pilots and in his own crew. He has successfully completed fourteen sorties, included in which are several to extremely heavily defended targets in the Ruhr Valley. From these and from other targets in Germany and northwest France, Sergeant Pearce has brought back repeatedly photographic evidence of having bombed the precise target, obtaining, in some cases, clear ground detail showing the aiming point. This has borne out his determination always to press home his attack despite intense flak opposition.
Many Thanks to Mr. C. Lorne for sharing his research material and photos on W1271
