Halifax DT790 at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft was used to fly an operational flight to Essen to bomb the Krupps factory. The crew took off from Leeming airfield at 19.16hrs and while over Germany the aircraft sustained damage by flak. Despite the damage the crew were able to bring it back to Leeming but as the aircraft made an approach to land at 00.47hrs both port engines failed. The aircraft yawned violent which resulted in a heavy landing. It was badly damaged.
Halifax DT790 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming on 7th February 1943. The initial damage assessment following the damage sustained on 13th March 1943 Cat.B/FB resulted and it was dismantled and transported to Handley Page Ltd, at the YARD, York for a repair in works. With work underway a serious problem must have been discovered (possibly a damaged main spar?) as it was re-assessed on 12th April 1943 and Re-Cat.E saw it being struck off charge.
Pilot - F/O Clifford Oscar Hatle RCAF (J/9407).
Flight Engineer - Sgt William George Kapuscinski RCAF (R/80897).
Navigator - F/O Alexander Marlow Stockdale RCAF (J/10407).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Sydney Frederick Osmond RAFVR (1391764).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Henry Richmond RCAF (R/97633).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Andrew Tschantre RCAF (R/144193).
Air Gunner? - P/O W E Rowland RCAF.
Clifford Hatle was born in Admiral, Saskatchewan on 25th August 1916 and was one of ten children of Oscar and Angeline "Leva" (nee Johnson)
Hatle who were originally from New Richland, Minnesota. His parents moved to the Pelletier Hill district of Saskatchewan in 1909
and Clifford was born in Canada. Clifford enlisted into the RCAF on 13th May 1941 in Regina, Saskatchewan and his parents moved
to Kenora, Ontario in 1942. Clifford was living or had previously lived in Simmie, Saskatchewan when he enlisted. The Hatle Lake in
Saskatchewan is named in his honour.
William Kapuscinski was born on 12th March 1920 in Montreal, Quebec and was the son of Polish immegrants Thomas and Mary Kapuscinski (he was baptized as Wladyslaw Gregor Kapuscinski but took the English form of his name). He and his parents later moved to Whitby, Ontario, Canada where he attended Whitby High School from 1933-36 Prior to enlisting into the RCAF on 13th November 1940 in Toronto he worked for the Whitby Malleable Iron and Brass Co.Ltd. in their machine shop. He also attended night school at college to train as an auto and aero apprentice and had originally enlisted for ground duties only. After basic RCAF training as a aero mechanic he left Canada in March 1942 and on arrival in the UK he was posted to 418 Squadron and later 4.SofTT(4 School of Target Towing?) where he served as an Aero Engine Mechanic. He re-mustered as aircrew towards the end of 1942 and trained as a flight engineer, he must have been posted to 408 Squadron by 13th January 1943 as he was assessed there just prior to being promoted to the rank of Sgt.
Henry Richmond was born on 31st March 1911 and was the son of John and Hiklda Richmond of Oliver, British Columbia, Canada.
Albert Tachantre was born on 23rd November 1916 and was the son of Reynold Tschantre and Freda Szigetcocy Tschantre, of Thomasville,
Georgia, USA. His father died when he was young and after his mother had died in 1935 he then lived with his aunt and uncle
in Knoxville. He completed a Degree in Law at Washington University in June 1941 but enlisted into the RCAF on 23rd November 1941 and
was posted overseas in June 1942.
Weeks later Harle, Kapuscinski, Osmond, Richmond and Tschantre were killed on the night of 16th / 17th April 1943
flying Ops to Pilsen in Halifax JB925, their aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Bierfeld, Trier.
All are now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery after being buried locally at the time of the loss.
Alexander Stockdale was born in Montreal in 1917, his father John Stockdale had fought in WW1. He was educated at Longueill High School and Sir George Williams College, he also served as scoutmaster of St.Mark's Troop, Longueill. When he enlisted in May 1941 he was employed by Shawingian Water and Power Company in Montreal. He was posted overseas in April 1942 and after further training he begun his operational flying on 14th September 1942 with 408 Squadron. He later flew with 427 Squadron and he was recommended for the DFC on 15th January 1944 when he had flown twenty six operational flights. The DFC was granted and notification was printed in the London Gazette on 21st April 1944 and at the time he was serving with 429 Squadron. The recommendation as located by historian Hugh Halliday reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Stockdale has taken part on many operations against the most heavily defended targets in Germany, including three attacks on Berlin. His brilliant navigation and enthusiasm for his work have contributed greatly to the success of these sorties. As Squadron Navigation Officer, by his hard work and fine example, he has done much to raise the standard of Squadron Navigation to a high level."
If he was indeed the same person a Sgt Rowland filed a combat report dated 26th July 1942 while serving with 408 Squadron. Also possibly the same man also a Sgt Rowland scratched his name in a mirror in the famous Betty's Tearooms in York. His full identity was not known when this webpage was created.