On the night of 1st / 2nd March 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The crew took off from Melbourne airfield at 18.50hrs and bombed the target area from 18,500 feet at 22.10hrs but the aircraft received a number of small flak holes in the edge of the port wing. The damage did not prevent the crew making a safe return to Melbourne, landing at 02.37hrs.
Pilot - Sgt George Kenneth Frank Wade RAFVR (1217301).
Navigator - P/O Walter Gabriel O'Toole RAFVR (125560).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Norman Pullan RAFVR (1096578).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald Arthur Gale RAFVR (1379695).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Henry Beaton RAFVR (1394027).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ivan Maurice Gladwell RAF (574919).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald William Hainsworth RAFVR (1321011).
Halifax HR698 was built to contract 1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 5th February 1943 the new aircraft was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne. It received minor battle damage on 1st / 2nd March 1943 and then again on 27th / 28rd March 1943 with Cat.A/FB damage being the damage assessment each time with a repair on site being made each time. The aircraft remained with 10 Squadron and was badly damaged on 1st August 1943 at Melbourne. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 20th August 1943 having clocked up just over 260 flying hours by the time it was written off.
Walter O'Toole was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943.
Norman Pullan received a commission in Spring 1943 and he too was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943.
Reginald Gale also received a commission in Spring 1943 and he too was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943.
Albert Beaton was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943.
Ivan Gladwell was also awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943. He had already received a commision before the award was promulgated. He remained in the RAF until 1966.
Ronald Hainsworth was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943. He was later posted to 405 Squadron and as W/O was killed on 7th March 1945 on Ops to Dessau. He was 23 years old and is now buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
There is little on the internet about what happened to him and I feel that his loss and the actions of members of his then crew needs further documenting. He was flying in Lancaster PA965 on Pathfinding target marking duties. Over Germany the aircraft was attacked by a number of enemy aircraft. The first aircraft was shot down by the rear gunner W/O Ronald Hainsworth, the second enemy aircraft then made an attack and unfortunately it's bullets struck the rear turret of the Lancaster setting it on fire and injuring (almost certainly fatally) W/O Hainsworth. hydraulic fluid caught fire and oxygen being supplied to the turret further increased the flames. The mid upper gunner of the Lancaster, W/O Angus Robb RAFVR (1550317), then opened fire on this second aircraft as it turned away and shot it down. The third enemy aircraft then attacked a number of time, during the first attack it badly damaged the mid upper turret mechanism though it's occupant was unhurt. The Wireless Operator, P/O Roy Bentley Van Metre RCAF (J/89752), and W/O Robb went to the rear of the aircraft to try and assist the rear gunner, W/O Hainsworth. They managed to force their way into the turret but only saw Hainsworth slumped in his position unfortunately half in and half out of the turret, on fire and in reality probably already dead. As they were at the rear of the aircraft the third enemy aircraft kept making attacks and further damaging the Lancaster on each pass with the Lancaster pilot taking evasive action each time. Robb and Van Metre attempted to pull W/O Hainsworth back into the aircraft to safety, but being unable to and realising that the fire would spread to the rest of the aircraft they did the only remaining thing. They helped him out of the side of the aircraft and pulled his parachute cord as he left. In the process P/O Van Metre severely burnt his hands but then returned to his post. W/O Robb then succeeded in putting the fire out. He saw the enemy aircraft pull along side their Lancaster, waggle it's wings and peel off, probably with it's ammunition exhausted. The Lancaster pilot, F/O Larson, managed to fly the aircraft on three engines back to base at Gransden Lodge, it received extensive damage across the whole aircraft but was later repaired. I find it hard to believe that only minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment but it was. It was repaired before the end of March 1945 and returned to 405 Squadron use.
For their actions W/O Angus Robb was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and P/O Roy Bentley Van Metre was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Gazetted on 18th May 1945. The citation was a joint one and stated "Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb were wireless operator and mid-upper gunner respectively in an aircraft detailed to attack Dessau one night in March 1945. Whilst over the target the aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighters. The first enemy aircraft to attack was shot down by the rear gunner. Warrant Officer Robb engaged the second fighter. Following a short but accurate burst of fire from his guns the enemy aircraft fell to the ground. The remaining fighter attacked with great persistence. The rear gun turret of the bomber was badly hit and set on fire. The rear gunner was trapped. Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb, displaying the greatest determination, immediately went to the assistance of their trapped comrade. By their joint efforts, these crew members finally extinguished the flames and extricated the rear gunner from the gun turret. Pilot Officer Van Metre had severely burned his hands. In spite of much pain he returned to his post to work at his wireless apparatus throughout the return flight. Pilot Officer Van Metre and Warrant Officer Robb set a fine example of courage and resolution in very trying circumstances."
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