Halifax LW594 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of the 26th / 27th April 1944 fourteen 432 Squadron crews were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Essen, this aircraft took off from East Moor at 23.10hrs. The crew released the bomb load onto the target area from 20,000 feet at 01.37hrs but the aircraft sustained minor flak damage. The pilot was able to make a return to East Moor landing at 03.55hrs.
Pilot - F/O Hilliard Harrison Smith RCAF (J/22257).
Navigator - F/O Robert DeLorme Plommer RCAF (J/23469).
Bomb aimer - F/O Clifford Glenn Balsdon RCAF (J/25124).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Peter Clench RAF (1339639).
Air Gunner - Sgt R Pringle RCAF (R/127643).
Air Gunner - Sgt James Robert Frederick Rudland RAFVR (1866011).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ernest James Richard Lestrange RAFVR (1607942).
Hilliard "Geronimo" Smith was born in Manitoba in 1917 and enlisted in Winnipeg in June 1940. He received a commission in 1942 and was recommended for the DFC for service with 432 Squadron on 18th June 1944 when he had completed thirty operational flights between 5th January and 16th June 1944. The DFC was granted and notification appeared in the London Gazette on 15th September 1944 though there was no proper citation, the recommendation was more detailed, it reads.. "This officer has, by his superb captaincy and airmanship, completed a total of 30 trips as pilot over enemy territory and has never yet failed to carry out his mission. The majority of these trips have been over heavily defended targets in Germany, including Berlin
(five times), Frankfurt, Essen, Dusseldorf, Stettin, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, Magdeburg and Brunswick. By his fine record of achievement, together with his exceptional qualities of leadership and coolness, he has inspired a high standard of morale in both his crew and squadron under a calm and quiet manner. His unconquerable spirit of determination and success in achieving his objective under any circumstances warrant a strong recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Clifford Balsdon was born in Medicine Hat in 1914 and was living in Calgary when he enlisted in April 1942. He too was recommended for the DFC for service with 432 Squadron 18th June 1944 when he too had flown twenty seven operational flights between 14th January and 14th June 1944. Notification was in the London Gazette on 15th September 1944 but there was no citation as such, the recommendation however has much more details, it reads.. "His officer has shown a high degree of skill as an Air Bomber on his total of twenty seven trips over enemy territory without failing to complete a mission successfully. The majority of these trips have been over heavily defended targets in Germany, including Berlin (five times), Frankfurt, Essen, Dusseldorf, Stettin, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, Magdeburg and Brunswick. His co-operation, coolness and devotion to duty contributed in a large measure to the success of these operations. His cheerful confidence, reflected in the high standard of morale in his crew, has inspired the whole unit. For his devotion to duty and high degree of technical ability, this officer is strongly recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Robert Plommer was born in Princetown, British Columbia in March 1922 but was living in Vancouver when he enlisted into the RCAF in September 1941. He too was recommended for the DFC for service with 432 Squadron on the same date as a his captain on 18th JUne 1944 when he had flown twenty seven operational flights between 20th January and 14th June 1944. He was granted the DFC, and notification appeared in the London Gazette on 19th September 1944 but there was no citation as such. The recommendation adds further detail to the award of the DFC, it reads.. "This officer has shown a high degree of skill as a navigator on his total of 27 trips over enemy territory without failing to complete a mission successfully. The majority of these trips have been over heavily defended targets in Germany, including Berlin (five times), Frankfurt, Essen, Dusseldorf, Stettin, Stuttgart, Schweinfurt, Magdeburg and Brunswick. His co-operation, coolness and devotion to duty contributed in a large measure to the success of these operations. His cheerful confidence, reflected in the high standard of morale in his crew, has inspired the whole unit. For his devotion to duty and high degree of navigational ability, this officer is strongly recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross." He returned home to Canada after the War and qualified as a lawyer, he was also an accomplished amateur golfer. He died on Christmas Eve 2011 in Vancouver.
Ernest Lestrange was born in Portsmouth in 1923 and if so he received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 3rd May 1944 (176164). He was then promoted to F/O (war subs) on 3rd November 1944 and F/Lt (war subs) on 3rd May 1946. He then remained in the RAFVR in the Post-War shake up and was granted a substantive rank of F/O on 1st November 1947, with seniority of 3rd May 1945 and was promoted to F/Lt on 3rd November 1947.
I credit Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards research in compiling this webpage.