The first seven days of peace

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Peter Clare, Dec 9, 2009.

  1. TERRIERMAN

    TERRIERMAN Junior Member

    09May 1945

    RF230 Lancaster III RF230
    No.514 Squadron
    2 miles east-south-east Roye-Amy

    The aircraft was returning to UK with 24 released prisoners of war as part of Operation EXODUS, a task placed on Bomber Command using the heavy bomber force to repatriate prisoners, some of whom had been incarcerated for over 5 years, to UK as quickly as possible. The aircraft crew sent a brief message saying that they were making a forced landing but when the pilot applied full flap, the aircraft went out of control, entering a spin from which it did not recover and it crashed and was destroyed by fire. It appears that several of the passengers moved from their allotted places in the aircraft, causing centre of gravity problems and the pilot had already used 8 divisions of elevator trim to keep the aircraft in balance. However, the application of full flap caused loss of control.

    Flight Lieutenant Beaton was a relatively junior officer to be the holder of the DSO. He was awarded this for his gallantry and determination when his aircraft was badly damaged raiding Le Havre in daylight and he sustained a broken leg and other serious injuries. Nonetheless, he refused to relinquish command of the aircraft and flew it back to UK and made a safe landing. The citation for the award is reproduced below, since it represents an exceptional performance by a young officer. It seems particularly tragic that Beaton should lose his life flying an errand of mercy after hostilities in Europe had been concluded.


    -
    Flight Lieutenant Donald BEATON 22 DSO
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flight Sergeant Alfred MCMURRUGH 23 Flight Engineer
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flying Officer Ray Bertram HILCHEY 22 Navigator RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flight Sergeant John Goodworth BRITTAIN 20 Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pilot Officer Robert MacPherson TOMS 20 Air Gunner RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pilot Officer Orval Clare EVERS 19 Air Gunner RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Former POWs

    Captain Robert Worsley WHEELER 26 Royal Engineers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lieutenant Patrick Archibald Tomlin W B CAMPBELL 36 6th Battalion The Queen's Own
    Royal West Kent Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lieutenant Eric Thomas Theodore SNOWDEN 27 Royal Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sergeant Ronald Arthur ADAMS 26 7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Corporal Emanuel L BELSHAW 40 2/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Corporal Albert George THOMPSON 25 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lance Corporal George William FRANKS 32 2nd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Fusilier Harold CUMMINGS 22 2nd Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Fusilier Owen PARKIN 25 1/8th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Guardsman James Arthur ROE 25 lsl Battalion The Irish Guards
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Gunner Alfred James Spencer CROWE Royal Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Gunner A N LABOTSKE 4th Field Regiment South African Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pioneer W L LINDHEIMER Polish Army
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pioneer Mordhai MASCHIT Polish Army
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Thomas ANDERSON 22 2nd Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private William Leonard BALL 311st Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Samuel James BAYSTON 29 4th Battalion The Green Howards
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Roland Albert BETTON 26 lsl Battalion The King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Ronald Ernest CLARK 29 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Walter CROSTON 32 Pioneer Corps
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Richard DANSON 32 l/6'h Battalion East Surrey Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Ralph TURNBULL 28 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Patrick YATES 23 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Rifleman Thomas James EDWARDS 32 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Citation
    Acting Flying Officer Donald BEATON 179980 RAFVR 514 Squadron
    As pilot and captain, Flying Officer Beaton has completed many operational sorties against a variety of targets in Germany and occupied territory. In September 1944, he took part in a daylight attack on Le Havre. Whilst over the target the aircraft sustained severe damage when struck by anti-aircraft fire and went temporarily out of control. Flying Officer Beaton was badly wounded, suffering a broken leg and multiple wounds caused by flying fragments of shell. Although in great pain he regained control and set course for home. Making light of his injuries he refused to leave the controls and flew back to an airfield near the coast where he landed his damaged aircraft safely. This officer displayed outstanding courage and fortitude. Though severely wounded he never wavered in his determination to bring his aircraft and its crew home. His example was most inspiring.

    Does anyone have any more info or pictures etc as my Uncle William Ball was on this flight,
    Thanks John
     
  2. TERRIERMAN

    TERRIERMAN Junior Member

    Does anybody have any info or pictures, as my Uncle William Ball was on this plane,
    Thanks,
    John
     
  3. steve parkin

    steve parkin Junior Member

    Does anyone have any more info or pictures etc as my Uncle William Ball was on this flight,
    Thanks John

    John did you manage to get any info ?
    Owen Parkin was my uncle also on the flight having been taken POW at dunkirk
    Any one with info pls...
     
  4. Ian McCarthy

    Ian McCarthy Junior Member

    09May 1945

    RF230 Lancaster III RF230
    No.514 Squadron
    2 miles east-south-east Roye-Amy

    The aircraft was returning to UK with 24 released prisoners of war as part of Operation EXODUS, a task placed on Bomber Command using the heavy bomber force to repatriate prisoners, some of whom had been incarcerated for over 5 years, to UK as quickly as possible. The aircraft crew sent a brief message saying that they were making a forced landing but when the pilot applied full flap, the aircraft went out of control, entering a spin from which it did not recover and it crashed and was destroyed by fire. It appears that several of the passengers moved from their allotted places in the aircraft, causing centre of gravity problems and the pilot had already used 8 divisions of elevator trim to keep the aircraft in balance. However, the application of full flap caused loss of control.

    Flight Lieutenant Beaton was a relatively junior officer to be the holder of the DSO. He was awarded this for his gallantry and determination when his aircraft was badly damaged raiding Le Havre in daylight and he sustained a broken leg and other serious injuries. Nonetheless, he refused to relinquish command of the aircraft and flew it back to UK and made a safe landing. The citation for the award is reproduced below, since it represents an exceptional performance by a young officer. It seems particularly tragic that Beaton should lose his life flying an errand of mercy after hostilities in Europe had been concluded.


    -
    Flight Lieutenant Donald BEATON 22 DSO
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flight Sergeant Alfred MCMURRUGH 23 Flight Engineer
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flying Officer Ray Bertram HILCHEY 22 Navigator RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Flight Sergeant John Goodworth BRITTAIN 20 Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pilot Officer Robert MacPherson TOMS 20 Air Gunner RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pilot Officer Orval Clare EVERS 19 Air Gunner RCAF
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Former POWs

    Captain Robert Worsley WHEELER 26 Royal Engineers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lieutenant Patrick Archibald Tomlin W B CAMPBELL 36 6th Battalion The Queen's Own
    Royal West Kent Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lieutenant Eric Thomas Theodore SNOWDEN 27 Royal Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sergeant Ronald Arthur ADAMS 26 7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Corporal Emanuel L BELSHAW 40 2/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Corporal Albert George THOMPSON 25 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Lance Corporal George William FRANKS 32 2nd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Fusilier Harold CUMMINGS 22 2nd Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Fusilier Owen PARKIN 25 1/8th Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Guardsman James Arthur ROE 25 lsl Battalion The Irish Guards
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Gunner Alfred James Spencer CROWE Royal Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Gunner A N LABOTSKE 4th Field Regiment South African Artillery
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pioneer W L LINDHEIMER Polish Army
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Pioneer Mordhai MASCHIT Polish Army
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Thomas ANDERSON 22 2nd Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private William Leonard BALL 311st Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Samuel James BAYSTON 29 4th Battalion The Green Howards
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Roland Albert BETTON 26 lsl Battalion The King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Ronald Ernest CLARK 29 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Walter CROSTON 32 Pioneer Corps
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Richard DANSON 32 l/6'h Battalion East Surrey Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Ralph TURNBULL 28 1st Battalion The Durham Light Infantry
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Private Patrick YATES 23 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Rifleman Thomas James EDWARDS 32 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Citation
    Acting Flying Officer Donald BEATON 179980 RAFVR 514 Squadron
    As pilot and captain, Flying Officer Beaton has completed many operational sorties against a variety of targets in Germany and occupied territory. In September 1944, he took part in a daylight attack on Le Havre. Whilst over the target the aircraft sustained severe damage when struck by anti-aircraft fire and went temporarily out of control. Flying Officer Beaton was badly wounded, suffering a broken leg and multiple wounds caused by flying fragments of shell. Although in great pain he regained control and set course for home. Making light of his injuries he refused to leave the controls and flew back to an airfield near the coast where he landed his damaged aircraft safely. This officer displayed outstanding courage and fortitude. Though severely wounded he never wavered in his determination to bring his aircraft and its crew home. His example was most inspiring.

    Hi
    I hope I am doing this right? not up on these postings.
    My Grandfather was Patrick Archibald Tomlin William Betts Campbell, he was on this plane. My mother has some old pics of him and the POW camp.
    If you would like me to downlad them, please let me know.

    Kind Regards

    Ian
     

    Attached Files:

  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Ian
    welcome to the forum


    thank you

    regards
    Clive
     
  6. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hi
    I hope I am doing this right? not up on these postings.
    My Grandfather was Patrick Archibald Tomlin William Betts Campbell, he was on this plane. My mother has some old pics of him and the POW camp.
    If you would like me to downlad them, please let me know.

    Kind Regards

    Ian

    Hello Ian, welcome to the forum.

    Its always good to update a thread, thanks for the photos, if you have more please add them to the thread.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  7. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Wow. I was about to reply how they were all so tragic and sad when I saw post #10. A double roll at 100 feet in a plane with a 40 foot wing span?

    Still a tragedy of course, but that one was avoidable. But we do stuff like that when we are young.
     
  8. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Friday 11th. May 1945
    Spent all afternoon in Padua, iced drinks, ices & ENSA show.
    Met lads of Mick's Brigade.
    Hear that Jack has been shot down over Nuremberg.

    This was the terrible day when I received a letter from home to say that brother Jack had been shot down over Germany and had been posted as missing. It reached me within a week of the war ending in Europe and at a time when we were all congratulating ourselves on having survived the war.

    Ron
     

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