78 Squadron RAF

Hello Kim,
I can offer you the following crew details. I would be grateful, if there any apparent merit in it, to ask Granddad Philip if he would care to add to my 'Preston's Own' data base in some way.
Regards,
Michael Moores LeBlanc

——————————————————————————————————————————————
22/23 October 1943
Halifax LW293 ‘L’ FTR from Kassel, Germany.
Pilot S/Ldr Gordon Arthur Sells. DFC. 129106 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 4.
Nav F/Lt Derek Ralph Rogers 146027 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 3.
B/A F/Lt Cyril Howard ‘Bud’ Abbott 129038 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 2.
W/Op P/O George Simpson 156270 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 6.
F/Eng P/O Samuel ‘Sam’ Greenlees 149108 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 5.
M/U P/O John Walter Hardcastle 158893 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 7.
R/G F/Sgt John Sherman Ferris R129539 † Limmer, Hanover. 16. B. 1.
Details of Sortie: Take-Off from Breighton at 17:31 hours. Crashed near Vörden, 10 kms NW of Höxtyer, Germany.

Crew Biographies:
S/Ldr Gordon Arthur Sells. DFC. 129106. RAF. Pilot. Previously a bank clerk in Leeds. Completed a tour in 1941-1942 flying Wellingtons. 78 Sqdn ‘B’ Flight Commander. Lost on his 6th Operation with 78 Sqdn.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 4.

Note: Add data As per Aircraft Down III: Riccall, 30th of March, 1942, 13:40 hours - F/O Sells made every effort to control BB189 when he landed at Riccall after Air to Sea firing. The aircraft drifted in strong cross winds followed by the undercarriage collapsing.

F/Lt Derek Ralph Rogers. 146027. RAF (VR). Navigator.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 3.

F/Lt Cyril Howard ‘Bud’ Abbott. 129038. RAF. Bomb Aimer.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 2.
As per WAAF: " Bud of course is the reason I can tell you how Gordon Sells’plane was lost over Kassel on 22-23 October, 1943. He came to tell me he was on Ops and that was the last I saw of him. I had no premonitions but, as we went to bed, I said to Betty something I’d never said before. “I’ll ring you in the morning to see if he’s back”. After Ops, he always popped into the office to report back, as he put it. This morning he didn’t. Was he a late return? I rang Betty, who said very simply, “I’m sorry”. As I was coping with this news, S/Ldr Jackie Cooper came in. He asked if I knew then said, “I think you’re the kind of person who would want to know”, and told me this: Gordon’s plane had started on it’s bombing run when it was coned in searchlights. They took no evasive action but continued on the run-in when the plane exploded. Jackie Cooper was next behind them, following them in. There could, he said, have been no survivors.
In view of this story, I wonder what is buried in Hanover? "

P/O George Simpson. 156270.RAF (VR). Wireless Operator.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 6.

P/O Samuel ‘Sam’ Greenlees. 149108. RAF (VR). Flight Engineer.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 5.

P/O John Walter Hardcastle. 158893. RAF (VR). Air Gunner.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 7.

F/Sgt John Sherman Ferris. R129539. RCAF. Air Gunner. Age 20. From Tiverton, Ontario, Canada.
W/O 2 John Sherman Ferris is buried in † Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 16. B. 1.
————————————————————————————————————

 

Hello Michael

Wow! What an amazing response thank you so much.

I can tell you that Sherman was the best man at Grandads sisters wedding and we have a picture that was taken five weeks before Sherman was killed. I can also tell you that all the crew used to stay with Grandads parents who had a little boarding house in Selby. Grandads brother in law was called Jack Begg who was alos on 78 Sq and was a navigator and flew from Burn on Wellingtons then the Halifax.

Any info you may have on him would also be fantastic.

Can I ask you what is 'Preston's Own' data base and what would you like to know from Grandad?

I am sure I can put you both in touch. He is an amazing man with an even more amazing memory and is as sharp as a pin.

 

Hello Kim,
Many thanks for your prompt reply. It is most encouraging. Many thanks for the addition details about Sherman.

If you can tell me which period Jack Begg was with 78 I'll see what I can find on him. My transcribed entries for posting to the unit begin in July '43 end in July 1944. Either he must have served before or after this period or there has been an error in my input as I cannot find the name with my search engine.

'Preston's Own' was the 'honoury' name of the Squadron.

As per Sqdn records: 04/04/39: The squadron was affiliated with the town of Preston.

It is also the title of my computer files on the unit.

Way back in the late 80's or so, I order a copy of the Sqdn's 540's & 541 on microfilm and began transcribing the material to a cpu. (grrrr -ruined my right eye reading them with a printer's lens but was fortunate enough to find a microfilm reader at a surplus shop about a year later for $10.00. (I understand these films are on CD today).

What I have transcribed, in their entirety, directly from the records, are the records of for WWI & the 1939-1941 period, but do have some substantial 'selected transcriptions' from other periods on file (ei: Postings & promoptions from 1943 -1945). List of operations by each individual (1939-1941). Combat reports, Monthly Operational Summaries, etc.

Most of the initial focus was on the crews of the 196 or so aircraft missing from the Sqdn. To this I have added excerpts from correspondence from 380+ former members of the unit. I also have a number of pictures but as my work was done in the period before the internet was a force and reproduction of images was very expensive, most are photocopies, with one major exception. Through pure serendipity I was able to obtain 78's negatives of photo album of Bull's Eye photos, often including with them a picture of the pilot and the B/A.

I also have a copy of the Sqdn Flight Enginer's (Ivor Easton) Log book covering the period from July-1943 onward (last transcription is for August '44) - but this must be, for obvious reasons, used with discretion in public use.

I gathered 'Preston's Own' material from 1983 onward and attended two of their reunions in 1990 & 1994. At the same time I did a great deal of research about air operations on the night of 24-25 May, 1944, recovering the stories of all a/c & crews (British & Luftwaffe) lost that night. My uncle's bomber LV905 'W' was lost that night. After 20 years of effort, we received 'official sanction' and recovered it and the remains of five of Willie's crew in 2006, in Hank, Holland.
See: Salvage Halifax 1944 Foundation

By the late 1990's my association with 78 on a more or less intimate & intense basis became very discouraging. Every day's mail seemed to bring bad news about the death or poor health of some old friend and at X-mas 1999 my own heart faltered. As a consequence, I lost energy and left this work 'in limbo' and have only, since my retirement last December, started working on the files again and wish to begin where I left off 10 years ago. The 'shades' of that generation continue to haunt me and inspire me . . . and wonderful they are to do so.

It should be mentioned that in the mid-90's that my research focus was strongly divided. I discovered 'evaders' while researching surviving airmen shot down the same night as my uncle in May of '44. I learned that 12 of the 18 ended up on a false escape line set up by German military intelligence in Antwerp. With an interruption of a year or so, I have maintained a strong continuing interest in this subject, discovering along the way the stories of some of 'Preston's Own' men with very remarkable experiences, but have not yet co-related the two difference research branches.
See: Escape and Evasion - Michael Moores LeBlanc

Many thanks for your offer to put me in touch with 'Grandad'. Value him. He's special and of a type getting rarer each day. You asked what I would like to know from him. The answer is 'everything' he'd care to share - stories - photo's - all the kinds things that would be of natural interest to you. In return, I would happy share what input I might have on folks he knew or what might otherwise be of interest to him.

Kim, if you are willing to co-ordinate the effort, who knows what might result and what forgotten memories might be invoked before they are finally lost forever.

My address is:
30074 Hwy 134
Dalhousie Junction, NB. Canada E3N 6B6.

Cheers,
Michael Moores LeBlanc
mooresleblanc@gmail.com

 

Hello Michael

I am more than willing to co-ordinate so that you can speak with Grandad. Most years he visits Canada as his siter married Jack Begg (Canadian) and there are nephew etc to see etc. Unfortunately this year Grandad has to have some surgery which would prevent him from flying.

I think Jack was now not with 78 Sq so will find out which one it was and come back to you with that info.
I do know that Grandad flew with an Australian called Wally Choo (not sure of the spelling). I will email and maybe you and Grandad can have a chat on the phone or better still maybe next year meet up.

Thank so much again for all this wonderful information.

Kim

 

Hello Rob,

Please contact me because I have information about Halifax W7932 crashed 11/12 June 1943 over Sambeek,Holland a.zantvoortATonsneteindhoven.nl . replace "AT" for @

Looking forward to hear from you,
Adrian

 

Hello there

I'm trying to find information and records relating to my grandfather Flight Sergeant and then Pilot Officer Lewis Albert Spraggs (Can/R. 86855) Royal Canadian Air Force No. 78 Squadron. I'm not sure which years he flew (I think in early 40's). I found his name listed in the Supplement of the London Gazette 14th May 1943 for a Distinguished Flying Medal.

I would love to find out anything I can about my grandfather and what he did during WWII.

Many thanks, Michelle Spraggs Harrop

 

Hello Michelle,
I can offer you a list of 26 Operations in which your grandfather flew.

F/Sgt Lewis Spraggs, RCAF, flew his first Op with 78 Sqdn to Turin, Italy in 20 Nov, 1942 and was 'screened' while still a F/Sgt, with a 'DFM' sometime after his 26th Op, a raid on Nurembourg.

I have a lengthy account given me by one of his R/G's F/O Tom Wilby, who abandoned their a/c (on orders after the engines cut due to icing) on an 11/12 Dec '42 operation to Turin. The engines started again and the order to abandon a/c was recinded - too late for Tom, who went on to successfuly evade and return to England.

I am about to leave for Montreal to pick up a guest arriving from Europe and will be busy for the next couple of days/weeks. If you care to contact me at my personal address, I would be happy to pass on Wilby's account and your Grandad's list of operations.

Cheers,
Michael

11-12 December 1942
Halifax II W7856 Ex Ops to: Turin
Pilot F/Sgt Lewis Albert Spraggs RCAF
? Sgt I. or J.A. Jones RAF
? Sgt R.C. Simondinger RAF
? Sgt A. Tomlinson RAF
? Sgt J.S. Carmichael RAF
M/U Sgt F.J. Evans RAF
R/G F/O Thomas ‘Tom’ Richard Wilby RCAF J15138. Evaded also (See Lunan’s crew)
Details of Sortie: Take-off from Linton-on-Ouse at 16:36 hours. Aircraft turned back at DR. (dead reckoning) position of Annecy owing to all motors cutting due to severe icing conditions. The Captain gave the order to bail out, but when the motors picked up, cancelled the order. The Rear Gunner, F/O Tom Wilby had already left the aircraft. The aircraft landed at Manston on return at 20:33 hours.

 

78 Squadron George William Wilson Pilot Officer 156129

George Wilson was my fathers cousin

I have Georges photo album - it contains pictures of Swift Current,Innisfail,Bowden & Medicine Hat - pictues of the towns & planes
also a group photo of D Flight Medicine Hat- no dates- 18 people in Photo
all named - I assume this was part his training
He joined 78 Squadron 26 May 1943 from 1658 Conversion Unit
1st Flight 21 June 1943- missing 29 Sept 1943
I have found details of all flights & crew-Planes Halifax HR657 HR374 HR901
JD305 LW225

not sure if this should be a new thread, not clear how to start a new thread


would be willing to share info & photos if anyone is interested
I have lots more info on George

regards Alan Hillier High Wycombe England

 

Hello Alan,
This message may appear twice. The first one I composed seems to have ended up in the either somewhere.

I am very pleased to hear from you and would very much like to exchange some information about George with you. At the moment, I have very little but the basic's transcribed to my 'Crew Biography' file but must have been in touch (a letter) with someone who knew Kirkham as I have his nickname recorded as 'Bertie' (must check for that). I also have record of George in the Flt Eng's Log book (started -34/07/43 without pilot's names initially, but with George first being identified as the pilot of JD305 on Ops to Hamburg on 27-28/07/43.

Please contact me directly if you will. I'd very much like to record all I can about this crew.

Cheers,
Michael Moores LeBlanc

29/30 September 1943
Halifax LW225 ‘C’ FTR Bochum, Germany.
Pilot P/O George William Wilson. RAF (VR) 156129. † Runnymede Panel 134.
Nav B F/Sgt Sidney George Mills . RAF (VR) 658611. † Sage War Cemetery.
B/A P/O Arthur Gilbert Corsby. RAF (VR) 155894. † Sage War Cemetery.
WAG P/O Stanley Truman Wariner. RAF (VR) 155948 † Sage War Cemetery.
F/Eng Sgt H. ‘Bertie’ Kirkham. RAF (VR) 1010024. † Runnymede. Panel 156.
M/U Sgt Harry Ernest St. Hill Goom. RAF (VR) 1337540 † Sage War Cemetery.
R/G Sgt L.W. Nichols, RAF (VR) 1336997. † Runnymede Panel 160.

Details of Sortie: Take-Off from Breighton at 18:08 hours and presumed lost over the sea.

Crew Biography:
P/O George William Wilson. RAF (VR) 156129. Pilot. RAF. Lost on his 16th Operation.
† Runnymede Panel 134.

F/Sgt Sidney George Mills. RAF (VR) 658611.. Navigator B.
† Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Land Niedersachsen, Germany. 7. B. 14.

P/O Arthur Gilbert Corsby. RAF(VR) 155894. RAF. Bomb Aimer.
† Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Land Niedersachsen, Germany. 5. F. 10.

P/O Stanley Truman Wariner. RAF(VR) 155948. RAF. Wireless Operator Airgunner.
† Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Land Niedersachsen, Germany. 7. A. 12.

Sgt H. ‘Bertie’ Kirkham. RAF(VR) 1010024. Flight Engineer. Age 28.
† Runnymede. Panel 156.

Sgt Harry Ernest St. Hill Goom. RAF(VR) 1337540. Airgunner.
† Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Land Niedersachsen, Germany. 3. F. 2.

Sgt L.W. Nichols. RAF(VR) 1336997. Airgunner. † Runnymede Panel 160.

 

I am looking to find anyone who may have known of or been a friend of my brother Po Lawrence Welsh who was killed at Breighton airfield on November 21, 1944. my daughter is going to make a documentary on the lives of Lawrence and my brother W O John Victor Welsh, missing & presumed dead in North Africa Decwember 18, 1942.


Would appreciate hearing from anyone who can help us in this.

Huck

 

Hello There,
looking for all informations about Hallifax II LW230 EY-G 78. Sqn (RNZAF Flt Lt Smith, W B Captain Pilot) lost on Night Raid 27 / 28 Sept. 1943 for Hannover Germany
Crew:
RNZAF Flt Lt Smith, W B Captain (Pilot)
RAF PO Hickling, G E (Flight Engineer)
RAF Flt Lt Paul, G G (Navigator)
RAF PO Cocking, A B (Air Bomber)
RAF Sgt J Nowman, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt R A Smith, (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAAF 413810 Flt Sgt J S Wilkins, (Rear Gunner)

All Informations about the lost are very welcome...

Best regards

Dirk

 

Hello Dirk,
The best I can offer is that the pilot, William Brian Smith had at least 19 operations to his credit when lost. The full names of the crew can be found at the CWGC website.

Michael

 

Hallo Michael,
Thank´s a lot for your information. Due to Informations from Australian National Archives, the Crew was first buried in Hattendorf / Lower saxony (Germany) I will check the Church Book from 1943 and hope to find some Names of the Crew.

Dirk

 

Dirk,
What I have is as follows:

27-28 September 1943
Halifax LW230 ‘G’ FTR Hanover, Germany.
Pilot F/Lt William Brian Smith NZ416177 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.
Nav P/O George Graham Paul 139298 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 8.
B/A P/O Arthur Bernard Cocking 149994 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 7.
W/Op Sgt James Norman 1129071 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 19.
F/Eng P/O George Edward Hickling 1550088 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.
M/U Sgt Ronald Alfred Smith 1010805 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.
R/G F/Sgt John Selwyn Wilkins Aus413810 † Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.
Details of Sortie: Take-Off from Breighton at 19:05 hours.

Crew Biography:
F/Lt William Brian Smith. NZ416177. RNZAF. Pilot.
Minimum of 19 operations with 78 Sqdn.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 3. E. 10 -13.

P/O George Graham Paul. 139298. RAF. Navigator.
F/Lt Paul’s parents lived in the Argentine at Temperley, Buenos Aires, Brazil.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. 3. E. 8.

P/O Arthur Bernard Cocking. 149994. RAF (VR). Bomb Aimer.
† Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 7.

Sgt James Norman. 1129071. RAF (VR). Wireless Operator.
† Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 19.

P/O George Edward Hickling. 1550088. RAF (VR). Flight Engineer.
† Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.
S/Ldr Geo Ed. Hickling, may have been a pilot.

Sgt Ronald Alfred Smith. 1010805. RAF (VR). Air Gunner.
† Limmer, Hanover. 3. E. 10 -13.

F/Sgt John Selwyn Wilkins. Aus413810. RAAF. Airgunner. Age 27. Son of John Percy and Ellen Mary Wilins. Husband of Beatrice Emily Wilkins of Gordon, New South Wales, Australia.
† Limmer British Cemetery, Hanover, Germany. Collective Grave. 3. E. 10-13.

 

Hallo Michael,

Thank`s for reply and the Details, today I´ve checked the Church Book of Hattendorf. I found some Deatils / Informations about the loss of LW230 "Smith Crew"

Micheal, if you are interested on more Informations, please send me an PM for:
hartmann.huelsede@gmx.de

Greetings Dirk

 

Michael

i am interested in any further information you may have on this post, my uncle (dad's brother) was Sgt Harry Ernest St. Hill Goom. RAF(VR) 1337540. Airgunner, i am interested in anything you may know about his missions etc.
I have found the war cemetries info re location etc, casualty details, i found an interesting link in the national archives - documents on-line but this lists him as a flying officer in 35 squadron in March 1944 which did not make any sense so i wondered how accurate some of this info is (catalogue AIR 50/185 - image 378/74).

Given the name is now very common i was hoping the web might give my some more info.

thanks

 

Hello (_?_),
You certainly seem to have stumbled onto a mystery or an amazing co-incidence of similar names in service. As you are no doubt aware the crew of Sgt Harry Ernest St. Hill Goom is mentioned in one the postings above, and the fates of the crew seem to be certain. I have not heard back from Allan which is a pity as something might be worked out between the two of you. Archival records of the RAF are extensive and your uncle's entire operational experience can be recovered. The easiest way to do this would be to consult the Sqdn's Operational records. I understand these are now available on CD. I have them on microfilm but as I am sure you will understand this is a labour intensive process of recovery. While I commend your interest and would like to help you further, my time is limited and unfortunately, in the case of this crew, the readily accessible material already transcribed to file shows only the barest of details as indicated above.

Regrets,
Michael

 

Dear Michael

I am new to this, but whilst listening to wartime songs on Friday last, I suddenly realised I knnew nothing of my uncle who died during the war. He was my Mother´s Brother and my mother passed away before I was of an age to take interest in my uncle and the war, so I took a chance and put his name into Google. It is almost certainly him as he and my mother were from Leeds and I know he was a bank clerk.
My Uncle was Gordon Sells. I knew he was a squadron leader and I have his DFC although the information I read on your forum told me far more than I ever knew before.

I would be interested in anyone who knew Gordon or whose Parents or Grandparents spoke of him.

I know this seems strange that it has taken me so long to look him up but thank goodness for google.
Thank you

Janet Gilchrist

 

Dear Michael

I know it's been along time since I've posted this request and you were so kind to respond. Thank you so much. I seemed to have had trouble with this site when I started, and I didn't see your reply. It's only now that I'm back on a mission to find out more about my grandfather Lewis Albert Spraggs and the 78 Squadron RAF. I was just back in British Columbia, Canada seeing my family, and my grandmother, who now has dementia, so it's not so easy to speak to her about my grandfather now.

Is it still possible please to find out Wilby's account and my grandad's list of operations?

Thank you so much for your help so far Michael. I appreciate it immensely.

Kind regards,

Michelle Spraggs Harrop

 

Hello Michael

my fathers cousin, George Wilson of 78 Squad , plane went missing on 29 Sept 1943.

I have a list of next of kin of all persons lost on this flight

included on this list was

Sgt Goom -Air Gunner- mother Mrs E Goom 55 Ashley Road Parkstone Dorset

if this is your Goom please contact me on alan.hillier@ntlworld.com

and I would be happy to give more info

regards Alan