460 Squadron RAAF

Please feel free to chip in any memories of or links to 460 Sqdn.

460 Squadron Bomber Command WWII Bases:

• Molesworth: Nov 1941-Jan 1942
• Breighton: Jan 1942-May 1943
• Binbrook: May 1943 onwards

New websites dedicated to 460 Squadron RAAF:

http://www.460squadronraaf.com/

http://www.gordonstooke.com/460squadron/contents.htm

http://www.scoop.it/t/460-squadron

http://bombercommand.wordpress.com/binbrook-1943-home-of-460-squadron/

http://www.binbrook.demon.co.uk/html/memorial.html

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11143.asp

https://www.facebook.com/pages/No-460-Squadron-RAAF/105454936155265

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._460_Squadron_RAAF
_____________________________

Up until recently the only website dedicated to 460 Squadron RAAF was:

Oz at War: http://www.ozatwar.com/460sqdn.htm
. . . . . . .The most sorties
. . . . . The highest tonnage
. . . . The heaviest casualties
. . . . . The most decorations
of any Squadron in Bomber Command.

Decorations see: http://www.ozatwar.com/460medal.htm

Heartrending. See: http://lancaster-archive.com/bc_sqn-460.htm


Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Vickers Wellington IV : Nov 1941-Sep 1942
• Handley Page Halifax B.II : Aug-Oct 1942
• Avro Lancaster B.I and B.III : Oct 1942 onwards

Code Letters:

• Originally "UV", but later changed to "AR".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 12/13th March 1942: 5 Wellingtons despatched to bomb Emden.
• 1 bombed "believed Emden"; 2 bombed "believed Oldenburgh"; 1 bombed a fully-lighted but unidentified airfield; & 1 FTR.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 25th April 1945: 20 Lancasters despatched to Berchtesgaden.

Last Mission before VE Day:

• 7th May 1945: 25 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch in Rotterdam area as part of Operations Manna / Chowhound and Faust.

 

Killed in Action 51%

Killed in Crashes 9%

Seriously injured in crashes 3%

Prisoners of War 12%

Evaders 1% Survivors

Unharmed 24%

Casualties: http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11163.asp

• 1018 (589 Australian) killed

460 Squadron losses: http://bombercommand.wordpress.com/tour-of-ops-460-squadron/

 

460 SQUADRON R.A.A.F
Record of Operations: http://www.gordonstooke.com/460squadron/operations.htm

Total number of sorties 6,264
Tonnage of bombs dropped. (Most in Bomber Command) 24,856
Number of operational hours flown. 30,526
Number of enemy aircraft destroyed. 7
Number of enemy aircraft damaged. 34
Number of enemy aircraft probably destroyed. 6
Number of squadron aircraft lost on operations. 169
Number of squadron aircraft lost in crashes. 31
Number of aircrew killed or died of wounds. 1,018
Number of raids flown. 368




460 SQUADRON R.A.A.F Plaque, Brisbane Queensland Australia War Memorial Register.

 

Distinguished Flying Medal: Flight Sergeant J A Saint-Smith, 460 Squadron, RAAF
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/OL00389.002?image=2

Australia Service Medal: Flying Officer J A Saint-Smith, RAAF
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/OL00389.007

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/UK1089/

407933 Flying Officer (F/O) James Alexander (Alec) Saint-Smith DFM, of Earlwood, NSW, leaving Buckingham Palace after an investiture to receive a Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) for gallantry in a mission over Berlin, with Mrs Ethel Newman and Mrs Laura Henderson of London (right).

F/O Saint-Smith, a pilot with No. 460 Squadron RAAF, was the captain of the Australian War Memorial's Avro Lancaster, G for George (W4789), on its first operational sortie to Mannheim in Germany, on 6 December 1942. He flew the aircraft on another 12 occasions, using it as his regular aircraft for the remainder of his tour, which ended in March 1943.



Flight Sergeant J A Saint-Smith was killed in action on 29 June 1944, on his 73rd operation, when his Mosquito IV, DZ516, crashed near Vaulx, Belgium.
See: http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=10192#

This Mosquito had been purchased by money raised in a Bournemouth Wings for Victory appeal.
In 1996 the aircraft's Operational Log Book was discovered, along with several other similar documents, in the Town Hall by the Mayor, Councillor Jean Moore.

 

Lancaster, G for George, piloted by Flight Sergeant J A Saint-Smith, is by far and away the most famous aircraft in Australian history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_for_George
http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/george/

HISTORY OF "G" FOR GEORGE: http://www.ozatwar.com/ghistory.htm
and http://www.ozatwar.com/g4george.htm

"G" FOR GEORGE SIGNS OFF - http://www.ozatwar.com/argus.htm

On display at Anzac Hall: Main Hall: George Open Display 01
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RELAWM31788/

 

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal : Flight Sergeant D Rees, 460 Squadron, RAAF
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL35509.001

In June 1942 he was posted to the United Kingdom where he trained on Wellingtons and Lancasters before joining 460 Squadron at Binbrook.

On 12 August 1943 Rees piloted a Lancaster during a raid on Milan, withstanding severe engine failure to complete the mission and return the bomber and his crew to safety. The same month, during a raid on Peenemunde, his bomber was badly damaged by fighter attack. However, Rees was once again able to return to base. For these actions he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM).

The citation reads, ‘One night in August 1943, this airman displayed superb skill when piloting an aircraft detailed for an operation against Milan. During the outward flight, 2 of the bomber’s engines became defective but Flight Sergeant Rees continued to his far distant target and bombed it, afterwards flying the disabled aircraft to base. One night in August 1943, Flight Sergeant Rees took part in an attack on Peenemunde. Whilst over the target area, the aircraft was attacked by a fighter. The attacker was driven off but the bomber had been repeatedly hit. The starboard tail plane and the trimming tabs were shot away, 1 engine and the hydraulic system were damaged, while 1 of the petrol tanks was pierced and its contents lost. Despite this, Flight Sergeant Rees coolly and skilfully flew the damaged bomber to base. This airman, who has completed many sorties, has displayed courage and tenacity of a high degree.’

 

Australia Service Medal: Flying Officer T V McCarthy, 460 Squadron RAAF
http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL24250.006

McCarthy was a member of the specially selected crew, all highly experienced and decorated airmen, who flew the Australian War Memorial's Lancaster W4783 'G for George' to Australia in October 1944 for the 3rd Victory Loan tour. Tom McCarthy died in 1985.

 

G for George was far and away Australia's most famous aircraft? Hmmm...I would choose Smithy's Southern Cross personally.

 

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN ("JACK") ALBERT KIRBY DFM
REAR GUNNER WITH 460 SQUADRON RAAF​

http://www.ozatwar.com/460sqdn/jakirby.htm​

 

R.A.A.F 460 Squadron Lancaster EE138 website
http://www.ee138.net/



From: http://www.ee138.net/mcphan.html
Lancaster EE132 crashed on a farm and my wife and I have visited the crash site in Holland and we have contact now with the Dutch Farmer who was a boy when their plane crashed. Dutch research shows that they were shot down by a ME110 Night fighter from below with upward firing cannon. The Tail Gunner still lives in Melbourne Australia today, he received instruction to parachute out and assisted the mid upper gunner to put on his chute as he had received a small wound. The plane was flying in control but the starboard wing was well on fire and so they jumped. The last he saw of the plane was it still flying straight and level and he thought the remaining crew would bail out too. Of course this did not happen and it is thought now that in the forward section of the aircraft there were wounded crew and the pilot had tried to land the aircraft which crashed on the farm where the pilot was found away from the plane some 100 yards without a mark but dead.

http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=5258#

 

The most decorations of any Squadron in Bomber Command.

Heartrending. 243 decoratiions for Australian citizens alone in 460 Squadron.
See 6 pages of primary information at: http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/honours_and_awards/?unit=460+Sqn+RAAF&op=Search

Australian personnel only:

• 5 DSO
• 205 DFC & 12 bars
• 1 CGM
• 72 DFM
• 1 DCM

363 decoratiions in total for 460 Sqdn during WW2 - I believe. http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/94597-460-squadron

Further references:
http://www.ozatwar.com/distserv.htm
http://www.ozatwar.com/460medal.htm

 

FLYING OFFICER RONALD MACKAY MOULD DFM
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mould/Ron.htm

 

Collin Wheatley, Gunner. French Medal of Honour.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/extras/ww2/colwheatley.htm

 

Pilot Officer Sir Hughie Edwards VC, the most highly-decorated Australian in World War II.
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4409/story08.htm

Arthur Hoyle, in his book Sir Hughie Edwards, said: 'As a pilot Hughie was certainly below average, as was demonstrated by the quite large number of aircraft which he damaged or destroyed. He always had some difficulty landing, especially heavy bombers'.

The citation for Sir Hughie's Victoria Cross, however, gives an insight into the hero's bravery and leadership:

'Wing Commander Hughie Idwal Edwards DFC, although handicapped by physical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of the highest order in pressing home bombing attacks from very low heights against strongly defended objectives. On 4 July 1941 he led an important attack on the port of Bremen one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. This attack had to be made in daylight and there were no clouds to afford concealment. During the approach to the German coast, several ships were sighted and Wing Commander Edwards knew that his aircraft would be reported and that the defences would be in a state of readiness.

'Undaunted by his misfortune, he brought his formation fifty miles overland to the target, flying a height of little more than fifty feet, passing under high tension cables, carrying away telegraph wires and finally passing through a formidable balloon barrage. On reaching Bremen he was met by a blast of fire, all his aircraft being hit and four of them being destroyed. Nevertheless, he made a most successful attack, and then with the greatest skill and coolness withdrew the remaining aircraft without further loss.

'Throughout the execution of this operation, which he planned personally with full knowledge of the risks entailed, Wing Commander Edwards displayed the highest possible standard of gallantry and determination.'
________________

ABC New England Radio's North West's Kelly Fuller is speaks here with UNE Historian Dr Nathan Wise about Sir Hughie Edwards and his exploits.
Listen into the interview here: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/07/28/3279832.htm

 

Air Commodore Keith Parsons, Commanding Officer of 460 Squadron
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/431610/scottsdale-born-pilot-had-decorated-career/

Keith Kaufman, Commanding Officer of 460 Squadron
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Keith-Kaufman/1288808589

 

Clarence Charles Gardner, DFC & Bar flew 48 missions with 460 Saudron.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/obituaries/brought-his-crew-through-battle-hell-20120924-26hb7.html

 

Peter Stuart Isaacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM.
http://www.airmanaircrew.com/htm/rolls/active/isaacson_peter/isaacson_peter.html

Peter Isaacson did 26 (or 29) missions in 460 Squadron before he went to 156 Squadron (Pathfinder) on 04/03/43.

 

John Egan Air Gunner, DFC from Gunnedah NSW.
http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/139638/bomber-vets-remember-mates/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-26/gunnedah27s-bomber-squadron-survivor-lands-in-london/4092454/?site=newengland&microsite=&section=news

 

A very, very sad and famous story of one crew in 460 Squadron.
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-heroes/lancaster_crew.htm

This particular aircraft, Lancaster LM523, was lost on its first Key Operation. When lost this aircraft had a total of 23 hours.
It was shot down by a night fighter near Lahr im Schwarzwald, near the Swiss border.
http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=6824

Squadron Leader Eric G D Jarman, Pilot, DFC 404507 KIA
Flying Officer Marmion Wilfred Carroll, Navigator, DFC 408034 KIA
Flying Officer Francis Gordon Jackson, Bomb Aimer, DFC 404503 KIA
Sergeant Douglas George Champkin, Engineer (RAF) 1874746 KIA
Flying Officer Hector Ronald Harrison, Wireless Operator 404467 KIA
Flying Officer Ronald Leslie Neal, Mid-Upper Gunner 411227 KIA
Flying Officer T J Lynch, Rear Gunner 414807 POW, Inj

 

The Story of Lancaster W4960 here on our forum at: http://www.ww2f.com/topic/21286-the-story-of-lancaster-w4960-and-crew-of-460-squadron/?hl=binbrook
and: http://www.w4960.nl/slideshow_110608/

http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=2962#