Date: 30/31st August 1943
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Type: Halifax II
Serial: JD453
Code: EY-C
Base: Breighton, Yorkshire
Location: Gerderath, Erkelens
Pilot: Sgt. Ronald George Collins M.i.D. 1392410 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
Fl/ Eng: Fl/Sgt. Clifford Hunt 619830 P.O.W. No: 43127 Stalag Luft Heydekrug (1)
Nav: Sgt. William Herbert Evans 1421169 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. C.F. Jaggard 1318093 P.O.W. No: 222723 Stalag Mühlberg-Elbe
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. N. Simpson 1091021 P.O.W. No: 222776 Stalag Mühlberg-Elbe
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. J.E. Ward 637730 P.O.W. No: 506 Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria
Air.Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Eric Ernest Deverell 410221 R.A.A.F. Age 29. Killed
(1) It is understood that Sgt. Clifford Hunt was repatriated on the "Arundel Castle" on the 6th February 1945 in an exchange of prisoners, it is known that he suffered leg injuries he sustained during the crash.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 00.04 hrs from Breighton, Yorkshire to join 660 aircraft (297 Lancaster's, 185 Halifax's, 107 Stirlings, 57 Wellington's and 14 Mosquitoes) to make a double attack on Mönchengladbach and Rheydt. With a two minute pause after the first phase to enable the pathfinders to transfer the marking from Mönchengladbach to Rheydt. The attacks were classed as a "model" of pathfinder marking.
Mönchengladbach reported that over 1000 buildings were destroyed of which 171 were classed as industrial - Rheydt reported 1,280 buildings destroyed. Losses on the ground for the combined raids was 370 people killed on the ground and a further 2,152 people injured with 12 missing.
The allies lost 34 aircraft (7 Lancaster's, 6 Wellington's, 13 Halifax's, 6 Stirling's and 2 Mosquitoes) with 78 Squadron losing 3 this night - JD201 EY-Y Flown by Fl/Lt. Albert Robert Short from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (all 7 crew killed) and JD409 EY-D flown by Sgt. Alan Johnstone (6 killed and 1 evaded capture).
This Halifax JD453 EY-C is thought to have been shot down by either Lt. Helmut Perle E./NJG2 or Ofw. Werner Hellenbbrucks of 3./NJG1 at around 5,000 mtrs. at 03.40 hrs. Lt. Perle was shot down and killed during combat the following night - Ofw. Hellenbbrucks was also killed, but later - on the 30/31st January 1944 - shot down by a Mosquito from 141 Squadron.
Sgt. Ronald George Collins M.i.D and his original grave marker. (Courtesy of Guy Erwood - son of Janet Collins)
It is reported that the pilot, Sgt. Ronald George Collins M.i.D. left the flight controls to assist Fl/Sgt. Cliff Hunt who was incapacitated and unable to leave the aircraft on his own to leave the aircraft. Having done this he returned to the controls to keep the aircraft level in order for the remainder of the crew to escape. This courageous action ultimately cost him his life. Sgt. Ronald Collins M.i.D. did survive the crash (Not known if he escaped by parachute or he remained in the aircraft) but he was with Fl/Sgt. Hunt when he died in a barn at the scene of the crash.
Newspaper cuttings. (Courtesy of Guy Erwood - son of Janet Collins)
(Courtesy of Guy Erwood - son of Janet Collins)
Burial details:
Sgt. Ronald George Collins M.i.D. Rheinberg War Cemetery 3.E.10
Son of Thomas William and Elsie Victoria Agnes Collins; husband of Janet Collins, of Lee, London.
Sgt. William Herbert Evans. Rheinberg War Cemetery 3.E.11
No further details as yet.
Sgt. Eric Ernest Deverell. Rheinberg War Cemetery SP. Mem. 3.F.18
Son of Charles and Agnes Idona Deverell, of Parfitt Road, Wangaratta, Victoria 10, Australia.
Researched by: David King and Kelvin T. Youngs (A.R. Society) For Guy Erwood and relatives of the other crew members.
Acknowledgments:
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The superb work of the C.W.G.C. All of whom we are indebted for their kind assistance.
