(1) Blight Island in Ontario is named after W/O. Blight

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from R.A.F. Middleton St. George base (Now Teeside Airport, County Durham) at 21.09 hrs. Part of a huge force of 462 aircraft - 146 Wellington, 135 Halifaxes, 98 Lancasters, 83 Stirlings - 23 aircraft were lost on this raid. Not classed as a huge success as the pathfinders although claiming to have placed the markers accurately the main bombing force hit the north east of the target.
Only a few bombs hit the centre of Stuttgart. The old church Gedachtnis was destroyed and a 1 bomb had a direct hit on an air raid shelter packed with French and Russian prisoners of war. 257 Frenchman and 143 Russians were killed. This tragedy brought the total death toll to 619, a new record for raids to Germany.
This Wellington HE863 has been claimed by a Major Kurt Holler of Stab III./NGJ4. The combat occurred on the homeward bound trip 2 kilometres North of Rocquigny at a height of 3,900m time: 02.58hrs.
Major Holler was a Luftwaffe night ace with, at this time, 14 kills to his credit. 18 by the time of his death on the 3/4th April 1945 at Dulvendijke, Schouwen Island following return fire from a bomber.
Clifford G. Anderson was the usual Air Bomber for this crew but he had been grounded for medical reasons (severe duodenal ulcer). Clifford was best friends with Gerry Blight and he often spoke about him to his grandchildren. Sadly Clifford has since died although his grandson who we are in contact with, is trying to source further information from his records.
It also appears that the other Air Gunner Leonard Dutton was also not part of the usual crew and he replaced a chap called Art Elliot. Art joined another squadron for reasons unknown and was replaced by "Rosy" Rosenbarker (shown in picture below) who fitted in well with the crew. "Rosy" missed this flight as in the month previous he had broken his arm whilst on a gunnery training flight and had to bail out. Gerry Blight had been married only four months prior to his loss. His wife gave birth to a daughter in the autumn.

Left to right: William Gerald Blight, Chich Chamney (2), "Rosy" Rosenbarker, and the pilot of this aircraft, Paul Joseph Cozens. (Photo supplied by D. Datta)

     
Above left. Cliff Anderson and right "Pappy" Paploski - pictures taken on the 13th April 1943 - the day prior to this mission! (Photo supplied by D. Datta)

    
Above left: Gerry, Jean and Cliff and Above right: Gerry, ?, Jean. (Photo supplied by D. Datta)


W/O. II William Gerald Blight (Courtesy Sharon Sargent - nee Blight)

 
William Gerald Blight wedding 1943 (Photo supplied by D. Datta)

              
Cliff Anderson Winnipeg 1944 (Photo supplied by D. Datta) Above right: Obit for Gerry Blight (Photo Supplied by King A.R.S. Archives)


Major Kurt Holler (Courtesy Mike Harrison)

(2) Fl/Sgt. Burnet Montieth Chamney R.C.A.F. R/87480 Age 23 Killed 26th February 1942

Burial Details:

W/O. II Paul Joseph Cozens R/105169 R.C.A.F. Rocquigny Communal Cemetery Collective grave.
Son of Joseph Michael and Olive Mary Cozens, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
W/O. II William Gerald Blight R/115483 R.C.A.F. Rocquigny Communal Cemetery Collective grave.
Son of William and Lila Blight of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Bother of Grant Murray, sister Lois.
Fl/Sgt. Stephen Graham Giffin R/134457 R.C.A.F. Rocquigny Communal Cemetery Collective grave.
Son of Glen Earl Giffin and Sue Giffin, of Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada.
W/O. II John Paplowski R/105866 R.C.A.F. Rocquigny Communal Cemetery Collective grave.
Son of John and Mary Paplowski, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Fl/Sgt. Leonard Dutton R/136360 R.C.A.F. Rocquigny Communal Cemetery Collective grave.
Son of Frederick and Ann Dutton, of Swansea, Ontario, Canada.
Pictures supplied by Darik Datta - grandson of Clifford Anderson, also Mike Harrison. I can now confirm that the A.R. Society are in contact with the relatives of W/O. II William Gerald Blight who have provided further information and we hope that more will follow.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 3", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries Vol 2", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.

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