Date: 12/13th March 1945 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit: No. 21 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: De Havilland Mosquito VI
Serial.: SZ963
Code: YH -?
Location: Bottendorf, Germany.
Pilot: W/Cmdr Victor Rundle Oats 34246 Age 29. Killed
Navigator: Fl/Sgt. Frederick Charles Gubbings 1800005 Age 23. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
From eyewitness accounts in Bottendorf, it is stated that Mosquito SZ963 attacked the Frankenberger Bahnhof (Railway station) and then the Thonet Werk (Industrial), during this attack it was noted that the aircraft was on fire and flying very low.
The crew must have realised the danger and W/Cdr. Oats tried desperately to gain altitude so that they would have sufficient height to bale-out. Instead, the aircraft flew on a curved course towards Willesdorf but tragically crashed on the Linnerberg, between Bottendorf and Willesdorf.
The crew were found the next day and laid to rest by an old Oak tree at the Linner Mill. The two crew members were later exhumed and re-buried at Hanover War Cemetery.
Letter from the Adjutant of No.21 Squadron to Mrs Oats (For larger version please click on the letter)
Elizabeth Oats pictured whilst serving as a WAAF. Mrs Elizabeth Oats
Letter from Rev. Dr. G. Hammann to Mrs Oats dated 25th October 1966 (For larger version please click on the letter)
Victor Oats's watch found at the crash site by Mr Doels in the 1960's The reverse of the watch
W/Cdr. Victor Oats killed in action Fl/Sgt. Frederick Gubbings on his wedding day with Olivia
No. 21 Squadron O.R.B. (Operational Records Book): Form. 540
The ORB starts when W/C Oats joins the Squadron as their new commander........
09.02.45
Today our new Squadron Commander arrived; Wing Commander V. R. Oats.
Some local flying was done during the afternoon and at night the Squadron operated in the Cologne ñ Duren, and the railways Euna, Paderborn and Rosnath & Altena areas.
Mosquito VI HR357 F/O E. D. Brown F/S A. Grieve.
Take-off 23.48 - Failed to return.
Officers and men of No.21 Squadron, Thorney Island, 1945. Wing Commander Victor Oats, the new CO can be seen seated in the front row, 5th from right.
10.02.45
Only essential flying was done during the afternoon. At night the Squadron operated in the Cologne ñ Duren area. To destroy the enemy and to destroy transportation and harass movement in support of the army.
Mosquito VI HR150 W/Cdr. V.R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take off 21.00. Bombed and strafed believed electric train. Strafed column of 20 Met and 2/3 lights & strikes seen. Landed 00.05.
11.02.45
Weather bad today, rain and low cloud, no flying possible. Squadron stood down at night.
12.02.45
Better weather, some local flying done during the afternoon. Fl/Lt. Potter and his navigator P/O. Jordan returned from their rest leave.
The Squadron stood by until 22.30 hours.
13.02.45
Weather was good today and much flying was done during the afternoon.
At night the Squadron operated on the Cologne-Duren and Muenchen Gladbach area and patrolled railways Euna-Hamm and South of the Ruhr.
14.02.45
Only essential flying was done during the afternoon and the Squadron operated during the night on the same targets and areas as previously.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take-off 23.10. Bombed lights, Strafed village, several lights, NRS. Strafed met. Landed 01.55.
15.02.45
Weather bad, poor visibility and low cloud. No flying done and the Squadron stood until midnight.
16.02.45
Better weather today, some local flying and N.F.T.'s carried out during the afternoon. The Squadron was stood down at 16.00 hours.
17.02.45
Poor visibility today, some essential flying was carried out during the afternoon and the Squadron stood by at 2 hours notice until 01.00 hours.
18.02.45
Visibility still poor, much fog and no flying done during the day. Tonight the Wing stood down at 17.00 hours.
19.02.45
No improvement in the weather, and no flying was done. At night the Wing stood down at 17.00 hours.
20.02.45
Very misty during the morning which turned into intermittent drizzle. Crews were employed laying down a firmer pathway from the dispersal to the crew room. At night the Squadron stood down.
21.02.45
The weather was much better today. N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon, but the Squadron was stood down at 16.00 hours, pending daylight operations the following day.
22.02.45
"OPERATION CLARION"
All crews detailed for briefing at 09.00 hours, and in spite of the misty weather conditions the Squadron took off on time at 11.30 hours.
The target was the Hanover, Bremen and Hamburg area. Visibility over the target was fair and a considerable amount of activity was seen.
Fl/Lt. H. Fielding Johnson D.F.C. and his navigator F/O. I. Harbord failed to return from this operation.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats. Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take-off 11.30. Bombed trucks, no results seen, also bombed warehouse. Strafed village and railway station. Landed 15.15 .
Mosquito VI HR150 Fl/Lt. H. Fielding Johnson. F/O. L. Harbord. Take-off 11.30 and failed to return.
23.02.45
The weather all day was poor and misty. No flying was carried out and the Squadron stood down at 16.00 hours.
24.02.45
Weather much better today, N.F.T.'s were carried out and the Squadron operated in the Cologne and Duren areas, also railway lines East of Cologne. The roll was to attack rail and road movement.
25.02.45
The Squadron congratulates F/O. S. W. Moulds who today received the D.F.C. N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon and at night the Squadron operated.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take-off 0120. Bombed railway junction, NRS. Strafed train and strikes on eight coaches.
26.02.45
Conditions of low cloud prevailed all day, and only essential flying carried out. The Squadron stood down at 15.00 hours.
27.02.45
Fl/Lt. McNeil had a single engine failure on take-off doing an N.F.T. He landed the aircraft straight ahead under-carriage retracted. Both he and his navigator were unhurt. At night the Squadron covered areas East of the Ruhr. The Squadron suffered the loss of P/O. A. C. Adams and his navigator Fl/Sgt. L. Nicholas.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take-off 21.30. Bombed and strafed train, NRS. Bombed Rhondorp NRS. Strafed 2 trains. Landed 00.40.
Mosquito VI NS990 P/O. A. C. Adams Fl/Sgt. L. Nicholas. Take-off 20.31 "Failed to return".
Fl/Lt. Bert Willers and F/O. Les Bulmerm.
This crew participated in this operation flying Mosquito VI , serial SZ963, the regular machine of W/Cdr. Oats and navigator Fl/Sgt. Gubbings.
28.02.45
A few N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon. At night the Squadron operated in support of the American 9th Army. The weather over the target was good.
Take-off 03.50. Bombed Aldekerk and NRS. Landed 06.05 hours.
Signed: V.R. Oats, Wing Commander, Commanding, No. 21 Squadron R.A.F.
MARCH 1945
B. 87 B.L. A.
(Rosieres - France.)
01.03.45
Weather poor. No flying was carried out during the day and the Squadron was stood down at 16.00 hours. Fl/Lt. Winder D.F.C. and F/O. Pilkington D.F.C. were posted after finishing a very successful first tour.
02.03.45
Weather was much better today and N.F.T's were carried out in the afternoon. At night the Squadron operated in support of the British 2nd and Canadian 1st armies.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings
Take-off 20.30. Bombed Burcheid and Hachenburd, NRS. Landed 23.00 hours.
03.03.45
Very little flying was carried out during the day. At night the Squadron patrolled road and rail communications East and West of the Ruhr. Low cloud made targets difficult to discern.
04.03.45
A few N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon, but the Squadron was stood down at 16.30 hours.
05.03.45
Weather poor today, low cloud and intermittent rain. A few N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon. The Wing was stood down at 16.00 hours. Fl/Lt. Swaine D.F.C. and F/O. Holt left on posting after completing a very successful first tour with the Squadron.
06.03.45
A lecture by Group Captain Bateson , D.S.O, D.F.C. on security, was given to aircrew personnel. A few N.F.T's were carried out, but again the Squadron stood down at 17.00 hours.
07.03.45
Weather poor; N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon. The Squadron operated at night, the targets being road and rail movements North of the Ruhr.
08.03.45
Due to the Squadron's late operation the previous night, no flying was done during the day.The Squadron stood down at 16.30 hours.
09.03.45
We were given a lecture this afternoon by Fl/Lt. Smith on Air to Air firing. The Squadron is now doing a considerable amount of Air to Air Camera gun practice. At night the Squadron operated, targets being road and rail movements East of the Ruhr, in the Hannover and Magdeburg area.
10.03.45
N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon. Operations at night were in support of the American 1st Army. Railways leading from Hannover and Kassel were also patrolled.
11.03.45
Weather fair today. N.F.T.'s were carried out in the afternoon, but the Squadron was stood down at 17.00 hours.
12.03.45
To-night briefing was at 17.30 hours. The target being road and rail communications East of the Ruhr leading to Magdeburg. We regret to announce the loss of our C.O. Wing Commander V. R. Oats and his navigator Fl/Ssgt. F. C. Gubbings.
Mosquito VI SZ963 W/Cdr. V. R. Oats Fl/Sgt. F. C. Gubbings. Take-off 22.05 and Failed to return.
Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. Last resting place for Victor and Frederick
Burial details:
W/Cdr. Victor Rundle Oats. Hanover War Cemetery, Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany. Joint grave 4. J. 13 No: 14.
Son of Francis and Dorothy Oats, husband of Elizabeth Jean Oats, of Oxted, Surrey.
Fl/Sgt. Frederick Charles Gubbings. Hanover War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany. Joint grave 4. J. 13 No: 14.
Son of Albert and Alice Gubbings, husband of Olivia Ellizabeth Gubbings.
PLEASE NOTE: More information regarding the German recovery of Mosquito SZ963 by Hans-Joachim Adler will be added to this web site very soon.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol. 6". Commonwealth Graves Commission.
