Operation Freshman

Hopefully this news report from 2009 on the expedition to recover the wreckage of Airspeed Horsa DP349 has not been posted before.

Operation Freshman Horsa Glider Recovery - YouTube

 

Thanks for posting - was it really only 2009? I saw some of the items recovered when I visited Shawbury.
Sqn Ldr Wann (featured in film clip)told me that he had a special interest as his father was an Airborne sapper.

John

 

Thanks for posting - was it really only 2009? I saw some of the items recovered when I visited Shawbury.
Sqn Ldr Wann (featured in film clip)told me that he had a special interest as his father was an Airborne sapper.

John

John,

It was posted to Youtube in 2009. The story may well have been aired at an earlier time ... ?

 

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There seems to be an imbalance in that the successful Telemark saboteurs have been appropriately recognised while - in my view- the operators of Freshman deserve a lot more acknowledge and fame for their bravery and sacrifice.

However, this can hardly be achieved by assigning new definitions to established terms. Is there any doubt as to who 'The Heroes of Telemark' were?

Disclaimer: I do not have access to the quoted magazine in question and have assessed from the presented front page only.

 

John,

It was posted to Youtube in 2009. The story may well have been aired at an earlier time ... ?


It would appear that the expedition was in September 2004. See attached link to Britain at war article. Britain At War March 2009

John

 

It would appear that the expedition was in September 2004. See attached link to Britain at war article. Britain At War March 2009

John

John, thanks for clearing that up. By the way that's an excellent digital copy and I can't help but think my over sight was worth it. ...

 

Cee

Agreed

John

 

The loss details of the two RAAF airmen.RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

Source:

AWM237 65) NAA : A705, 163/27/171 Commonwealth Ware Graves records
Aircraft Type: Glider
Serial number: HS114 (Towed by Halifax W7801)
Radio call sign:
Unit: 38 Wing RAF

Summary:

On the 20th November 1942, a Glider from 38 Wing RAF crashed at Helleland, near
Egersund in the Stavenger area of Norway. The glider carried two RAAF members and
15 British Army personnel. Three were killed in the crash including probably the two
RAAF crew members. The other 14 were shot by a German firing party in Egersund
Camp.

Two gliders set out for Norway on the night of 19/20th November 1942, in an attempt to
destroy a heavy water plant of vital importance in German atom bomb experiments. The
glider was towed across the North Sea by a Halifax aircraft without incidence, but
visibility was bad and the weather deteriorated until they were flying blind in thick cloud.
At the estimated time of arrival over the target area, ice formed on the towrope and
snapped it. The Intercom was also severed. That was the last seen of the glider. The
Halifax returned to base on thee engines.

Crew:

RAAF 401422 PO Davies, N A (Pilot)
RAAF 401601 PO Fraser, H J (Pilot)

Both the crew are buried in the Stavanger (Eiganes) Churchyard, Norway.
From: The Scottish War Memorials Project :: View topic - Skitten Airfield, Caithness (Operation Freshman)

Memorial on the roadside by the former Skitten Airfield.


View attachment 76008

 

Hi all,

Does anyone know the names of the crew of the Halifax which returned safely from Operation Freshman? I have found online the names of all the men who died on the operation, but not the survivors, except for Hedley Duckworth, who was the Flight Engineer on the Halifax. Thanks for any information.

Regards,

Iain.

 

Does anyone know the names of the crew of the Halifax which returned safely from Operation Freshman? I have found online the names of all the men who died on the operation, but not the survivors, except for Hedley Duckworth, who was the Flight Engineer on the Halifax. Thanks for any information.

Regards,

Iain.




Missed this request the first time around – only noticed it now while looking for something else. The second pilot on the Halifax was apparently Flying Officer Victor David Kemmis RAAF 403594

He served pre-war in the militia and transferred to the RAAF in 1941 – he remained in the RAAF until he discharged 16 Sep 1957 as a Squadron Leader from TAS SQN ATC, by that time he had received a new service number under the post-war restructure - O21985.

Oddly enough, I can’t locate a service file for him at the NAA – he has a file held at the AWM, the NAA has his militia file and a casualty file from an incident in 1947

******************************************************************

Kemmis, Victor David; Army Number - 266134; Date of birth - 15 September 1914 (only digitised file – pre-war militia)

RAAF Headquarters - Accident to Viking VL 231 [A82-1] - Date 17.12.1947 at Mallala - Pilot Squadron Leader V D [Victor David] Kemmis 403594

 

My father, Tom Taylorson, was a glider pilot and he told me that he was a reserve pilot for Freshman. He told me that Strathdee had flown for the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War and as such he was probably the only Briton who had flown the 109 when the WW11 broke out. He told me that the RAF grilled him about the 109 but wouldn't let him into the RAF which would explain why he came to the GPR from the Royal Armoured Corps.
Does anyone have any idea about how to find out about Brits who fought for Franco, presumably as part of the Condor Legion?

 

I have uploaded Herbert Legate last letter home written on the day of the raid. He is my great uncle.

 

Hi, I am compiling additional information for a possible update on Ion Drew's book, Silent Heroes. Do you have any additional information and/or on your Great Uncle? Best regards, Bruce

 

Just to provide the data from Army Roll of Honour 1939-45 for the R Engineers - source TNA WO 304 (CD published by NMP) This gives place of Birth and Domicile at enlistment and may differ form the WGC data which gives (post war ?) next of kin address (eg Masters with an Irish NOK address was Welsh born and lived in Devon whereas Farrell was Irish born with a Salford residence). The Theatre of war is also far more varied and innaccurate in some cases. 11 were already in the Army at outbreak of war and all had RE (or Officer x 2) Army Numbers except 2 original enlistments into Yorkshire regiments who had transferred to RE by the outbreak.

 

WO304 data excel attached with WGC data in italics

ALLEN, Alexander, A C, b. Birmingham, r. Birmingham, 137173, r. Lieutenant, 00/11/42, United Kingdom, Royal Engineers
BAILEY, Ernest, E W, b. Portsmouth, r. Portsmouth, 1869293, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers,
BELFIELD, John, J T V, b. Staffordshire, r. Derbyshire, 2016305, r. Driver, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers.
BEVAN, Howell, H, b. Monmouthshire, r. London SE, 2074196, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers
BLACKBURN, James, J F, b. Hampshire, r. London (not otherwise specified), 1900803, r. Sapper, 18/01/43, Norway, Royal Engineers
BONNER, Frank, F, b. Sunderland, r. Hertfordshire, 1906932, r. Sapper, 18/01/43, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
BRAY, Frederick, F W, b. Surrey, r. Surrey, 1884418, r. Lance-Corporal, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
CAIRNCROSS, James, J D, b. Roxburghshire, r. Roxburghshire, 2110314, r. Corporal, 19/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
CAMPBELL, Alexander, A, b. Stirlingshire, r. Stirlingshire, 1923037, r. Lance-Corporal, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
FARRELL, Peter, P P, b. Eire, r. Salford, 2010213, r. Driver, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
FAULKNER, Thomas, T W, b. Hereford, r. Hereford, 2115238, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers
GRUNDY, Charles, C H, b. Salford, r. Essex, 1886725, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
HEALEY, Frederick, F, b. Yorkshire, r. Middlesbrough, 4385760, r. Lance-Serjeant, 00/11/42, Norway, Royal Engineers,
HUNTER, John, J G V, b. Stirlingshire, r. Stirlingshire, 2110332, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
JACKSON, Wallis, W M, b. Leeds, r. Leeds, 4537415, r. Lance-Corporal, 00/01/43, Norway, Royal Engineers
JACQUES, William, W, b. Nottingham, r. Nottinghamshire, 2114930, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers
KNOWLES, George, G, b. Nottinghamshire, r. Nottinghamshire, 1871585, r. Lance-Serjeant, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified Royal Engineers
LEGATE, Herbert, H J, b. London N, r. London N, 1922713, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
MASTERS, Trevor, T L, b. Glamorgan, r. Devonshire, 1872832, r. Lance-Corporal, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers
METHVEN, David, D A GM, b. London NW, r. Perthshire, 210866, r. Lieutenant, 00/11/42, Norway, Royal Engineers.
NORMAN, Robert, R, b. Angus, r. Angus, 2110268, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
PENDLEBURY, Ernest, E, b. Yorkshire, r. Leeds, 2000197, r. Driver, 00/11/42, Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45, Royal Engineers
SIMKINS, George, G, b. London N, r. Essex, 1884423, r. Driver, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers.
SMALLMAN, Leslie, L, b. Staffordshire, r. Lincolnshire, 2068169, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
SMITH, Eric, E J, b. London W, r. London W, 1892979, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
STEPHEN, James, J M, b. Aberdeen, r. Aberdeen, 2010697, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, At Sea, Royal Engineers
THOMAS, John, J G L, b. Bath, r. Bath, 2076750, r. Corporal, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers Engineers
WALSH, John, J W, b. Salford, r. Lancashire, 2073897, r. Sapper, 00/01/43, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers
WHITE, Thomas, T W, b. Somerset, r. Cardiff, 1875800, r. Sapper, 18/01/43, At Sea, Royal Engineers
WILLIAMS, Gerald, G S, b. Doncaster, r. Doncaster, 1948916, r. Sapper, 00/11/42, Europe-Unspecified, Royal Engineers.

 

Relevant article from Irish Times 2003 An Irishman's Diary Wed, Mar 12, 2003 OPINION/Kevin Myers attached

 

Meant to upload this excel version...

 

Could be your man Doncaster Gazette 17th October 1940