The Amsterdam raid of 3 May 1943 On posting a news article on Sqn Ldr Trent I have compiled a Roll of Honour of all those lost on the same raid. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-news-articles/46892-mystery-solved-leonard-henry-trent-vc-dfc.html History 12 Venturas of 487 (New Zealand) Squadron were dispatched to attack a power-station on the northern outskirts of Amsterdam. 1 aircraft returned early; the remaining 11 proceeded with an escort of 3 squadrons of Spitfires. Unfortunately, an earlier Spitfire sweep alerted the German defences while the Ventura force was still flying at low level over the North Sea. Unfortunately, too, an exceptional number of experienced German fighter pilots were present at Schiphol airfield for a conference. 69 German fighters were thus up in the air near Amsterdam when the Ventura force crossed the Dutch coast. Some of the German fighters engaged the Spitfires while the remainder attacked the bombers. 9 Venturas were shot down before reaching the target and a tenth was badly damaged but it managed to turn back and reach England. The only remaining Ventura from the formation was that of Squadron Leader L. H. Trent, a New Zealander. His Ventura, completely alone, pressed on to the target and bombed it. The bombs just missed but some blast damage was caused. This last Ventura was then immediately shot down. Squadron Leader Trent and his navigator were the only survivors and became prisoners of war. The story of this action, in which 10 out of 11 Venturas were shot down, was reconstructed after the war and Squadron Leader Trent was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1946. Source - The Bomber Command War Diaries - M. Middlebrook / C. Everitt Cheers Paul
Sergeant JOHN EDWARD ADDISON Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 1358415, Air Gnr. Son of William Addison, and of Jane Addison, of Hillhead, Glasgow. AMSTERDAM NEW EASTERN CEMETERY Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 8. Ventura I AE713 EG-T
Pilot Officer THOMAS JAMES BAYNTON Royal New Zealand Air Force 487 Sqn. 39078, Pilot Who died age 27 Son of William Thomas Baynton and of Rosetta Lucy Baynton (nee Thorp), of Auckland City, New Zealand; husband of Phyllis Jean Baynton, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY Plot 13. Row 9. Grave 173. Ventura I AE716 EG-U Photo thanks to Ramacal
Flying Officer STANLEY COSHALL Royal Air Force487 (RNZAF) Sqn. 46911, Pilot Who died age 26 Son of Samuel Edward and Lena Gertrude Coshall; husband of Robina Coshall, of Shepway, Maidstone, Kent. B.A. (Oxon.). BERGEN GENERAL CEMETERY Plot 2. Row E. Grave 14. Ventura I AE684 EG-B.
Pilot Officer ANDREW EDWARD COUTTS Royal New Zealand Air Force487 Sqn. 412209 Who died age27 Son of Peter Coutts and of Edith Mary Coutts (nee Strachan); husband of Ailsa M. Coutts, of Whakatane, Auckland, New Zealand. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 198. Ventura II AE956 EG-H
Flight Sergeant PETER HOWARD ROWE DAVIES Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 932083, W.Op/Air Gnr Who died age 22 Son of Howard Noel Davies and of Iris Lilian Davies (nee Samways). AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY Plot 13. Row 9. Grave 174. Ventura I AE716 EG-U Photo thanks to Ramacal
Sergeant ALBERT EDWARD DOWNS Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqn. Service No:1388558 RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 148. Ventura I AE798 EG-D
Sergeant HUGH GIBSON Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 1138669, Nav. Who died age20 Son of Clara E. Gibson, of Belmont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. HAARLEMMERMEER (HOOFDDORP) GENERAL CEMETERY Row 1. Grave 11. Ventura II AJ200 EG-G
Flight Sergeant WILLIAM DESMOND LAURENCE GOODFELLOW Royal New Zealand Air Force487 Sqn. 41696 Who died age23 Son of Sidney Laurence and Catherine Goodfellow, of Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 198. Ventura II AE956 EG-H
Flight Sergeant HARRY CHARLES LAMACRAFT Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 655914, Nav. Who died age32 Son of Charles Tandy Lamacraft and Fanny Agnes Lamacraft; husband of Ruby May Lamacraft, of Barnet, Hertfordshire. AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY Plot 13. Row 9. Joint grave 175. Ventura I AE716 EG-U Photo thanks to Ramacal
Sergeant JAMES WILLIAM LOWE Royal Air Force487 (RNZAF) Sqn. 657928 Who died age30 Son of Capt. George Lowe and Harriett Lowe; husband of Mary Patricia Lowe, of Emsworth, Hampshire. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 157. Ventura I AE798 EG-D
Flight SergeantJAMES CUNNINGHAM LYNASS Royal Canadian Air Force487 (RNZAF) Sqn. R/103922 RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 183. Ventura I AE798 EG-D
Flying Officer STUART McGOWAN Royal New Zealand Air Force487 Sqn. 414996, Pilot Who died age22 AMSTERDAM NEW EASTERN CEMETERY Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 9. Ventura I AE780 EG-S
Flying Officer STANLEY BAILEY PERYMAN Royal New Zealand Air Force487 Sqn 413469, Pilot Who died age21 Son of Edward Stanley Peryman and Rubi Beatrice Peryman, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. AMSTERDAM NEW EASTERN CEMETERY Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 8. Ventura I AE713 EG-T
Sergeant NORMAN ALBERT PRICE Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 1579634, Air Gnr. Who died age21 Son of James William and Ella Price, of Carlton, Leicestershire. AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY Plot 13. Row 9. Joint grave 175. Ventura I AE716 EG-U Photo thanks to Ramacal
Flying Officer LEONARD EDMUND RICHBELL Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqn. 119220, Nav./Bomber Who died age23 Son of Frederick and Amy Richbell; husband of Winifred Richbell, of Hither Green, London. HAMBURG CEMETERY 4A. D. 4. Ventura II AE956 EG-H
Sergeant DOUGLAS CORY ROBINSON Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn. 1267632 Who died age21 Son of A. Alan and Emma Robinson, of Finchley, Middlesex. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 163. Ventura II AE956 EG-H
Sergeant DEREK LAWSON ROWLAND Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 1323502, Air Gnr. Who died age21 Son of Lieut. Frederick Llewellyn Rowland and Jean Rowland, of Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent. HAARLEMMERMEER (HOOFDDORP) GENERAL CEMETERY Row 1. Grave 10. Ventura II AJ200 EG-G
Sergeant CYRIL RICHARD SMITH Royal New Zealand Air Force487 Sqn. 415563, W.Op./Air Gnr. Who died age29 Son of Francis John Smith, and of Alice Maud Smith (nee Batchelor), of Miller's Flat, Otago, New Zealand. AMSTERDAM NEW EASTERN CEMETERY Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 9. Ventura I AE780 EG-S
Sergeant GEORGE HENRY SOUTHAM Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve487 (RNZAF) Sqn 1284694, W.Op./Air Gnr. Who died age28 Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Henry Southam, of Walthamstow, Essex. AMSTERDAM NEW EASTERN CEMETERY Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 8. Ventura I AE713 EG-T