Remembering Today 30/1/44 FREDERICK THOMAS HENRY ADAMS 629232,463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.Royal Air Force

Sergeant FREDERICK THOMAS HENRY ADAMS

629232, 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 23
on 30 January 1944
Son of Frederick Charles and Deborah Adams, of Gedling, Nottingham.
Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY
CWGC :: Cemetery Details

 

This is from the National Archives of Australia and there are digitized files available on-line that will have a plethora of further information.


File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster ED949; Place - Berlin, Germany; Date - 31 January 1944

DUNN, Douglas Chapman - (Pilot Officer); Service Number - 416418 RAAF (pers file also digitized)

GLOSTER Edward Fitzgibbon – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 425641 RAAF (pers file digitized, casualty file not done as yet, filed with incorrect service number of 425644)

FIDLER G – (Flying Officer); Service Number – 135040 RAF
SMITH M Y – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 965759 RAF (only survivor - POW)
ADAMS F – (Sergeant); Service Number – 629232 RAF
MCCONNELL – (Sergeant); Service Number – 113759 RAF
DEAKIN H – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1590148 RAF



(Hopefully Spidge will post the research done by Alan Storr at the NAA, for some reason the way he does it looks a lot better than my attempts, methinks he has a better pdf program)

 

463 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 30 January 1944.

RAAF 416418 Flying Officer DUNN, Douglas Chapman
RAAF 425641 Flight Sergeant GLOSTER, Edward Fitzgibbon

Source:

AWM 64 1/342 (1); AWM 237 (63) (64)
NAA : A705, 166/10/179
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War : Page 69, Volume 1944.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: ED 949
Radio call sign: JO – A
Unit: 463 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Lancaster ED949 took off from RAF Waddington at 1717 hours on the night of 30/31st January 1944. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Fourteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and four of these including ED949 failed to return.

Crew:

RAAF 416418 FO Dunn, D C Captain (Pilot)
RAF FO Fidler, G (Navigator)
RAF Flt Sgt M Y Smith ((Bomb Aimer) (Survived - POW)
RAF Sgt A L McConnell, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt F T H Adams, (Flight Engineer)
RAF Sgt H Deakin, (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAAF 425641 Flt Sgt E F Gloster, (Rear Gunner)

Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and it crashed at Neuruppin aerodrome Germany, approx 36 miles north west of Berlin. Flt Sgt Smith (RAF) became a POW and the other six members of the crew were killed. They are interred in the 1939-1945 Berlin War Cemetery.

In a 1945 statement the then WO Smith reported “ After leaving base the rear turret where Flt Sgt Gloster was went completely out of order. After discussion it was decided to carry on. About 10 miles from Berlin we were attacked by a fighter, with only the Mid Upper to fight back with. Billy and the Mid Upper did everything possible to evade the attack but it was useless. The aircraft was soon on fire in the bomb bay and starboard wing. Shortly after Billy gave the ‘bale out’ order. Conditions in the aircraft were quite good when I baled out. I considered we were in a shallow dive. I was firmly convinced that all the crew would survive and was shocked to find out later that I was the only survivor. I believe that the aircraft blew up in the air or went into a spin shortly after I left. I was picked up at at Neuruppin airfield and later told that Ned was badly injured and in hospital and not expected to live.”


In Memory of
Flying Officer DOUGLAS CHAPMAN DUNN

416418, Royal Australian Air Force
who died age 22
on 30 January 1944
Son of Alexander and Leila Dunn, of Erindale, South Australia.
Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY


In Memory of
Sergeant GORDON ALWYN FIDLER

1543138, 460 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 23
on 20 February 1944
Son of Godfrey and Nora Fidler; husband of Robertha Jessie Fidler, of Ernesettle, Devon.
Remembered with honour
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

In Memory of
Sergeant ANDREW LESLIE McCONNELL

1137800, 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 23
on 30 January 1944
Son of John A. McConnell and Jenny McConnell, of Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

In Memory of
Sergeant FREDERICK THOMAS HENRY ADAMS

629232, 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 23
on 30 January 1944
Son of Frederick Charles and Deborah Adams, of Gedling, Nottingham.
Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

In Memory of
Sergeant HARRY DEAKIN

1590148, 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 30 January 1944

Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

In Memory of
Flight Sergeant EDWARD FITZGIBBON GLOSTER

425641, Royal Australian Air Force
who died age 20
on 30 January 1944
Son of Richard William Vere Gloster and Kathleen Genevieve Gloster, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with honour
BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

 

My uncle was the Navigator killed on the same mission as Frederick Adams. There is a mistake on the crew list as shown. My uncle was F/O Frederick, George Fidler who died on that night of 30th January 1943 along with the rest of the crew with the exception of Marshall Smith. The inclusion of the name Gordon,Alwyn Fidler is an error.

 

The CWGC agrees. Looking at the 463SQN Unit History would suggest that the confusion came from the listing of FIDLER, G as the crewman instead of FIDLER, F.G.


FIDLER, GORDON ALWYN
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 1543138
Date of Death: 20/02/1944
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 460 Sqdn.
Panel Reference - Panel 229.
Memorial RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Godfrey and Nora Fidler; husband of Robertha Jessie Fidler, of Ernesettle, Devon.


FIDLER, FREDERICK GEORGE
Rank: Flying Officer
Trade: Nav.
Service No: 135040
Date of Death: 30/01/1944
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference Coll. grave 7. Z. 23-27.
Cemetery - BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:

 

Welcome to the forum Paul. Hope you can share more interesting information on this loss with us.