1622398 Sergeant Harry GODDARD, 51 Squadron, Royal Air Force: 13/05/1943

Remembering Today

Casualty
Sergeant (Air Gunner) GODDARD, HARRY
Service Number 1622398
Died 13/05/1943
Aged 19
51 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Henry and Ethel Goddard, of Sheffield.
INSCRIPTION: MAY THE WINDS OF HEAVEN BLOW SOFTLY O'ER THIS SWEET AND HALLOWED SPOT
Buried at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Number of casualties: 7500
Cemetery/memorial reference: 5. A. 6.

 

Kleef (D) - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - - graf 846670


51 Sqn Halifax Crew losses 13th May 1943

Sgt D.C.Smith : Sgt E.W.Thompson : Sgt R.Bunting : Sgt C.C.King
Sgt E.F.Kinerman : Sgt M.H.Nesbitt RCAF : Sgt W.J.Merigan : P/O W.Locksmith
Sgt R.Tunstall : FO A.V.Hendry : Sgt H.A.Roberts : Sgt J.Noble : Sgt C.N.Y.Cogdell
P/O S.O.M.Massip-de-Turnville : PO G.O.M.Massip-de-Turnville : Sgt K.A.Goodchild
F/Sgt N.E.Jones : Sgt K.S.Hobkirk : Sgt E.G.Brown : Sgt P.C.W.Rich : Sgt H.Goddard
Sgt P.T.Blake

from;-
Halifax Squadrons

Kyle

 

12-13 May 1943

51 Squadron

Halifax II DT685 MH-A
Op. Duisburg

Took off 2311 hours from Snaith. Crashed in the target area.

Crew

Sgt. N E. Jones +
Sgt. R C W. Rich +
Sgt. K S. Hobkirk +
Sgt. E G. Brown +
Sgt. L. Wakenshaw pow
Sgt. H. Goddard +
Sgt. P R J. Blake +

Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.4 - W R. Chorley.

During the course of 1943 RAF Bomber Command visited Duisburg on 74 occasions, 2381 aircraft were dispatched with 2094 attacking the target of industry, transport and oil. 3017 tons of HE along with 2467 tons of incendiaries were dropped. 90 aircraft were missing or lost.

 

The 51 Sqdn Form 541 for April 1943 shows Sgt NE Jones as second-dickie on 29th to Essen with Sgt Haly and crew in Halifax MkII HR788. As there's no other mention of Sgt Jones or his crew until they failed to return on 12/13th May, it seems they were another sprog crew who were brought down on their first operation. Of that night, the ORB just says:

"This aircraft was not heard of again after it had taken off. Load comprised 2 x 1,000lb G.P., 48 x 30lb and 630 x 4lb incendiaries."

It was a hard time for Halifax squadrons, and the number of second-dickies in April 1943 - plus the laconic focus in the ORBs on payload rather than aircrew - surely reflects the strain of heavy casualties and the reality of the campaign.

 

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
The Bungalow, Smithy Wood Crescent, Sheffield C.B., Yorkshire (West Riding)
NAME DOB OCCUPATION
Henry Goddard 09 Oct 1879 Building Contractors Slater
Ethel Goddard 27 Jun 1880 Unpaid Domestic Duties
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