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Greetings everyone, hope all is well !

Looking for the crew of RCAF No. 422 Squadron, Sunderland DD861, Sept. 3rd aircraft took off from Castle Archdale on an Anti-Submarine mission, 3 hours into the flight had the Starboard outer engine catch fire and fell off into the sea, damaging outer wing and float, aircraft was able to radio a distress signal before ditching, everyone survived the ditching and was able to get into dinghy's, on Day 3, an American Liberator found the crew and dropped a "Package" to the crew with a note saying help on the way, a few long hours later a Sunderland, JM679 from RAF No. 228 Squadron appeared, the airmen in the dinghy's tried to wave off the aircraft due to high waves, but the pilot attempted, successfully, to land to pick them up. The crew 2 American, 5 British and 5 Canadians were returned to Pembroke Dock, and then to Castle Archdale.

The crew members that I found are:
Pilot: F/O Jacques De La Paulle
Pilot: F/O Romeo Freer
Pilot: Don Wells
Flt Eng: Flt Sgt Ken Middleton
Nav: P/O A. Bolton
Nav: Sgt Joyce

Any help would truly be appreciated.

Cheers,

George

georgetanksherman wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:46 am

Greetings everyone, hope all is well !

Looking for the crew of RCAF No. 422 Squadron, Sunderland DD861, Sept. 3rd aircraft took off from Castle Archdale on an Anti-Submarine mission, 3 hours into the flight had the Starboard outer engine catch fire and fell off into the sea, damaging outer wing and float, aircraft was able to radio a distress signal before ditching, everyone survived the ditching and was able to get into dinghy's, on Day 3, an American Liberator found the crew and dropped a "Package" to the crew with a note saying help on the way, a few long hours later a Sunderland, JM679 from RAF No. 228 Squadron appeared, the airmen in the dinghy's tried to wave off the aircraft due to high waves, but the pilot attempted, successfully, to land to pick them up. The crew 2 American, 5 British and 5 Canadians were returned to Pembroke Dock, and then to Castle Archdale.

The crew members that I found are:
Pilot: F/O Jacques De La Paulle
Pilot: F/O Romeo Freer
Pilot: Don Wells
Flt Eng: Flt Sgt Ken Middleton
Nav: P/O A. Bolton
Nav: Sgt Joyce

Any help would truly be appreciated.

Cheers,

George

F/O Jacques Andrew Hubert De La PAULLE DFC J8964 RCAF
F/O Romeo Henry FREER J12830 RCAF
Sgt Donald Judson WELLS R109487 RCAF
P/O Alexander BOLTON J16903 RCAF
F/Sgt Eamond Norman Kenneth MIDDLETON 633125 RAF
F/Sgt Roy Donald JOLLYMOUR R97613 RCAF
F/Sgt Earl HISCOX R84009 RCAF
F/Sgt William Hall HOLROYD 938634 RAF(VR)
Sgt Arthur Walter Thomas JOYCE R103047 RCAF
Sgt Ralph Frederick RUSKIN 1268467 RAF(VR)
Sgt Ronald Montague FISHER 1625511 RAF(VR)
Sgt David MCPHERSON 1345948 RAF(VR)

Source: https://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showt ... nnel/page2

As always, Thank you Temujin !

Appreciate the help ! This is what I have found out on what positions they held in the aircraft !

Crew:
Pilot: F/O Jacques Andrew Hubert De La PAULLE DFC, J/8964, RCAF, Unknown, New York
Pilot: F/O Romeo Henry Freer, J/12830, RCAF, Presidio, California, U.S.A.,
Pilot: Sgt Donald Judson Wells, R/109487, RCAF,
Flt Eng: Flt Sgt Eamond Norman Kenneth Middleton, 633125, RAF
Flt Eng: Sgt Ronald Montague Fisher, 1625511, RAFVR
Nav: P/O Alexander Bolton, J/16903, RCAF,
Nav: Sgt Arthur Walter Thomas Joyce, R/103047, RCAF
Wop/ Gnr: Flt Sgt Earl Hiscox, R/84009, RCAF,
Crew: Positions Unknown
Flt Sgt Roy Donald Jollymour, R/97613, RCAF,
Flt Sgt William Hall Holroyd, 938634, RAFVR
Sgt Ralph Frederick Ruskin, 1268467, RAFVR
Sgt David McPherson, 1345948, RAFVR

Thanks again for the help !

This site has their Ditching story and subsequent pick up

http://www.hillmanweb.com/rcaf/mag/0407.html

Operations Record Book info
Some info on crew positions at this link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2people ... 2847.shtml

MOST OF THE CREW POSITIONS ARE SELF EXPLANITORY, BUT F.M.E. IS A FITTER/MAINTANANCE ENGINE, AND F.M.A. IS A FITTER/MAINTANANCE AIRFRAME.

ALSO THEIR WAS A WIRELESS OPERATOR MAINTENANCE (W.O.M.) ON THIS FLIGHT