F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 6:28 pm

This is the “bombing record” for the month of DECEMBER 1944, so tells aircraft, crew, date, bomb load, accuracy and target etc.
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 6:48 pm

He was posted out of the Squadron on the 23 Jan 1945 to “R” Depot

RCAF Personnel Despatch Centre (PDC), Houghton Green, Warrington; later R Depot, Houghton Green and Torquay (UK)
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:06 pm

From the outbreak of war RAF Bomber Command aircrew were given the task of flying a required number of operations, an "operational tour", usually of about 30 operations (missions in USAAF terminology). On completion of an operational tour the airman (and often his complete crew as they tended to remain very tight-knit, always flying together) would be "screened" (taken off operational flying) and split up as they received their future postings which would frequently be serving at Operational Training Units or Heavy Conversion Units preparing the next groups of young bomber crews for their postings to operational squadrons.

On completion of an instructional tour at Operational Training Unit or Heavy Conversion Unit the airmen were sometimes "returned to Ops", either at their own request or by routine postings, and would join a newly trained crew and commence another operational tour.
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:54 am

415 Squadron flew from East Moor, as shown on this map
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Source: http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/6grou ... 6group.pdf

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Tue Nov 06, 2018 11:18 am

F/Sgt R H Ward, list of “targets” that he was on (Please note, the files are sometimes VERY hard to read, so a few of these I’m unsure of the spelling or the exact name.

Dortmund
Warne-Eickel
Duisburg
Willemshafen
Essien
Hombres
Cologne
Le Havre
Castrop-Rauxel
Warne-Eickel
Calais (twice)
Bottrop
Operation Undergo (correction from Ludford)
Storkrade
Bons Tassilly
Brussels (Airfield)
Brennon
Mimoyecques (twice)
Ile de Cezembre (Correction from Ludford)
Castrop-Rauxel
Nousse
Magen
Karlsruhe
Soest
Osnabruck

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Ludford 101 » Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:23 pm

Temujin wrote:
Tue Nov 06, 2018 11:18 am
F/Sgt R H Ward, list of “targets” that he was on (Please note, the files are sometimes VERY hard to read, so a few of these I’m unsure of the spelling or the exact name.

Unarge - hard to read, spelling or name may be incorrect
This wasn't a target, per se. The word was "Undergo" and is misspelled in various ORBs.

It was an operation to support the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on its attacks on Calais.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Undergo

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:32 pm

Ludford 101 wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:23 pm
Temujin wrote:
Tue Nov 06, 2018 11:18 am
F/Sgt R H Ward, list of “targets” that he was on (Please note, the files are sometimes VERY hard to read, so a few of these I’m unsure of the spelling or the exact name.

Unarge - hard to read, spelling or name may be incorrect
This wasn't a target, per se. The word was "Undergo" and is misspelled in various ORBs.

It was an operation to support the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on its attacks on Calais.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Undergo
Thank you Ludford. I’ve corrected the info above.

Would know what this one was: “Ile de Conembre - hard to read, spelling or name may be incorrect”

I’m sure its “Ile de ?” But can’t decipher the last name on the record....starts with a “C” and ends with a “bre” I think

https://wartimes.ca/forums/download/file.php?id=1806

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Ludford 101 » Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:26 pm


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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:44 pm

I think you are right Ludford. I’ve google the island in WW2 and it was occupied by the Germans.

I’ll check the squadrons records again and see if I can get any other clues

Thanks for checking

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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:51 pm

Found this which may help confirm it:

31 Aug 1944

RAF Bomber Command sends 170 aircraft to attack Ile de Cezembre during the day
Strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe
Air operations in Northwest Europe, 1944-1945
Bomber Command: Operations and missions

Source: http://books.stonebooks.com/wardiary/19440831/

The defence of the island was made up from 6 captured French 194mm guns, a 150 mm, plus an Italian 75 mm battery and light flak unit. 165 Halifaxes and 5 pathfinder Mosquitoes took part in the bombing made from less than 3,000 ft.

Campaign report of the RAF:

31 August 1944

165 Halifaxes of No 6 Group and 5 Pathfinder Mosquitos bombed the Île de Cezembre battery near St Malo. 1 photographic Mosquito accompanied the raid. The bombing force flew at 3,000ft or less over the undefended targets and achieved a good bombing concentration. 1 Halifax lost.

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