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

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

Post by Phil » Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:23 pm

Posting on behalf of Flt. Sgt. Ward's son, Frank Ward.
I was able to track my Father to this squadron. I believe he joined in about the fall of 44 where he flew in 32 sorties. His name was Reuben Henry Ward, #R217793 Rank F/SGT . Would like to know the names of his crew, any details of the sorties. Or where i may be able to find this info.
I did find my Father and the names of his crew. He was part of McNeil's crew. But he was listed as a P. Ward... not R. Ward. Would you know of any way to find out about the sorties they would have flew? Where they went or any eventful notes of the trips? Thank you again for your time.
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by georgetanksherman » Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:10 am

Hey Phil, not sure if this has been seen, but I did find this:

www.6bombergroup.ca/415crews/pages/415McNeillcrew.html
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:57 am

Phil, I am working on this now. It will take me a little time to find all the missions and their locations.

This is the “bombing record” for the month of OCTOBER 1944, so tells aircraft, crew, date, bomb load, accuracy etc. Target or Mission is usually noted under “DUTY” (but not always) NOTE: the records “change” near the end of the month, and the “target” has been added in the second column
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Phil » Mon Nov 05, 2018 8:00 am

On 23 January 1943 415 Squadron’s official badge depicting a swordfish striking at its prey with the motto "AD METAM" (To the mark) was approved by King George VI. In September 1943, the Squadron changed over to the Vickers Wellington and Fairey Albacore. The Albacores were the only biplanes to see combat with the RCAF during the Second World War and 415 Squadron was the only Canadian unit to use them. This aircraft combination was very effective against the German E-boats (fast attack craft, such as the S-100 class): the Wellingtons were employed to find the E-boats while the Albacores were sent to attack them.

On 12 July 1944, 415 Squadron was transferred from No. 16 Group of Coastal Command to No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command. Re-equipped with the Handley Page Halifax and flying from RCAF Station East Moor in Yorkshire, the Squadron conducted its first bombing mission over Hamburg, Germany, on the night of 28 July 1944. The Squadron flew over 100 bomber missions before being disbanded on 15 May 1945, flying its last operational mission on 25 April. During the war, 415 Squadron lost over 200 members representing the Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and the Royal New Zealand Air Force in addition to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Sadly the final fates of many of these are unknown; their names are recorded on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, England.
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/squ ... adron.page

The D. D. McNeill Crew of 415 Squadron standing in front of Halifax III MZ-946 coded 6U-O.
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Back Row L to R: Sgt. D.J. Owens RAF, Flight Engineer; F/Sgt R.H. (Rube) Ward RCAF, Air Gunner; F/O W. (Bill) Underhill RCAF, Bomb Aimer; and F/O D.D. (Doug) McNeill RCAF, Pilot.

Front Row L to R: F/O G.K. (George) Fletcher RCAF, Navigator; F/Sgt Walter (Whitey) White RCAF. Air Gunner, and F/Sgt F.B. (Fred) Davies RCAF, Wireless Op.

Photo graciously submitted by Doug Fletcher, son of F/O G. K. Fletcher.
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Phil » Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:18 am

The photo lists Ward as M/Upper, but the text lists him as R/Gunner, I have left as-is, but note the inconsistency here. Also the spelling of McNEIL vs McNEILL is somewhat inconsistent across various sources. Perhaps confusion between Wing Commander John McNeil and Pilot Doug McNeill.

McNEIL

Pilot P/O D. McNeil

Navigator F/O C. Fletcher

Bomb Aimer F/O W. Underhill

WOP F/Sgt F. Davies

M/Upper F/Sgt W. White

R/Gunner F/Sgt P. Ward

F/Engineer Sgt D. Owens

M/AG P/O P. Stephens
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http://www.415sqn.com/halifax-crews.html
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Phil » Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:45 am

I think this could be his signature.

http://www.415sqn.com/hunt-photos.html
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 11:30 am

This is the “bombing record” for the month of SEPTEMBER 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 12:33 pm

This is the “bombing record” for the month of AUGUST 1944, so tells aircraft, crew, date, bomb load, accuracy and target etc.

ALSO, this is the month he arrived in the Squadron, seen the second last record in this list
AND, he was promoted to Flight Sgt, see the last records in this list

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NOTE: The Record below show the ENTIRE MCNEILL CREW being posted in at the same time
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:18 pm

This is the “bombing record” for the month of NOVEMBER 1944, so tells aircraft, crew, date, bomb load, accuracy and target etc.

In this record, the recordkeeper decided to not name the entire crew, but just list the Pilot and his “crew”......so I have to assume that F/S Ward was still flying as part of D.D. McNeills Crew
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this appendix to the November Diaries show that he was still part of the D.D. McNeills crew
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Re: F/Sgt Reuben Henry Ward, 415 Squadron, R.C.A.F.

Post by Temujin » Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:24 pm

These Records show him as part of D. D. McNeills crews on various Missions (Mission number is in the title)
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NOTE: PHOTO is MZ946, This was the mission in the above document that they flew this aircraft
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