F/O William John RCAF and crew – 103 Squadron - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944/45
Failed to Return - 7/8th January 1945 – Avro Lancaster III – NN766 – Op Munich.
William McArthur's crew were posted to 103 Squadron from HCU in early Nov 1944. This crew completed 11 operations and were lost on their 12th. This was a trip to Munich on the night of the 7/8th January 1945 when they were involved in a collision with Lancaster ND968 of 460 Squadron over eastern France. Tour details are shown below. All 7 of the crew were killed.
F/Sgt. Donald Fletcher Campbell, (rear gunner), from Kelowna, British Columbia,
F/O William John McArthur (Pilot) from Winnipeg, Manitoba, (an Island was recently named after F/O McArthur, in the middle of remote, northern Chatwin Lake, Manitoba)
F/Sgt. Meyer Greenstein (Bomb Aimer), from Toronto, Ontario,(an annual scholarship is awarded in Meyer's name at University College, University of Toronto, for creative writing).
W/O Millard Henderson Horne (Wireless Op.) from Wolfe Island, Ontario,
F/O Ralph "Jim" Lougheed (Navigator) from Winnipeg, Manitoba,
and, F/Sgt. Donald Joseph McAulay (mid-upper gunner).
The 7th member of the crew was Sgt. Roy Percy CANDY, #2220467, (Flight Engineer), who was the sole British crew member in 103 Sqn. Lanc. NN766. So far no photo of Roy Candy has been come to light and “Doc” Knight in Canada will be most grateful for anyone who can provide him with a picture. His wife's great uncle was Don Campbell who was rear gunner in this crew.
Roy Candy had two surviving sisters, last names Wellman and Jarvis, from Northampton, now deceased...but they both had surviving family, the Wellman daughter becoming a Bailey)
McArthur crew Tour Details.
18-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel - Lancaster - ED888 – W/O WJ McArthur - Bad weather at base. Diverted
27-Nov-44 - Freiburg - Lancaster - LM682 - W/O WJ McArthur
29-Nov-44 - Dortmund - Lancaster - LM177 - W/O WJ McArthur
04-Dec-44 - Karlsruhe - Lancaster - LM295 - W/O WJ McArthur
06-Dec-44 - Leuna - Lancaster - LM682 - W/O WJ McArthur
17-Dec-44 - Ulm - Lancaster - ME698 - W/O WJ McArthur
28-Dec-44 - Munchengladbach - Lancaster - ME698 - P/O WJ McArthur
29-Dec-44 - Scholven Buer - Lancaster - ME698 - P/O WJ McArthur
31-Dec-44 - Osterfeld - Lancaster - ME698 - P/O WJ McArthur
02-Jan-45- Nuremberg - Lancaster - PD287 - P/O WJ McArthur
05-Jan-45- Hanover - Lancaster - NN766 - F/O WJ McArthur
07-Jan-45 - Munich - Lancaster - NN766 - F/O WJ McArthur - FTR - Collided with ND968 of 460 Sq. Crashed Hohrodberg, Haut-Rhin, France.
....................
F/O William John McArthur RCAF - Pilot – 28 – 103 Sqn - Son of Dougald A. McArthur and Jessie Biggers McArthur, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt. Roy Percy Candy RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 24 – 103 Sqn - Son of Percy and Mabel Candy, of Bozeat, Northamptonshire – Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
F/Sgt. Donald Fletcher Campbell RCAF – Air Gunner – 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of William Marquis Campbell and Harriet Campbell, of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
F/Sgt. Meyer Greenstein RCAF - Air Bomber – 103 Sqn - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
W/O Millard Henderson Horne RCAF – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
F/O Ralph "Jim" Lougheed RCAF – Navigator – 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Dr. M. S. Lougheed and Gladys Lougheed, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
F/Sgt. Donald Joseph McAulay RCAF – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Munster Communal Cemetery, France.
....................
Above a photo of the Memorial at the crash site in the mountains round Hohrodberg.
07-Jan-45 – Munich
103 Squadron detailed 17 aircraft for this attack on Munich. All aircraft took off safely in good weather but this soon deteriorated and over France aircraft were flying in cloud and snow showers, several experiencing icing troubles. F/O Stepharnoff and F/O Hart returned early with engine trouble and S/L Butler returned early with navigational aids unserviceable. On arrival the target was found covered with 10/10ths cloud and while some crews bombed Wanganui flares the others bombed on H2S radar and it is feared the attack was somewhat scattered. Bombing took place from between 16500 ft to 18500 ft. Defences were quite active. There was a heavy flak barrage and searchlights illuminated the clouds for fighters which were quite numerous. The return journey was similar to the outward. F/O Mathieson and P/O McArthur are missing from this operation. All other aircraft landed safely at base.
For this attack on Munich Bomber Command detailed a total of 645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 Groups to Munich. 11 Lancasters lost and 4 more crashed in France. Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid, with the central and some industrial areas being severely damaged. This was the last major raid on Munich.
….......
Lancaster – NN766
This machine was lost on its 3rd operation. See below :-
21-Dec-44 - Stettin Bay – Lancaster – NN766 – F/O GW Henry - Bad weather at base. All aircraft diverted to East Fortune
05-Jan-45 – Hanover – Lancaster – NN766 – F/O WJ McArthur
07-Jan-45 – Munich – Lancaster – NN766 – F/O WJ McArthur – FTR - Possible collision with ND968 of 460 Sq. Crashed Hohrodberg, Haut-Rhin, France
Written by David Fell with thanks to Doc Knight for the crew photos and background info
....................
|
