F/O Charles T Dalziel RAFVR and crew – 576 Squadron - RAF Fiskerton – 1944/45
Failed to Return - 7/8 March 1945 - Lancaster III - RF129 - Op Dessau
Charles Dalziel and his crew were posted to 576 Squadron at Fiskerton in late 1944.
F/O CT Dalziel RAFVR - (Middle)
Sgt RP Montgomery RAFVR
Sgt WE Bradbury RAFVR - (3rd from left)
Sgt WE May RAFVR
Sgt A Burns RAFVR - (Extreme right)
Sgt GT Thorley RAFVR - ( 2nd Left )
Sgt D O'Sullivan RAFVR - (Extreme left)
They flew their first operation on the night of the 29/30th December 1944 to the German oil refinery at Scholven Buer and also the nearby coal mines. This proved a most successful attack in difficult conditions with complete cloud cover. The marking was done by Oboe placed sky markers.
Dalziel's crew continued their tour and on the 14/15th January 1945 claimed a German night fighter shot down in an attack on the synthetic oil plant at Leuna. This was another devastating attack on German oil production and noted as such by Albert Speer in his post war interrogation.
The full Dalziel crew tour is was as follows :-
29/12/1944 - Scholven Buer - NF976 - F/O CT Dalziel
31/12/1944 - Osterfeld - LM594 - F/O CT Dalziel
02/01/1945 - Nuremberg - NF975 - F/O CT Dalziel
07/01/1945 - Munich - ? - F/O CT Dalziel
14/01/1945 - Leuna - PD312 - F/O CT Dalziel - Combat.1 NF claimed destroyed.
16/01/1945 - Zietz - PD271 - F/O CT Dalziel
28/01/1945 - Stuttgart/ Zuffenhausen - LM227 - F/O CT Dalziel
01/02/1945 - Ludswigshafen - ME317 - F/O CT Dalziel
02/02/1945 - Wiesbaden - ME317 - F/O CT Dalziel - ER - Late take off and recalled
03/02/1945 - Bottrop - LM594 - F/O CT Dalziel
08/02/1945 - Politz - ME317 - F/O CT Dalziel
13/02/1945 - Dresden - PD403 - F/O CT Dalziel
23/02/1945 - Pforzheim - PB753 - F/O CT Dalziel
28/02/1945 - Neuss - PD363 - F/O CT Dalziel - Aborted - Raid recalled due to uncertainty of position friendly troops.
01/03/1945 - Mannheim - PD363 - F/O CT Dalziel
05/03/1945 - Chemnitz - RF120 - F/O CT Dalziel
07/03/1945 - Dessau - RF120 - F/O CT Dalziel - FTR - Crashed near Plettenbourg, Germany.
The crew for the last operation was unchanged. Only F/O Dalziel and Sgt Bradbury survived and spent the rest of the war as POWs.
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F/O Charles T Dalziel RAFVR – Pilot – 576 Sqn - POW - Camp N/K - POW No N/K
Sgt Peter Ralston Montgomery RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 20 – 576 Sqn - Son of Thomas and Helen Montgomery of Renton, Dunbartonshire – Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Walter E Bradbury RAFVR – Air Bomber – 576 Sqn – POW.
Sgt William Ernest May RAFVR - Navigator - 21 – 576 Sqn - Son of William Charles and Florence May of Dagenham, Essex - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Albert Burns RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner 20 – 576 Sqn - Son of Jane Burns of Clayton, Manchester - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt George Thomas Thorley RAFVR – Air Gunner - 22 – 576 Sqn - Son of George Thomas Thorley and Annie Maria Thorley; husband of Gladys Gertrude Patricia Thorley of Bow, London – Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Sgt Daniel C O'Sullivan DSM RAFVR – Air Gunner - 26 – 576 Sqn - Son of Jock and Mary Ann O'Sullivan of Bridgend, Glamorgan - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt O’Sullivan rests at Rheinberg War Cemetery and the other four deceased at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
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Charles Thomas Dalziel ( pictured on the right above ) survived his captivity and post war had a long and successful career in the RAF retiring as Wing Commander in the early 70’s; one of his postings was that of commander of 31 Squadron at RAF Laarbruch.
Walter Bradbury ( pictured on the left above ) also survived his captivity and left the RAF after the war to train as a teacher. He spent 30 happy years teaching most of them at Horninglow Secondary Modern in Burton-on Trent. He was also secretary of the then non-league Burton Albion until his untimely death in 1978.
Daniel C O’Sullivan DSM who was an Air Gunner in this crew was one of only 23 RAF recipients of the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal). This medal is awarded to other ranks for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea. He also received the Atlantic Star with a France and Germany Clasp. Born in Bridgend, Glamorgan, Sergeant Daniel O’ Sullivan was as balloon operator in the Thames Area, Nore Command. He received his DSM in the Queens Birthday Honours 2nd June 1943. It is believed he was part of number 30 Balloon Barrage Group based at No 12 Balloon Centre Titchfield. There is no citation in the London Gazette. This award therefore appears to be in respect of service with a Barrage Balloon Unit on board ship. Sergeant O'Sullivan was the only one of the 23 RAF recipients of the DSM to be subsequently killed in action.
George Thomas Thorley RAFVR
The Aircraft Recognition Manual that belonged to George Thorley signed by a number of Airmen who presumably were on the same Air Gunners Course
Thorley Aircraft Recognition Manual Cover
Thorley Aircraft Recognition Manual Signature Page
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Item compiled by David Fell with thanks to the O'Sullivan and Bradbury families for their co-operation and input. Thanks to John Halfacre for the pics of the Thorley Manual
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