P/O J Archibald RNZAF and crew - 576 Sqn - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944.
Failed to Return - 28/29th July 1944 - Lancaster III - PB253 - Op Stuttgart
Archibald's crew were posted to 576 Squadron around the end of May 1944. The exact date is not recorded. They probably came from 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit at Lindholme.
P/O ( later F/O ) J Archibald RNZAF. ( See pic above )
Sgt JR Cuthbert RAFVR
F/O PJ Biollo RCAF
Sgt JE Kearney RAFVR
Sgt L Fielding RAFVR
Sgt M J Mavrogordato RAFVR
Sgt A Milne RAFVR
W/O R S Pyatt RCAF
This airman served with 100 Sqn, 576 Sqn, 550 Sqn and 626 Squadron. He was killed on the 22nd February 1945 flying with 626 and is buried at Nederweert War Cemetery, Netherlands. I am told it was his 22nd op
Mavrogordato was replaced by W/O RS Pyatt RCAF after 2 trips who was in turn replaced by W/O T P Barry RAFVR
W/O T P Barry RAFVR
The Archibald crew tour coincided with a busy period time for the RAF bomber squadrons in the immediate aftermath of the D Day invasion.
Their tour was as follows -
09/06/1944 - Flers - LM439 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
12/06/1944 - Gelsenkirchen - ME810 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
14/06/1944 - Le Havre - ND859 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
16/06/1944 - Sterkrade - LM594 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
22/06/1944 - Mimoyecques - LM594 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
23/06/1944 - Saintes - LM594 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
27/06/1944 - Chateau Benapre - LM594 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
29/06/1944 - Domleger - LM532 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
30/06/1944 - Oisemont Neuville Au Bois - LM532 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
02/07/1944 - Domleger - LM532 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
05/07/1944 - Dijon - LM227 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
07/07/1944 - Caen - PB253 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
12/07/1944 - Revigny - PB253 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
14/07/1944 - Revigny - ME801 - P/O J Archibald RNZAF
17/07/1944 - Sanneville - PB253 - F/O J Archibald RNZAF
28/07/1944 - Stuttgart - PB253 - F/O J Archibald RNZAF - FTR
This crew were shot down on the night of the 28/29th July 1944 on a raid to Stuttgart. This was a particularly bad night for the 2 Elsham Wolds Squadrons both losing 4 aircraft
PB253 was attacked by a night fighter and exploded as it spun to the ground. Jimmy Archibald was blown clear the cockpit roof and was the only survivor. The aircraft crashed in the forest near Epinal in the Vosges, France.
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The 6 deceased now rest in Chaumousey Church Cemetery
F/O J Archibald RNZAF – Pilot - Injured. Broken pelvis and hospitalised for some weeks. Liberated from Paris hospital in Aug 1944.
Sgt John Rowland Cuthbert RAFVR - Flight Engineer – 23 – 576 Sqn - Son of John and Annie Cuthbert of High Kelling, Norfolk. - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
F/O Peter Joseph Biollo RCAF – Air Bomber - 20 – 576 Sqn - Son of Peter Paul Biollo and Doris May Biollo (nee Caswell) of Edmonton. Alberta, Canada - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt John Edward Kearney RAFVR - Navigator - 26 – 576 Sqn - Son of John and Edith Kearney; husband of Betty Kearney of Southall, Middlesex - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt Leslie Fielding RAFVR – Wireless Operator - 22 – 576 Sqn - Son of John and Lily Fielding of Blackburn, Lancashire - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
W/O Terence Patrick Barry RAFVR - Air Gunner - 22 – 576 Sqn - Son of Daniel and Bridget Barry of Woolwich, London - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt Alexander Milne RAFVR – Air Gunner - 20 – 576 Sqn - Son of George and Mary H. Milne of Fallowfield, Manchester - Chaumousey Communal Cemetery, France.
F/O Archibald recovering from his extensive injuries in France being cared from by the local people.
28 July 44 – Stuttgart – Germany – Night. 17 aircraft detailed. 10/10ths cloud at base which persisted to the south coast and dispersed over the Channel. Thickened to 6 to 8/10ths over Continent. At target there was a thin layer of cloud which did not completely block out the markers.
PFF opened the attack with red TIs and backed up by greens. Green Wanganui flares with white stars were also dropped. Master Bomber instructed the force to bomb the greens. Bombing was widespread and glow of fires could be seem through the cloud layer.
Considerable fighter opposition was reported near the target and 4 aircraft had combats. Moderate heavy flak encountered in the target area.
F/L Smith, F/O Mann, F/O Archibald and P/O Brown RW and their crews failed to return.
( 494 aircraft. Another successful attack on this city. German fighters intercepted the stream over France and took a heavy toll of the attacking force. For a more detailed description of this operation see the item in the Articles and Misc Section of this website.)
Ben Howson’s P/O J Archibald RNZAF and crew PB253 Photo Page
Item compiled by David Fell with thanks to the Archibald, Biollo and Kearney families and also Michael Batty and Ben Howson
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