Edward Leach Porter, Robin Harold Croucher Burgess, John Inshaw Rogerson, Leslie Herbert Smith, Charles Augustus Jones, Harry Bean, Terence Michael Twomey, Jack Douglas Wells
The Pathfinder Year - 97 Squadron at Bourn
CAPTAIN: PORTER
LANCASTER NE167 OF- Y
17 August 1944, lost from Coningsby on Gardening Op at Stettin Bay
CREW
Pilot: W/C Edward Leach Porter, 33 years old
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Flight Engineer: Sgt Robin Harold Croucher Burgess
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Navigator: F/L John Inshaw Rogerson
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Bomb Aimer: W/O Leslie Herbert Smith, 24 years old
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
Bomb Aimer 2: W/O Charles Augustus Jones, 701653
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
W/Op: F/L Harry Bean, 28 years old
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
Mid-Upper Gunner: Terence Michael Twomey, 21 years old
Killed, buried at Pederskirke Churchyard
Rear gunner: Jack Douglas Wells, 29 years old
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
LANCASTER NE167 OF- Y
17 August 1944, lost from Coningsby on Gardening Op at Stettin Bay
CREW
Pilot: W/C Edward Leach Porter, 33 years old
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Flight Engineer: Sgt Robin Harold Croucher Burgess
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Navigator: F/L John Inshaw Rogerson
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
Bomb Aimer: W/O Leslie Herbert Smith, 24 years old
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
Bomb Aimer 2: W/O Charles Augustus Jones, 701653
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
W/Op: F/L Harry Bean, 28 years old
Killed, Runnymede Memorial
Mid-Upper Gunner: Terence Michael Twomey, 21 years old
Killed, buried at Pederskirke Churchyard
Rear gunner: Jack Douglas Wells, 29 years old
Killed, buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery
DETAILS
A Note on the Timing of the Loss of the Aircraft
The aircraft took off at 9.30pm on the night of 16th August 1944 and the crew were subsequently KIA at 1.33am in the early hours of 17th August. The memorial plaque gives the date on which they took off, rather than the actual date which is the one given on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Wing Commander E.L.Porter DFC & Bar - Des Evans
Edward Leach Porter, known as "Ted", served at Coningsby during 1944, attached to No 5 Group's 54 Base, which was the unit that provided the men who led and controlled bombing raids. The official title for this role was Master of Ceremonies.
In his capacity as a Master of Ceremonies, Ted Porter flew a 97 Squadron Lancaster, which was serviced and maintained by 97 Squadron ground crew, and he flew with a regular crew.
Porter had won the DFC with 207 Squadron in 1943 (as a Flight Lieutenant) and he returned to operations when he took command of 9 Squadron at Bardney on 14th November. He flew with distinction throughout the Battle of Berlin period, and was awarded a Bar to his DFC, before being posted to 54 Base at Coningsby in April 1944.
Ted Porter was killed, aged 33, on 17th August 1944 whilst leading a daring low level attack at Stettin Bay. He had returned early from leave and volunteered to do this trip without his usual crew, taking another pilot's place.
> I notice in Jim Logans report it is stated W/C Porter came back off
> leave August 23rd/ 24th, which of course is incorrect. Sorry about that.
To me a lowly LAC Flight Mechanic Engine walla he was a wonderful caring man. Courteous, friendly, helpful, and never used his rank. Before the War, a man dedicated to peace and was against war until his Sister who he was very close to was killed in the very early Raid on London. She was a Nurse. He then enlisted straight away. He led No.9 Squadron throughout 1943 as the Master Bomber on all the Berlin raids.
The ORB for this operation tells the story of how Porter's aircraft was lost.
16.8.44 Some slight day training this morning. Tonight 12 aircraft of the squadron carried out one of its most successful and daring attacks. It was decided that during a heavy PFF and main force attack on the town of Stettin, this squadron should mark and mine the Stettin-Schwinemunde Channel. This channel runs across Stettin Bay from Schwinemunde to Stettin and is the only means of access that any large ship has to Stettin. One side of the channel has square buoys and the other side conical buoys. At 0101 hours the flare force arrived and dropped by means of their blind bombing apparatus over the channel. Illumination was hardly necessary as the Germans had guessed what was happening and had criss-crossed the bay with searchlights. However, the Controller (W/C Porter) and the two marker deputies (S/L Parkes and S/L Locke DFC RAAF) who were all down at 300 feet decided to "Press on". In the face of great batteries of light flak guns from all sides of the bay, and although they were coned the whole time, they located the buoys and flew down the channel marking it with 250lb flame floats and dropping mines in between. By 0105 hours, W/C Porter's machine had been so badly hit that he called up S/L Parkes on the VHF telling him that he had "Had it" and would have to bale out. He also wished everyone the best of luck. A minute later a W/T message was received from W/C Porter's aircraft - for the main force to go in and drop their mines over the flame floats. It is believed that his crew had every chance to bale out successfully. W/C Porter, S/L Parkes and S/L Locke have since received immediate awards of the DSO. A message of congratulation was also received by the squadron from the AOC.
Porter's Usual Crew
F/O Jim Logan DFC, RCAF - Navigator
F/O Bill Pearson DFC, RCAF - Bombaimer
P/O Bill "Bluey" Howe DFC, RAF - Flight Engineer
P/O Bill Doran, DFC, RAF - Wireless Operator
F/Sgt James "Mac" MacLean, RAF - Midupper Gunner
P/O Ernest "Sonny" Thomas DFC, RAAF - Rear Gunner
All survived the war.
How Porter's Crew came together by Jim Logan
At O.T.U. Sgt. Johnny Kirkup (RAF) became our pilot and skipper. He had trained in Canada under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan and that probably explains Bill Pearson and myself joining the crew.
The two gunners were from Australia. Randall "Snakes" Wright who was our midupper gunner was badly wounded on our second op to Leipzig when we were shot up by a FW-190. We think Sonny probably got him as he didn't come back after disappearing in the cloud below.
Sometime later Jim MacLean from Glasgow became our midupper gunner. This gets a little ahead in the story.
Our conversion to Lancasters was at Wigsley. Afterwards, we were posted to 207 squadron at Spilsby arriving on October 21st. On the night of Oct. 22, Johnny and I were flying second dickey with two experienced crews for an operation over Kassel, Germany. Johnny's crew were missing and killed so we were a trained crew without a pilot. We desperately wanted to stay together even though they wanted to break us up to fill in other crews. As Dave Pearce often said, for once the RAF got it right and found him looking for a crew. He had returned to England on his 8th trip and when the a/c caught fire they bailed out and some of the crew didn't make it. He broke his ankle after bailing out at about 800 ft and had to recover for 3 months before flying again.
To make a long story short we were posted to a Conversion Unit at Balderton for training with Dave in Nov., 1943 and then to 9 Squadron, Bardney. When Dave completed his first operational tour several of the crew didn't have enough trips in to quit . W/C Porter was then looking for a crew as he probably had been considered for the master bomber assignment. We did two operations with him at Bardney and in June were posted to 97 Squadron to do controller ops for 54 Base. You know the story of our time at 97 Squadron and I found myself without a pilot once more and now well into my second tour.
F/O Doug Duncan had just come over to 83 Pathfinder squadron from 9 Sqdn., so Bill and I joined his crew. Bill was lost shortly afterwards when asked to do visual bombing on an operation to Konigsberg with S/L Sparks. He and some of that crew were taken POW when they bailed out. On Nov. 11, 1944 I completed my second tour (45 ops) with Dunc and returned home in Feb., 1945.
When Fred and his family were on a posting in England, Dorothy and I along with them visited Coningsby, still an active airfield and the Battle of Britain Museum there. Yes Porter was our C/O at Bardney from Nov. 1943 until June 1944, the time of the constant bombing of Berlin. I made 8 trips there and said it was easier to get to Berlin than to Nottingham, our favourite retreat.
In mid August, W/Cmdr.Porter came back from leave early and took a Crew who had no Pilot on a Operation called "Gardening" (mine laying) over STETTIN BAY when they were shot down and all killed.
We were split up, most going across the 'drome at Coningsby to 83 Squadron. The two Squadrons shared the same 'drome. Bill Pearson and I flew with F/O Doug Duncan RCAF and finished our operational Flying. Bill Pearson did go on another mission were they were shot down and he became a POW.
Sonny Thoms has now passed on, as have Bill Howe and Jim Maclean. Bill Doran had a severe stroke three years ago and is still very ill.
Prior to Wing Commander Ted Porters death it had been agreed he would fly mosquito aircraft on future operations and that I would be his Navigator, alas it was not to happen.
A Note on the Timing of the Loss of the Aircraft
The aircraft took off at 9.30pm on the night of 16th August 1944 and the crew were subsequently KIA at 1.33am in the early hours of 17th August. The memorial plaque gives the date on which they took off, rather than the actual date which is the one given on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Wing Commander E.L.Porter DFC & Bar - Des Evans
Edward Leach Porter, known as "Ted", served at Coningsby during 1944, attached to No 5 Group's 54 Base, which was the unit that provided the men who led and controlled bombing raids. The official title for this role was Master of Ceremonies.
In his capacity as a Master of Ceremonies, Ted Porter flew a 97 Squadron Lancaster, which was serviced and maintained by 97 Squadron ground crew, and he flew with a regular crew.
Porter had won the DFC with 207 Squadron in 1943 (as a Flight Lieutenant) and he returned to operations when he took command of 9 Squadron at Bardney on 14th November. He flew with distinction throughout the Battle of Berlin period, and was awarded a Bar to his DFC, before being posted to 54 Base at Coningsby in April 1944.
Ted Porter was killed, aged 33, on 17th August 1944 whilst leading a daring low level attack at Stettin Bay. He had returned early from leave and volunteered to do this trip without his usual crew, taking another pilot's place.
> I notice in Jim Logans report it is stated W/C Porter came back off
> leave August 23rd/ 24th, which of course is incorrect. Sorry about that.
To me a lowly LAC Flight Mechanic Engine walla he was a wonderful caring man. Courteous, friendly, helpful, and never used his rank. Before the War, a man dedicated to peace and was against war until his Sister who he was very close to was killed in the very early Raid on London. She was a Nurse. He then enlisted straight away. He led No.9 Squadron throughout 1943 as the Master Bomber on all the Berlin raids.
The ORB for this operation tells the story of how Porter's aircraft was lost.
16.8.44 Some slight day training this morning. Tonight 12 aircraft of the squadron carried out one of its most successful and daring attacks. It was decided that during a heavy PFF and main force attack on the town of Stettin, this squadron should mark and mine the Stettin-Schwinemunde Channel. This channel runs across Stettin Bay from Schwinemunde to Stettin and is the only means of access that any large ship has to Stettin. One side of the channel has square buoys and the other side conical buoys. At 0101 hours the flare force arrived and dropped by means of their blind bombing apparatus over the channel. Illumination was hardly necessary as the Germans had guessed what was happening and had criss-crossed the bay with searchlights. However, the Controller (W/C Porter) and the two marker deputies (S/L Parkes and S/L Locke DFC RAAF) who were all down at 300 feet decided to "Press on". In the face of great batteries of light flak guns from all sides of the bay, and although they were coned the whole time, they located the buoys and flew down the channel marking it with 250lb flame floats and dropping mines in between. By 0105 hours, W/C Porter's machine had been so badly hit that he called up S/L Parkes on the VHF telling him that he had "Had it" and would have to bale out. He also wished everyone the best of luck. A minute later a W/T message was received from W/C Porter's aircraft - for the main force to go in and drop their mines over the flame floats. It is believed that his crew had every chance to bale out successfully. W/C Porter, S/L Parkes and S/L Locke have since received immediate awards of the DSO. A message of congratulation was also received by the squadron from the AOC.
Porter's Usual Crew
F/O Jim Logan DFC, RCAF - Navigator
F/O Bill Pearson DFC, RCAF - Bombaimer
P/O Bill "Bluey" Howe DFC, RAF - Flight Engineer
P/O Bill Doran, DFC, RAF - Wireless Operator
F/Sgt James "Mac" MacLean, RAF - Midupper Gunner
P/O Ernest "Sonny" Thomas DFC, RAAF - Rear Gunner
All survived the war.
How Porter's Crew came together by Jim Logan
At O.T.U. Sgt. Johnny Kirkup (RAF) became our pilot and skipper. He had trained in Canada under the Commonwealth Air Training Plan and that probably explains Bill Pearson and myself joining the crew.
The two gunners were from Australia. Randall "Snakes" Wright who was our midupper gunner was badly wounded on our second op to Leipzig when we were shot up by a FW-190. We think Sonny probably got him as he didn't come back after disappearing in the cloud below.
Sometime later Jim MacLean from Glasgow became our midupper gunner. This gets a little ahead in the story.
Our conversion to Lancasters was at Wigsley. Afterwards, we were posted to 207 squadron at Spilsby arriving on October 21st. On the night of Oct. 22, Johnny and I were flying second dickey with two experienced crews for an operation over Kassel, Germany. Johnny's crew were missing and killed so we were a trained crew without a pilot. We desperately wanted to stay together even though they wanted to break us up to fill in other crews. As Dave Pearce often said, for once the RAF got it right and found him looking for a crew. He had returned to England on his 8th trip and when the a/c caught fire they bailed out and some of the crew didn't make it. He broke his ankle after bailing out at about 800 ft and had to recover for 3 months before flying again.
To make a long story short we were posted to a Conversion Unit at Balderton for training with Dave in Nov., 1943 and then to 9 Squadron, Bardney. When Dave completed his first operational tour several of the crew didn't have enough trips in to quit . W/C Porter was then looking for a crew as he probably had been considered for the master bomber assignment. We did two operations with him at Bardney and in June were posted to 97 Squadron to do controller ops for 54 Base. You know the story of our time at 97 Squadron and I found myself without a pilot once more and now well into my second tour.
F/O Doug Duncan had just come over to 83 Pathfinder squadron from 9 Sqdn., so Bill and I joined his crew. Bill was lost shortly afterwards when asked to do visual bombing on an operation to Konigsberg with S/L Sparks. He and some of that crew were taken POW when they bailed out. On Nov. 11, 1944 I completed my second tour (45 ops) with Dunc and returned home in Feb., 1945.
When Fred and his family were on a posting in England, Dorothy and I along with them visited Coningsby, still an active airfield and the Battle of Britain Museum there. Yes Porter was our C/O at Bardney from Nov. 1943 until June 1944, the time of the constant bombing of Berlin. I made 8 trips there and said it was easier to get to Berlin than to Nottingham, our favourite retreat.
In mid August, W/Cmdr.Porter came back from leave early and took a Crew who had no Pilot on a Operation called "Gardening" (mine laying) over STETTIN BAY when they were shot down and all killed.
We were split up, most going across the 'drome at Coningsby to 83 Squadron. The two Squadrons shared the same 'drome. Bill Pearson and I flew with F/O Doug Duncan RCAF and finished our operational Flying. Bill Pearson did go on another mission were they were shot down and he became a POW.
Sonny Thoms has now passed on, as have Bill Howe and Jim Maclean. Bill Doran had a severe stroke three years ago and is still very ill.
Prior to Wing Commander Ted Porters death it had been agreed he would fly mosquito aircraft on future operations and that I would be his Navigator, alas it was not to happen.
The plaque at Woodhall Spa above was set up by Porter's usual crew, who were not flying with him on 17th August 1944 - for details of this crew see below.
Left: Terence Michael Twomey, who lost his life with Porter
Two other members of the lost crew, Les Smith and Johnie Rogerson, had previouosly flown with the Benton crew and their pictures can be seen on the Benton crew page.
Left: Terence Michael Twomey, who lost his life with Porter
Two other members of the lost crew, Les Smith and Johnie Rogerson, had previouosly flown with the Benton crew and their pictures can be seen on the Benton crew page.
