No.635 Squadron

In March 1944, 3 Group Vacated RAF Downham Market, which was then incorporated in 8 Group Path Finder Force, the Station Commander duty would be under the command of Group Captain Wallace Hart Kyle DFC, (known through the service as 'Digger' Kyle, formerly station commander of RAF Marham, and one of the survivors of the hazardous shipping sweeps carried out by Bristol Blenheim's in 1940/1941.

On March 20th, 1944, 635 Squadron , newly formed from one flight of 97 Squadron and one flight of 35 Squadron, arrived at RAF Downham Market from RAF Bourn and RAF Graveley respectively. The new squadron was fortunate in its first Commander, Wing Commander Alan George Seymour Cousens DSO. DFC. RAFVR. Much of the squadron's later success may be attributed to the fine spirit inculcated  by this Navigator and Squadron Commander.

Who will forget that hectic first day of the Squadron's  existence? Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, true to form, had called for twelve Lancaster's from 635 Squadron as part of the force detailed to attack Berlin that night. All preparation were made and the Briefing room according to Bombing Leader Wing Commander Bernard Moorcroft,  'When briefing time arrived, most of the crews and aircraft on the battle order were still on their way from RAF Bourn, and RAF Graveley. Excitement was at fever-pitch and one by one the aircraft appeared in the airfield circuit, but before they were all down, the clerk of the weather intervened and the operation was 'scrubbed'.  The squadron's first operation did, in fact, take place two days later, when we were able to detail 14 Lancaster's of which all took off to attack Frankfurt and returned successfully.'

March 24/25th, 1944, the squadron suffered its first loss when P/O Wilfred Still & crew in ND704-F2-L were reported 'Missing'. This was followed by the disastrous raid against Nuremberg on 30/31st March 1944.  Leading Aircraftman Norman Perkins: "The squadron recorded three aircraft missing, with seven more aircraft barely making it back to base, Once we had looked over the damage it was clear some had been extremely lucky, all with heavy damage was caused by combat from enemy night fighters. At the dispersal  the  the morale of the aircrews I spoke to could not believe they had made it back, they spoke of the carnage of allied aircraft falling from the moonlit sky on route and back on the route back". ( 97 aircraft of Bomber Command were shot down that night).

The Squadron lost Lancaster's JB356 F2 -X (F/L. Charles Anthony Lyons & crew), ND711 F2-C (F/L. Hugh Julian Langdon Webb & crew), and JB706 F2-T (F/O. John Harold Nicholls DFC & crew).

Early April 1944, would not be kind to 635 Squadron. On 10th April, Bomber Command began to turn its attention to the German transport system as a prelude to the opening of the second front. it would also mark the loss of F/Sgt. Douglas James Farrant & crew. They were a routine training flight in Lancaster ND820 over Lincolnshire, but sadly never returned crashing into a field at Bicker. On 11/12th April 1944, whilst on an raid flown against the German city of Aachen, the squadron suffered it sixth loss when  Lancaster JB470 F2-M  flown by P/O. Robert Arthur Leader & crew Failed to Return. 

Bernard Moorcroft Bombing Leader, "I will never forget a conversion I overheard from the Station Commander who had asked the squadron CO to reframe from wanting to fly on operations. 'Digger' had been vocal in telling all section leaders to only go if they really thought necessary, but to clear it with him first'. After the tragic loss of Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Don Mansbridge AFC & crew on  April 20/21st 1944, who never returned from an attack directed against Ottignies -Belgium while flying Lancaster ND826 F2-W. 

On the 22nd April 1944, I was told by 'Digger' that the CO had been cleared by AVM Bennett to fly on the attack to Laon, as Master Bomber, by all accounts it was deemed to be a soft target with little or no defences. How wrong the Intelligence was, four Pathfinder aircraft were shot down from 8 Group that night. Of course, it was a bitter blow to our squadron losing  the Commanding Officer.   Cousen's had chosen to fly with F/L. Don Courtenay& crew, Don was known to the squadron as an outstanding Pilot some so Cousens referred to him as 'The Duke', but that said, Much of  the squadron's later success I believe owes much to the attributes of Cousen's the navigator -squadron commander. 

One more loss for the squadron happed 24/25 April; 1944, P/O. Alan Michie Ross RAFVR & crew, whilst attacking                    Karlsruhe, Germany was reported missing in action. AVM Don Bennett acted very quickly coursed several chaps of senior  ranks at within the Squadron, W/Cdr. John Bell Voyce and Squadron Leader Rodney Bernard Roache, who were up for leading the squadron. for a few days under the control of Stirling but from No.156 Squadron P.F.F. , formerly a flight Commander W/Cdr. Walter Thomas Brooks, assumed command of 635 Squadron, 27 April 1944.

12/13 May 1944, 635 Squadron suffered another loss, when Hasselt, Belgium was the target, Kiwi Skipper Flight Lieutenant David Cameron Stewart & crew in Lancaster ND924 were missing in action. (months later a report from the Red Cross stated from the seven airmen onboard ND924 only the 22 year old Canadian - wireless operator P/O. Allan Ian Johnstone had survived, and had been captured as a Prisoner of war. 

18 May 1944, the new C/O. W/Cdr. Brooks carried out his first Master Bomber sortie, the target being Orleans marshalling yards,  which  was a great success. 21/22 May 1944, the industrial area of Duisburg, Germany was attacked, 635 squadron would loss one aircraft on this attack. Lancaster ND819 with 22 year old skipper, W/O. James Alexander Porter RAFVR & crew not returning. It was a bad night for Bomber Command, over whelmed by nighter fighter and heavy flak. 31 aircraft missing from the combined force and from that total, 4 Pathfinder aircraft Missing in action.

3/4 June 1944, the squadron attacked the coastal defences at Calais, France, 24 year old Skipper F/O George Ambrose Young RAFVR, lined up at the runway Starting point (the actual location of the RAF Downham Market Airfield Cairn memorial). Ahead of him taking off was Lancaster ND965 'K' King, Captained by Flight Commander Pat Connolly. His Mid Upper Gunner, Sergeant Kenneth Harder, " My God, it was not a good on that occasion with just the flare path of the runway visual and the flight light of each aircraft that had lined up there was very little visibility of the airfield as we started out climb after taking off that night. What shocked me was the next Lanc, taking off after us, their was this amazing flash of light that seemed to blind me, at first I thought the base was under attack but then realised the Lanc behind us had crashed on take-off.  When we returned later to base, we were told what had happen and to which crew, I felt sorry for the poor buggers, they didn't deserve that."

On 5th june 1944, the squadron was called upon to supply 16 Lancaster's  to attack defences on the coast of Normandy, and it was apparent to the intelligence Staff from the number of convoy plotting received during the day that something momentous was afoot. The squadron was briefed that the long-expected Day was probably at hand, and when crews returned that night, they were in a high state of excitement as a result of the amount of shipping they had seen converging on the Normandy beach-head. 

So dawned the much hoped for D-Day. 

After this, heavy bomber attacks on Marshalling Yards, Airfields and Dumps were intensified, and the entire heavy bomber force went all out to weaken the enemy's resistance to our land forces.

The night of June 11th 1944, was a memorable one foe Downham Market, eight Lancaster's , including a Master Bomber and a Deputy, took-off for a night attack on Nates Railway Junction. At 0337 hours, nearly an hour after T.O.T. , a distress call was received by Off-Strike (RAF Downham Market) from 635 Squadron aircraft ND965 'K' King.  captained by F/L. Henry  McPherson Johnston & crew, this was followed at 0338 hours by a message "No Rudders, on fire, and no navigator. At 0419 hours, another message was received, "Please divert us to nearest base to crash land, rear gunner wounded badly." 

Eventually ND965 made a safe landing at RAF Warmwell, and when F/L.Johnston returned to base the following day, this was his Stirring story: " At approximately 0237 hours we heard the Master Bomber instruct the main force to come below cloud, and when we came out of cloud we had overshot the target, so we made an orbit to starboard at 1500ft. During the orbit a searchlight caught and held the aircraft, and immediately we were fired on by a light flak battery, resulting in a fire breaking out in the rear turret and the elevator trimming tabs becoming jammed in a downward position. The ammunition in the tanks was exploding, and I started to give the order to ballot, when the intercom became u/s. We jettisoned our bombs. After much exertion I managed to get the control column back, and the aircraft started to climb at an alarming angle to 2800 feet. The elevator trimming tabs had then jammed in the upward position . The control of the trimming tabs was completely u/s, and the rudder bars were also quite ineffective. I then repeated the order to bale out by making motions to the Navigator, and he, the bomb aimer, engineer and mid-upper got out. The rear gunner got burnt in trying to cope with the flames , and his parachute was destroyed. The rear turret had fallen off by this time. In those circumstances I felt that I had to try and keep going. The rear gunner and wireless operator continued their efforts to extinguish the fire, and eventually succeeded. I was still finding it impossible to manipulate the control column, but by putting a varying degrees of flap I managed to get the aircraft straight and level, although the airspeed was reduced. The rear gunner, although suffering severe pain from his burns, went into the mid-upper turret to keep a lookout for any enemy fighters which might be about. Meanwhile the Wireless operator was sending out S.O.S. and getting fixes which he plotted on the navigator's Mercator chart, and gave me the necessary alterations of course. Broke his thumb in removing the hatches in case we should have to ditch. By making aileron turns and with the aid of the wireless operator pushing the sticks, we eventually made a safe landing at RAF Warmwell". 

The result of this epic of courage , skill and endurance was the immediate award of the D.S.O. to Skipper F/L.Henry  McPherson Johnston, the D.F.C., to Wireless Operater P/O. Ronald Thomas Padden, and the D.F.M., to rear gunner F/Sgt. John Hugh Ledgerwood.

But there was still more heart ache, when the Debriefed aircrew learnt of one other that was missing in action, Lancaster JB239, captained this night by F/L. Cedric John Kenneth Ash and crew, there had been no S.O.S, or news of them since take-off. This was as Wing Commander Brooks mentioned to me, " Johnny Ash was without question a very gifted Captain, and he had one of the most talented aircrew that he had flown with. Special Mention goes out to Bomb Aimer F/O. Charles Sidney Purkis, who's skills in bombing was among the best within 8 Group Path Finder Force. He held the Bombing Trophy which proved his skills". 

Two of the squadron's aircraft failed to return 15/16 June 1944, whilst attacking Lens Marshalling Yards, France, Lancaster JB728 'B' Beer. F/O. James Caterer & crew were shot down in the Pas-de-Calais and crashed in the centre of Arras. The second was Lancaster PA987 'O' Oboe, F/Sgt. David Griffith & crew,  Lost without trace. 

Soon after this began the battle of the flying bombs and rocket sites, and the coming of daylight operations for Bomber Command.

W/Cdr. David Walter Sealy Clark DFC & Bar, " I thought of our Lancaster's attacking in daylight had the effect, at first, of creating a strange atmosphere of apprehension, and when, on 22nd June 1944, it happened when Flight Commander W/Cdr. John Bell Voyce and F/L. Robert Beveridge both drew the short straws and took off as Master Bomber and Deputy Master Bomber, to attack a rocket site at Siracourt in mid afternoon, at the runways edge a big group of us gathered to wave the off. it was as if we were bidding farewell to a couple of heroes who were going out to tackle almost impossible odds. The tension was broken, however, when they returned from this attack and reported 'No Flak'; no fighters! This, unfortunately, did not always hold good, for some of the subsequent  daylight raids proved to be very costly".

5/6 July 1944, Wizerness V1 Site - France, was the target, the squadron lost Lancaster ME621 'R' Robert, P/O. Arthur John Weaver and crew reported missing in action, along with Lancaster ND895 'W' S/L. Wilfred Cyril Riches and crew all killed with just the bomb aimer managing to evade capture.

The attacks on flying bomb sites and storage dumps were carried on unremittingly for a considerable time.

The next  high-spot in the history of RAF Downham Market was on 4 August 1944, when the heroic conduct of S/Ldr.  Ian Willoughby Bazalgette in Lancaster ND811 'T' Tommy  on a daylight raid to Trossy St. Maximin, a highly defended flying bomb dump near Paris, France. for the report on this and about Bazalgette & crew see section S/Ldr. Bazalgette.

4th August 1944, along with Bazalgette, one other 635 Squadron Lancaster PA983 'A' Apple, F/L. Robert Walter Beveridge & crew was shot down, the event was clearly witness by The  W/Cdr, Clark who who duty on this raid was Master Bomber. There were no survivors from Lancaster PA983. 

The news of the loss of those two crews was received in disbelief, Daphie Pointer from Signal Section. "We got the News from our Signals Leaders who knew my friend Audrey was dating one of the Beveridge's crew, he was a charming young man of 19/20 years old, an air gunner Sgt. John David Smith, we new him as 'J.D', who would always bring Audrey his chocolate rations after a mission , he had the sweetest smile and Audrey just adored him. The loss of S/Ldr. Ian Bazalgette & his crew, we're very popular,  Bill Herrick, from Bobby Vines crew who I was fond off told me that Bazalgette would be highly missed, just his presence and Wit was enough to make you want to listen to what he had to say. Bill, remarked that he should have never been on the Trossy operation,  he   was  supposed to be on leave! Bill said that his skipper had heard that the Squadron C/O., W/Cdr. Brooks was, could be in hot water over letting him go on the raid.  so much so, that the Station Commander was visited by the AOC of Pathfinder 'Bennett' and some senior Staff officers. We all though that Brooks would be for chop over.  It and said, that if he was sacked, that W/Cdr. Clark should  be made C/O, or possibly the well respect Flight Commander W/Cdr. John Bell Voyce, a firm favourite of Group Captain 'Digger' Kyle. 

Day's past and so we learned, A.O.C. Bennett had given him a warning, but later Brooks was replaced later by the much liked W/Cdr. Sidney 'Tubby' Baker".

 

12 August 1944, another loss to the squadron, Lancaster ND694 'R' Robert, F/L. George Simpson Henderson & crew attacked The Opel Works, Russelheim, Germany. Skipper George Henderson was known as the proud Scott, a very hard nose type of guy, and did everything by the book, including his drinking Glenfiddich Whiskey. Before joining the squadron, he was a police constable with Aberdeen Police Force, Scotland.

It is claimed that on the Russelheim attack, the bombers were first attacked over Belgium all the way to the target,  20 aircraft were lost , with 4 of those from the P.F.F.

Henderson's aircraft came under attack by a night fighter. Major Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer of the Stab IV./Nachtjagd 1, who claimed to shoot down Lancaster ND694, over Werbemont, located in the province of Liege, Belgium,  it was Schnaufer's third kill of the night, and his 93 as a Luftwaffe night pilot.

The remainder of August 1944, five more losses to 635 Squadron, who's totalled nine specially trained Pathfinder aircrews all missing in action.