Squadron 218 - Graham Arthur Hassett

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jhw1980
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Squadron 218 - Graham Arthur Hassett

Post by jhw1980 »

I am trying to learn more about my grandfather and importantly trying to get hold of a photograph as we have none in our possession.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Name: Graham Arthur Hassett

Cemetery: Poix-De-Picardie Churchyard

Country: France

Area: Somme

Rank: Flight Sergeant (Nav.)

Official Number: 1337802

Unit: 218 Sqdn.

Force: Royal Air Force

Nationality: British

Details:
2nd May 1944. Age 23. Husband of Joyce Mary Hassett of Wembley Middlesex. Row A. Grave 19.
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K4KittyCrew
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
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Re: Squadron 218 - Graham Arthur Hassett

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Hello 'jhw1980' and welcome to our friendly forum.

Fellow member, Steve is the person to help you here, i trust he will be along soon to answer your query. You may even choose to send him a 'PM'.

Steve speciality is ...........
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association Historian. No.623 Squadron Research
No.3 Group RAF Bomber Command Research 1936-1945

Cheers,
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
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smudgersmith218
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Re: Squadron 218 - Graham Arthur Hassett

Post by smudgersmith218 »

From, a yet to be published history of 218 Squadron, this is a draft copy:

May started with yet another crack at the Marshalling yards at Chambly, sixteen crews led by "A" Flights Squadron Leader J Overton DFC were away from Woolfox Lodge by 22.23hrs and headed towards Bradwell Bay located on the south coast. In addition to the Stirling’s No.3 Group sent 82 Lancaster’s, the Lancaster’s would bomb with the aid of OBOE dropped markers and be instructed by a Master Bomber, New Zealander Squadron Leader J.M Dennis of No.7 Squadron PFF. Visibility on route was excellent with the moon reported to be very bright, the squadrons Stirlings were to attack in two waves, eight per wave. Time over target was set at 00.20hrs, the first wave of 42 Lancaster’s and 8 Stirling’s were briefed for H Hour to H Hour + 4. The Stirling crews were had been instructed to use their G-H, if no reception was received they were to bomb on the PFF Markers. The initial OBOE markers were misplaced, only two of the eight OBOE target marking Mosquitos could get their equipment to work satisfactory, the two Mosquitoes with functioning equipment both of No.109 Squadron dropped their TI Markers north of the aiming point forcing the Master Bomber to instruct the crews to orbit while he remarked. His white TI’s were accurately dropped on the aiming point and the orbiting crews were ordered to bomb. With the timing of the attack now redundant both the first and second waves attacked the target simultaneously, of the sixteen squadron crews sent thirteen were able to bomb from between 13-14,000ft with the aid of G-H each dropping 234 x 500lb MC in the process, only Pilot Officer R Scammell, Flying Officer I Jones and Flight Lieutenant R Fennell were unable to bomb on G-H due to G-H set failure. Flying at 14,000ft Flight Lieutenant R "Happy" Fennell dropped one bomb on a solitary yellow TI, not happy he retained the remaining 17 bombs awaiting instructing from the Master of Ceremonies, hearing nothing Fennel orbited the target and dropped his remaining bomb load on the now almost spent yellow TI marker.

The attack was directed on one of Europe’s most modern and important depots, it was severely hit. Heavy damage was inflicted on the crossing shops and the sleeper impregnation plant and all their satellite buildings were totally destroyed. The stores yard was saturated with craters and hardly a building escaped without damage. The success of the operation was offset by the loss of two crews, both to fighters.

The first at 00.47hrs was that of Flight lieutenant Ieun Jones RAF and crew who fell to the guns of Oblt Walter Prues of 7.NJG1. There were only two survivors from the crew of EF504 HA-P, the navigator Flying Officer S Taylor RCAF and the flight engineer Sergeant E Wright. The crew were attacked shortly after leaving the target area. Over the next 15 minutes the crew were subjected to no less than seven attacks, on the seventh attack, the starboard outer engine was hit and set on fire almost immediately the rear gunner Flying Officer E Twinning RAFVR informed the pilot “I’ve got him, he is going down in flames “ With the engine feathered it was soon apparent that the stricken Stirling was doomed, the fire was quickly spreading and inching towards the starboard inner. An eighth attack soon developed, the rear gunner again warned the pilot to take evasive action, with the SO engine on fire the pilot took what evasive action he could given the condition of the Stirling. Both gunners engaged their new assailant, a twin engine Ju88. The pilot struggling with the controls informed the crew over the intercom “ I can’t hold her much longer, prepare to ball out” With the bomber down to below 3000ft the navigator handed the 29 year old pilot his parachute, the brave Welsh pilot yelled at him over the noise of the engines “For heaven’s sake get out quickly” Flying Officer Taylor left via the front escape hatch, pulled the ripcord swung twice and hit the ground. The Stirling exploded on hitting the ground near Poix about 30 yards from where the navigator landed. Both Sergeant Wright and Flying Officer Taylor were both aided by the resistance and managed to return to England arriving at RAF Northolt by August 18/19th 1944. Flight Lieutenant Jones was on his third operation having been posted from No.31 Base on April 16th. The body of the brave young pilot and his crew lay in the Churchyard at Pix-de-Picardie.
The second crew was that of the recently promoted Australian Flight Lieutenant Noel Stirling Eliot RAAF who are believed to be the victim of Hptm Fritz Sothe of 4.NJG4 shot down at 00.55hrs. Stirling EF259 HA-G crashed near la Houssaye taking with it four of the young experienced crew. There were four evaders from the crew including air gunner Sergeant N Wilson who went along for the experience, he was at the time officially still attached to Training Command. Having successfully bombed the target the crew were attacked by two fighters, reported to be FW190’s, Pilot Officer Noel Elliot stated in his Escape and Evasion Report that the tail section was almost shot off and port outer engine set on fire before the order was given to bail-out. Another crew also encountered fighters soon after bombing the depot. Pilot Officer R Scammell and crew where attacked by two JU88 fighters, extensive damage was sustained in the encounter, the crews Flight Engineer Sergeant Roy Lodge was killed and both gunners injured. Nursing the Stirling back to the England, Scammell made an emergency crash landing at RAF Woodbridge at 02.10hrs, Stirling EF184 HA-I was Struck of Charge and scraped.
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1918-1945
The Nomads
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