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3/4 November, 1943; DÜSSELDORF:
It wasn't until 3rd November that Bomber Command was able to
send a large force out again, when almost 600 bombers were sent
against the German city of Düsseldorf. The 'rest' period
had enabled most squadrons to replenish their establishment of
aircraft and 49 was no exception. Now re-settled back at Fiskerton
(from Dunholme Lodge), the unit was able to provide 18 aircraft
for the evening’s operation. The raid was successful with
many fires reported but Command did lose 18 aircraft and crews.
For the second raid in succession 49 Squadron lost two aircraft.
The second aircraft reported missing, was that piloted by F/Lt
Carfoot (JB305) and crew on only their second trip.
F/Lt Norman Carfoot had previously served in Coastal Command
(having flown over 2,000hrs) before volunteering for Bomber Command...
in search of more excitement! Over Düsseldorf, his Lancaster
became coned in searchlights and almost instantly suffered hits
from heavy flak. Sgt Church, the crew's navigator, recalls the
final moments aboard the aircraft:
"Flak set the port wing on fire and the next moment tracer
shells from an attacking JU88 passed inches in front of my chest
(Sgt Wood, the W/Op, was killed instantly during this attack).
The pilot ordered us all to bale out, but first he asked me to
check if the rear gunner was OK; just then, over the intercom,
the Aussie voice of F/Sgt Steve List confirmed that he had in
fact heard the bale out order. I then put my chute on and followed
the flight engineer, Sgt Mason down the steps into the nose ready
to jump; the bomb aimer, Sgt Putnam RCAF went first. I turned
to take one last look at my skipper, Norman Carfoot, silhouetted
by the flames from the blazing wing as he held our doomed Lanc
as steady as a rock... he just waved ... I think we both knew
then that he wasn't going to make it." Just those three
crew members who jumped from the nose hatch survived; Sgt Church
believes that the Lancaster must have exploded shortly after
he left the aircraft.
Lancaster JB305 (EA-E)
F/L N.H. Carfoot Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.S. Mason F/E (P.o.W.)
Sgt
H.D. Church NAV (P.o.W.)
Sgt H.L. Wood
W/AG (Killed)
Sgt W.H.
Marson A/G (Killed)
F/S
S.G. Putnam RCAF B/A (P.o.W.)
F/S S.M.
List RAAF A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 2nd operation
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