AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

7 Squadron Crest
29/30.07.1943 No. 7 Squadron Stirling III EF364 MG-X F/O. Allan L. Forbes

Operation: Hamburg

Date: 29/30th July 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 7 Squadron

Type: Stirling III

Serial: EF364

Code: MG-X

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Location: Not known - lost without trace

Pilot: F/O. Allan Leighton Forbes J/17200 RCAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Frederick Herbert Webb 1448647 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Nav: F/O. Dale Ernest Pushor J/12967 RCAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Douglas Leonard Arthur Pool 149168 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Raymond Marshall Bowyer 1800778 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Eric Arthur Charles 1095725 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: F/O. Arthur Pyrah 130235 RAFVR Age 29. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire to bomb the port and city of Hamburg joining 776 other aircraft on the third raid on this target within the last five days. 340 Lancasters, 244 Halifaxes, 119 Stirlings, 70 Wellingtons and 4 Mosquitoes made up the force. This Stirling was carrying 1 x TI red, 5 x TI Green, 1 red flare, 5 X 4500 lb. MC bomb load.

Sgt. Raymond Bowyer had been an active member of the Southall Cricket club. Mr. Steve Hunnisett came across the card sent by his parents, after condolence wishes had been sent by its members. Sadly the club no longer exists.


The idea was that the target be approached from the north to concentrate on the northern area of Hamburg which had not been bombed on previous occasions. The pathfinders dropped their markers too far east of the city. 707 aircraft got through to the target, dropping a total of 2,318 tons of bombs on residential areas - no figures are available as to the casualties on the ground for this raid although it is known that over 40,000 were killed during that week and over 16,000 residential buildings were destroyed.

The worst incident was when bombs hit a large department store in Wandsbek - the building collapsed and blocked exits from a shelter that was in the basement - 370 people died from poisoning by the fumes from a coke store nearby. 1,200,000 people fled the city after these raids.

The allies lost 31 aircraft on this operation with 176 aircrew losing their lives and a further 17 being made PoW.

7 Squadron Stirlings lined up at RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire (courtesy IWM)

Most of the aircraft were shot down by the Luftwaffe night fighters, although 14 were shot down by searchlight assisted flak over the target area.

No details or claims on how and where this Stirling came down, but probably over the target area as the aircraft lost over the sea have mostly been identified.

Burial details:

F/O. Allan Leighton Forbes. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 173. Son of Leighton I. and Stella V. Forbes, of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Right: Sgt. Eric Charles - taken, we understand, on the 06th September 1941. Elaine Wilde recalled that she used to visit with her brother his mother when they were very young, this photograph was always on her sideboard in the dining room. (courtesy Elaine Wilde February 2017)

F/O. Dale Ernest Pushor. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 174. Son of Mr and Mrs H.E. Pusher of East Coulee, Alberta, Canada - Husband of Mrs. D.E. Pusher, further details unavailable, are you able to assist?

P/O. Douglas Leonard Arthur Pool. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 133. Son of William Arthur and Margery Ann Pool, of Surbiton, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Frederick Herbert Webb. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 169. Son of Frederick H. and Emily K. Webb, of Fetcham, Surrey, England, husband of J. Webb.

Sgt. Raymond Marshall Bowyer. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 143. Son of Marshall Eugene and Gertrude Violet Bowyer, of Norwood Green, Southhall, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Eric Arthur Charles. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 145. Son of Arthur and Alice Charles from Sheffield, England, Eric was their only child and the family were devastated by his loss.

F/O. Arthur Pyrah. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 129. Son of Harry and Alice Pyrah, husband of Rose Pyrah, of Tingley, Yorkshire, England.

With thanks to Steve Hunnisett for information and bringing this loss to our attention. Thanks also to Elaine Wilde for further information on Sgt. Eric Charles - February 2017. Sources as quoted below.

Panel 129 at Runnymede showing the name of F/O. Arthur Pyrah.

KTY 22.02.2017 Further information / photograph added.

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 22 March 2021, 18:02

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor