CAPTAIN: RICHES
LANCASTER on 16/17 December 1943: G-GEORGE - JA857
CREW
Pilot: F/L Wilfred Cyril Riches
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market, 29yrs old
Flight Engineer: Sgt G Winter
Thought to have survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
Navigator: P/O Henry Wager Dixon Watts
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market
Bomb Aimer: F/S EH Pack
Survived the crash, evader, survived the war
W/Op: F/S J Wrigley
Survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt Robert William Lowe
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market, 22 yrs old
Rear Gunner: F/O LW Booth
Survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
LANCASTER on 16/17 December 1943: G-GEORGE - JA857
CREW
Pilot: F/L Wilfred Cyril Riches
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market, 29yrs old
Flight Engineer: Sgt G Winter
Thought to have survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
Navigator: P/O Henry Wager Dixon Watts
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market
Bomb Aimer: F/S EH Pack
Survived the crash, evader, survived the war
W/Op: F/S J Wrigley
Survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt Robert William Lowe
Killed 6th July 1944, whilst flying with 635 Sqd out of Downham Market, 22 yrs old
Rear Gunner: F/O LW Booth
Survived the war, not on fatal flight of 6-7-44
F/L W Riches, Sgt G Winter, H W Watts, E H Pack, Wrigley, R W Lowe, L W Booth, Christopher Nordhoff
DETAILS
Like many 97 Squadron crews, this one had more than one extremely close brush with death. An incident on the Berlin operation of 3rd/4th September 1943 was nearly fatal to the whole crew on their 8th operation. In the event the majority of the crew survived but unfortunately there occured one of those very rare deaths of a crew member onboard the aircraft (with the rest of the crew returning home with the body on board). The ORB notes:
Like many 97 Squadron crews, this one had more than one extremely close brush with death. An incident on the Berlin operation of 3rd/4th September 1943 was nearly fatal to the whole crew on their 8th operation. In the event the majority of the crew survived but unfortunately there occured one of those very rare deaths of a crew member onboard the aircraft (with the rest of the crew returning home with the body on board). The ORB notes:
3.9.43 Runways at Bourn now serviceable - all detachments returned this morning to base from Oakington, Graveley and Gransden. Twenty aircraft detailed for operations against Berlin. All aircraft took off and 18 aircraft attacked the target. Weather was cloudy en route - target area was only clear gap. Early aircraft could see red TIs in good cluster and some fires already taking hold. The attack is considered well concentrated and fires were seen by crews homeward bound from 200 miles away. Defences were moderate and quickly died away and then many searchlights were operating in conjunction with fighters. Two aircraft returned early, one with oxygen supply u/s and another due to rear gunner's oxygen supply failing, rendering him unconscious. After jettisoning bombs, a TI exploded, causing fire in bomb bay which was eventually put out and the aircraft landed safely. Sgt Nordhoff, the rear gunner of F/O Riches crew, was killed by cannon fire from an enemy fighter when over the target. Rear turret and hydraulic system were rendered u/s through damage caused by the fighter. All aircraft returned safely to base. Sgt Nordhoff's body is resting at Oakington and will be conveyed by rail to Liverpool for private funeral.
The following details of the incident come from Kevin Bending and the 97 Squadron Association website http://www.97squadronassociation.co.uk/.
Officer Riches was over the target area, and had just closed the bomb doors after releasing his bombs, when he received instructions over the intercom from Sergeant Nordhoff to "Go to port skipper!" Immediately, the mid upper gunner, Sergeant Lowe, swung his turret to the port quarter, and saw a short burst of tracer coming towards the Lancaster from the port side. Riches had started to do a very slight diving turn to port when the burst of enemy fire entered the rear turret and fuselage of the bomber; he turned around and saw explosions on the port side of the aircraft, while the bomb aimer, Sergeant Pack, saw tracer passing over the top of the starboard wing.
No further attack was made by the night fighter, which was believed to have broken away underneath the Lancaster and was not seen again, but its sole attack had been devastating enough. Tragically, Sergeant Nordhoff, whose vigilance and early warning had saved the lives of his crew, was killed by the fighter's opening burst of fire.
The remaining crew, with a new rear gunner, then had another very frightening experience about seven weeks later:
23rd/24th November 1943 raid on Berlin
The 97 Squadron ORB notes:
"... Many fighter flares and fighter activity. F/S PENNY and crew failed to return. All other a/c returned safely to base encountering bad weather and gales. Minor damage was sustained by some aircraft - F/L Riches had two engines shot up over the target, but the aircraft was brought back to base safely on the two remaining engines, the third cutting while still on the runway."
The citation for his immediate DFC reads
RICHES, Wilfrid Cyril A/FL 121448 RAFVR LG 7.1.44
Flight Lieutenant Riches has completed many operational missions against the enemy's most important objectives. He is a most reliable captain of aircraft. One night in November 1943 he was detailed for a leading role in the attack on Berlin. During the approach to the target, the bomber was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire which caused the port inner engine to catch alight. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Riches continued to his objective and completed an accurate attack. During the return flight, after flying for almost two hours on three engines, the bomber's starboard outer engine failed. Owing to his great skill this officer succeeded in reaching base where he made a safe landing. Flight Lieutenant Riches has displayed courage and resolution of the highest order. (Bar to DFC)
The story is expanded on in "Bombers over Berlin" by Alan Cooper, though the date is given slightly incorrectly. Officer Riches was over the target area, and had just closed the bomb doors after releasing his bombs, when he received instructions over the intercom from Sergeant Nordhoff to "Go to port skipper!" Immediately, the mid upper gunner, Sergeant Lowe, swung his turret to the port quarter, and saw a short burst of tracer coming towards the Lancaster from the port side. Riches had started to do a very slight diving turn to port when the burst of enemy fire entered the rear turret and fuselage of the bomber; he turned around and saw explosions on the port side of the aircraft, while the bomb aimer, Sergeant Pack, saw tracer passing over the top of the starboard wing.
No further attack was made by the night fighter, which was believed to have broken away underneath the Lancaster and was not seen again, but its sole attack had been devastating enough. Tragically, Sergeant Nordhoff, whose vigilance and early warning had saved the lives of his crew, was killed by the fighter's opening burst of fire.
The remaining crew, with a new rear gunner, then had another very frightening experience about seven weeks later:
23rd/24th November 1943 raid on Berlin
The 97 Squadron ORB notes:
"... Many fighter flares and fighter activity. F/S PENNY and crew failed to return. All other a/c returned safely to base encountering bad weather and gales. Minor damage was sustained by some aircraft - F/L Riches had two engines shot up over the target, but the aircraft was brought back to base safely on the two remaining engines, the third cutting while still on the runway."
The citation for his immediate DFC reads
RICHES, Wilfrid Cyril A/FL 121448 RAFVR LG 7.1.44
Flight Lieutenant Riches has completed many operational missions against the enemy's most important objectives. He is a most reliable captain of aircraft. One night in November 1943 he was detailed for a leading role in the attack on Berlin. During the approach to the target, the bomber was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire which caused the port inner engine to catch alight. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Riches continued to his objective and completed an accurate attack. During the return flight, after flying for almost two hours on three engines, the bomber's starboard outer engine failed. Owing to his great skill this officer succeeded in reaching base where he made a safe landing. Flight Lieutenant Riches has displayed courage and resolution of the highest order. (Bar to DFC)
"For Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Riches and his crew from 97 Squadron, this raid on Berlin became a nightmare. It was his 23rd operation, and four of these 23 had already been on Berlin. On this night he was detailed for a leading role within the Pathfinder Force. On the approach to the target his aircraft was repeatedly hit by flak with the result that the port inner engine caught fire and had to be feathered. Despite this, Riches persisted in pressing on with his attack and continued to drop his bombs and markers accurately ... On the return flight, after flying for three engines for about two hours, and when about to cross the Dutch coast, the starboard outer engine failed. At this time Riches was at 14,000 feet but despite this he managed to get back across the North Sea to his base and make a safe landing. He was immediately recommended for the DFC. On a previous occasion his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter and the damage inflicted was severe and his rear gunner killed, but Riches avoided further attacks and made it home to base".
Wilfed Riches, front row, 2nd from the right, with a group of fellow pilots. Location and date unknown.
Left: Riches' first rear gunner, Christopher Nordhoff, who was killed aged 20 years old on September 3/4 1943.
Aircrew on Berlin op - December 16/17 1943