P/O Douglas W Spooner DFM RAAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1941/42
Failed to Return – 2/3rd July 1942 – Vickers Wellington IC – R1617 – Op Bremen.
Douglas Spooner ( pictured above ) flew his first operation in the crew of Sgt C L Bray as co-pilot on the 26/27th November 1941 to Ostend. He then flew 4 more operations with this crew. The last was to Wilhelmshaven on the 10/11th January 1942 for which he was awarded a DFM. See citation at the foot of this page.
After recovery from his injuries he was made captain of his own crew and flew the following operations.
19-May-42 - St Nazaire – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF - Unable to find target and returned with bombs.
30-May-42 – Cologne – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
01-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF - Hit by flak
03-Jun-42 – Bremen – Wellington – DV773 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
06-Jun-42 – Emden – Wellington – DV612 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
08-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV612 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
11-Jun-42 - Ameland/Dutch coast – Wellington – Z1140 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
22-Jun-42 – Emden – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
23-Jun-42 - Amelande/Dutch coast – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
25-Jun-42 – Bremen – Wellington – DV611 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
02-Jul-42 – Bremen – Wellington – R1617 - Sgt DW Spooner RAAF – FTR - Night fighter victim.
Claimed by Uffz Rudolph Frank - Vahren 5km North of Cloppenburg at 01:45.
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P/O Douglas Wilberforce Spooner DFM RAAF – Pilot – 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of Wilberforce and Sarah Cecilia Spooner, of Windsor, Queensland, Australia - Sage War Cemetery, Germany.
P/O G E Mayer RAFVR – Observer – POW – Camp Stalag Luft 3 Zagan & Belaria – POW No 602
F/S Alvin Leslie Spafford RCAF ( pictured below ) - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – 33 – 103 Sqn - Son of Alfred and Ida Spafford, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; husband of Anne Forbes Spafford, of Winnipeg - Sage War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Cultra Vallance Webb RAFVR - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Sage War Cemetery, Germany
F/S A Szmaites - Air Gunner – POW - Camp Stalag 344 Lamsdorf - POW No 24986.
PO Mayer later reported “We were attacked near Bremen by a night fighter at 12000 ft. The aircraft was on fire and out of control. Spafford the Wireless Operator was in the astrodome and was killed by fire from the night fighter. I was wounded but went forward to let Webb out of the front turret. I then baled out. I expected to be followed by Webb and Spooner who was getting out of his seat prior to leaving. Met Rear Gunner later but am uncertain about the other three.”
F/S Alvin Leslie Spafford RCAF
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02-Jul-42 – Bremen
103 Squadron detailed 5 aircraft to attack the German city of Bremen. The weather over the route was good with no cloud although there was some ground haze. Moderate heavy flak was encountered increasing in accuracy and intensity towards the end of the attack. There was also some slight light flak being aimed at searchlight cones around 9000 ft. 3 aircraft returned to base with 2 missing, those of Sgt Spooner and Sgt Little.
For this attack on Bremen Bomber Command detailed a total of - 325 aircraft - 175 Wellingtons, 53 Lancasters, 35 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens. 13 aircraft - 8 Wellingtons, 2 Hampdens, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax – lost. 265 aircraft claimed to have bombed in good visibility but it is probable that much of the attack fell outside the southern borders of the town. A brief Bremen report says that more than 1,000 houses and 4 small industrial firms were damaged. 3 cranes and 7 ships in the port were also hit; 1 of the ships, the 1,736-ton steamer Marieborg sank and is recorded as having become a danger to navigation. Only 5 people were killed and 4 injured.
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Wellington R1617
This machine was lost on its first operation with the Squadron.
02-Jul-42 – Bremen – Wellington – R1617 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed at Vahren near Cloppenburg.
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Sgt D W Spooner DFM Citation :
The Citation for the award of DFM to the then Sgt Spooner is as follows Sgt Spooner of 103 Sqn was second pilot of a Wellington bomber which took part in the attack on Wilhelmshaven on the night of 10th January 1942. During the run up to the target to bomb at a height of 15,000 feet, the aircraft was subject to intense flak. A second run was made amidst increased anti-aircraft fire. Just as the remaining bombs were dropped, a violent explosion shook the aircraft and a 4.5inch recce flare was forced through the rear end of the bomb compartment into the fuselage where it set fire to the fabric, the wooden floor and the rear bomb seat. The second pilot made his way to the back of the aircraft, which was now filled with acrid white smoke, and pluckily endeavoured to extinguish the flames, first with an extinguisher, which failed to function properly, and then with his gloves. The Captain ordered the WOP to assist but he was unable to as he was suffocating and unable to help. It was only Sgt Spooner’s presence of mind, in bringing the portable oxygen set to his aid, that enabled him to withstand the effects of the fumes. Still directly over Wilhelmshaven, in the dark sky, the burning aircraft made a perfect target. It was seen by the tail gunner of another aircraft to be picked up by about 30 searchlights and heavily engaged by enemy defences. At 10,000 feet the situation appeared so hopeless, the Captain ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. To see that his crew had gone, the Captain, after setting the controls, made his way aft. Seeing a figure silhouetted against the flames and still endeavouring to extinguish them, he returned to his controls and steered a westerly course. The flare eventually burned its way through the floor and fell out of the aircraft. Sgt Spooner now having made the extinguisher to work, was able to subdue the flames with this and his gloves. Having extinguished the flames, he made his way forward, where he found the Captain still at the controls; to enable the latter to navigate, he took over from him and although suffering acutely from the effects of the fumes, flew the aircraft back to this country. He arrived with painfully inflamed eyes and in a state of partial collapse from reaction. His valour when heavily engaged by the enemy and in a burning aircraft not only achieved his objective of saving the aircraft from falling into enemy hands, but saved two pilots for the RAF. I strongly recommend him for the highest possible award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross.” The above recommendation from the Squadron was strongly supported by the Station Commander. Remarks by the A.O.C. “ In his complete disregard of his personal safety Sgt Spooner undoubtedly sowed pluck and determination of a very high order, thereby upholding the reputation of the Australians of being “Non-Quitters”. I do not consider, however, that his
act of gallantry reaches the very high standard required fort as an award of the Victoria Cross. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the DFM.”
(DFM promulgated in the London Gazette of 27/1/1942, Air2/8464)
Compiled by David Fell with photo from the late Arthur Roberts collection. Spafford items courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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