W/O Robert Lloyd Telfer RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1942
Failed to Return – 28/29th August 1942 – Handley Page Halifax II – BB204 – Op Saarbrucken.
Robert Telfer and his wife Marvel Telfer nee Baker – Photo courtesy of the excellent 111 (F) Squadron RCAF website.
Robert Telfer was posted to 103 Squadron at Elsham Wolds in mid summer 1942. He flew his first operation on the 2/3rd July 1942 flying a Wellington and then converted to Halifaxes when he completed 2 more operations being lost on his 4th
02-Jul-42 – Bremen – Wellington – HD946 – W/O RL Telfer RCAF
18-Aug-42 – Flensburg – Halifax – W1213 – W/O RL Telfer RCAF
27-Aug-42 – Kassel – Halifax – W1189 – W/O RL Telfer RCAF – Port outer engine unserviceable. Jettisoned bombs and returned to base. Fired on by friendly convoy on return. Ceased on flashing letters of the day and firing colours of the period
28-Aug-42 – Saarbrucken – Halifax – BB204 – W/O RL Telfer RCAF – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed south west of Dinant, Belgium
Reportedly shot by a night-fighter Hptm W. Herget II/NJG4. Crashed at Hastière.
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WO1 Robert Lloyd Telfer RCAF – Pilot – 103 Sqn – Gosselies Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium
Sgt NT Lewthwaite RAFVR - 103 Sqn - Camps 8B/344 - POW No 26871
P/O RL Andre RAAF - 103 Sqn - Camps L3 - POW No 634
P/O Ronald Albert Bingham RAFVR – Observer - 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of Albert and Florence Emily Bingham, of Kidderminster, Worcestershire - Gosselies Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium
Sgt H O'Neill RAAF - 103 Sqn - POW - Camps 8B/344 - POW No 26872 - Landed on an island in the River Meuse
Sgt John Patch RAF – Air Gunner - 29 – 103 Sqn - Son of James and Mary Dorothea Patch - Gosselies Communal Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium
Sgt Squire Arbuthnot Webster RAFVR – Air Gunner - 21 - Son of George Arbuthnott Webster and Louise Webster, of Northfield, Birmingham - Gosselies Communal Cemetery, Hainaut.
For more information regarding Robert Telfer see the MacMaster University Alumni website – Robert Telfer page here.
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28-Aug-42 – Saarbrucken
103 Squadron detailed 2 aircraft for this attack on Saarbrucken, those of WO1 Telfer and P/O Rose. The later reports no cloud en route but ground haze around the target which was identified by a loop in the river which could easily be seen in the bright moonlight. His bombs are reported to have fallen 1 mile south of the aiming point. There was moderate light and slight heavy flak and strong search light co-operation on the perimeter of the town. It was noted that return fire from another bomber caused a night fighter to burst into flames and spiral down crashing on the ground. Extensive fires were seen north of the aiming point. P/O Rose returned safely. W/O1 Telfer and crew are missing.
For this attack on Saarbrucken Bomber Command detailed a total 113 aircraft - 71 Wellingtons, 24 Halifaxes, 17 Hampdens, 1 Stirling. This was an experimental raid by a force of oddments - Halifaxes of 4 Group which were being rested from major operations, Hampdens of 5 Group and new crews from other groups. There were no Pathfinders. The moon was four fifths full and it was judged that this relatively undefended target, just inside Germany, could be successfully attacked while the main raid on Nuremberg was taking place.
The raid was not a success; bombing was scattered over a wide area. 15 houses were destroyed and 51 seriously damaged in Saarbrücken and one woman was killed. 7 aircraft - 4 Hampdens, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Wellington - lost, 6.2 per cent of the force.
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Halifax BB204.
This machine was lost on its second operation with 103 Squadron
01-Aug-42 – Dusseldorf – Halifax – BB204 – P/O KFJ Winchester
28-Aug-42 – Saarbrucken – Halifax – BB204 – W/O RL Telfer RCAF – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed south west of Dinant, Belgium
Item compiled by David Fell with thanks to the 111 (F) Squadron RCAF website for permission to use their photo.
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