FROM KEN HARRISON, BRIGG MATTERS MAGAZINE
Brigg Town Mayor, Cllr Sharon Riggall will unveil a plaque dedicated to Flight Sergeant Roy J. Rogers, Rear Gunner of No 460 Squadron at Harrison's Hideaway at Smithy's Pond, Island Carr.
Flight Sergent Rogers, aged 23, was part of the crew of a Lancaster, NG 404, which caught fire after a practice bomb exploded.in the aircraft's bomb-bay.
He baled out over Brigg in the summer of 1945, a Saturday and a market day in Brigg. During his descent he waved to teenagers swimming in the New River Ancholme bridge, near the now demolished oil cake mill.
Unfortunately, his parachute dragged him into a disused brick clay pond, then called Graham's Pond (now filled in) where he drowned, held down by his sodden sheep-skin flying suit and parachute harness.
Valiant attempts were made by Tom and Chris Graham to rescue Flight Sergeant Rogers, but without success.
Flight Sergeant Roy J. Rogers was an aircrew member of No 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, a squadron that was still on active service and formed part of Churchill's especially selected, Tiger Force, that was destined to be posted to the Pacific arena to bomb mainland Japan.
The explosion in the Lancaster killed Bomb Aimer, Warrant Officer Quinn and Flight Engineer, Flying Officer Collinson. The surviving crew baled out over Hibaldstow and the Lancaster split in two and crashed in a barley field near a cement quarry at Manton.
None of the aircrew were aged over 23 and each had, at least, 22 sorties over enemy territory, returning unscathed.
Flight Sergeant Rogers, like his colleagues is officially described as being Killed in Action and has the very unfortunate record of being the only member of the armed services officially killed in Brigg during World War ll and thought to be the last Australian airman killed in WW2.
Mick Smith, local businessman thought is fitting to erect a plaque at nearby Smithy's Pond as a tribute to the airman, the only child of Charles and Selina Rogers, who unfortunately lost his life only three weeks before Japan surrendered, Victory in Japan was achieved and Tiger Force was disbanded
The short secular ceremony will take place at 12:45pm, Saturday, 5th May, at Harrison's Hideaway (far end of Island Carr Road, off Bridge Street).
Those attending will include the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Forces Association (Scunthorpe), Mr and Mrs Walter Graham - Walter's father, Tom, attempted to rescue Flight Sergeant Rogers and an escort party of air cadets from No 2222 (Brigg) ATC Squadron.
A bugler will sound the Last Post after which a 2 minute silence will be observed before Reveille is sounded.
No 460 Squadron lost about 1400 aircrew: statistically, the squadron was replaced 5 times because of its severe losses.
The Lancaster of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has this year been repainted in No 460's colours in recognition of the squadron's record number of sorties during WWll "
PICTURED: Avro Lancaster P474, of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, over Elsham, taken by Ken Harrison.
It should be PA474...I remember it landing at Warrington in the 60s and taken in-charge of No 44 Squadron..a Vulcan squadron.
ReplyDeleteIt was refurbished, then joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
For a long time it didn't have the mid-upper gun turret...then one was found, as the rumour goes, being used as a greenhouse.