550 Squadron Photos
F/O R F Wallace RNZAF and Crew
F/O Wallace RNZAF and his crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from 71 Base w.e.f 28.2.45:
- F/O R F Wallace (P) [KIA]
- Sgt W Field (F/Eng) [KIA]
- Sgt H J E Brownett (Nav) [KIA]
- F/O R W Stephens (A/B) [KIA]
- Sgt G B C Capon (W/Op) [Evd]
- Sgt R H Laney (MU/AG) [PoW]
- Sgt I F Tait (R/AG) [KIA]
F/O Wallace flew his first live op as 2nd pilot to F/O Blacker in PA995 on 5th March 1945 (see Chemnitz, PA995).
On the crew's first operation with 550 Squadron to Misburg on 15/16 March 1945 in NG287 the aircraft was hit by flak. Five of the crew were killed, one, Sgt Laney, became a PoW and the last, Sgt Capon, was confined to hospital but escaped when the guards holding him were captured by advancing US forces; he was later able to return North Killingholme.
Other information about the flight and the target available here.
The entry on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour is available here.
In the 550 ORB Wallace is recorded as P/O Wallace (NZ.427351). However, on the CWGC site he is listed as F/O Wallace (NZ.427351).
Station Narrative No. 15
This narrative, included in the Station Operational Record Book, describes the aftermath of the aircraft being hit by flak.
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Wallace crew, Misburg, 15/16 Mar 1945
Interrogation of Sgt Capon, rescued as a PoW by Allied advance |
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(pg. 2 of 2) |