CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
||||||
Surname: |
ROBERTS |
First Name/s: |
James William |
 |
||
|
||||||
Service No/s: |
434358 |
Service: |
RAAF |
Branch: |
Wireless Operator |
|
|
||||||
Awards: |
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal, 1939-1945 Australia Service Medal, Returned from Active Service Badge. |
|||||
SERVICE RECORDS |
|||
Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
12 Nov 1942 |
No.3 Initial Training School, Kingaroy, Queensland. |
Tiger Moth |
|
|
02 Jan 1943 |
Promoted to LAC on passing Initial Training. |
||
|
11 Jan 1943 |
No.3 Wireless Air Gunners School, 34 Course, Maryborough, Queensland, for Wireless Operator and basic Air Gunner training. |
Wackett |
|
|
28 Jun 1943 |
No.1 Bombing and Gunnery School, 34 (Air Gunner) Course, Evans Head, New South Wales. |
Battle |
|
|
22 Jul 1943 |
Awarded Air Gunners Badge and promoted to Sergeant. |
||
|
01 Aug 1943 |
No.3 Embarkation Depot, Sandgate, Brisbane, Queensland |
||
|
08 Aug 1943 |
No.2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park, Sydney, New South Wales |
||
|
11 Aug 1943 |
Embarked Sydney for the UK (probably via Vancouver and Halifax tbc.) |
||
|
16 Oct 1943 |
Disembarked in the United Kingdom (port tbc) |
||
|
17 Oct 1943 |
No.11 (RAAF) Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre, Brighton, Sussex |
||
|
28 Dec 1943 |
No.6 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Staverton, Gloucestershire |
Anson |
|
|
22 Jan 1944 |
Promoted to Flight Sergeant |
||
|
01 Mar 1944 |
Awarded Wireless Operator Badge |
||
|
18 Mar 1944 |
No.30 Operational Training Unit, Hixon, Staffordshire. |
Wellington |
|
|
30 May 1944 |
No.1667 Heavy Conversion Unit, Sandtoft, Yorkshire |
Halifax |
|
|
10 Jul 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
|
|
25 Jul 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
|
|
31 Oct 1944 |
Relocated with the rest of No.576 Squadron, to Fiskerton, Lincolnshire. |
||
|
14 Nov 1944 |
Discharged from the RAAF on appointment to a Commission. |
||
|
15 Nov 1944 |
Commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) (Australian Gazette 97/45) |
||
|
02 Mar 1945 |
No.11 (RAAF) Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton, Sussex, for repatriation. |
||
|
08 May 1945 |
Embarked from the UK for Australia (port and vessel tbc). |
||
|
15 May 1945 |
Promoted to Flying Officer (Australian Gazette 149/45). |
||
|
20 Jun 1945 |
Disembarked in Sydney and posted to No.2 Personnel Depot, Bradfield Park, Sydney, New South Wales. |
||
|
31 Jul 1945 |
No.3 Personnel Depot, Brisbane, Queensland. |
||
|
15 Sep 1945 |
Discharged from the RAAF (Australian Gazette 229/45) as 'surplus to present personnel requirements', and transferred to the Reserve. |
||
|
01 Mar 1965 |
Appointment to the Reserve terminated (Australian Gazette 37/1693, 06 May 1965). |
||
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
|||||||
Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
PARIS (DUGNY) |
0925 |
1430 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Aviation fuel storage depot. Load: 3x 1000lb, 4x500lb bombs. The bomber force was allocated a Spitfire escort for this operation. Forced to land at an as yet unidentified aerodrome due to shortage of fuel. |
||||||
|
10 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
Return to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Return from unknown aerodrome to base |
||||||
|
11 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
DOUAI |
1350 |
1750 |
4h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs |
||||||
|
14 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
FONTAINE LE PIN |
1340 |
1730 |
4h40 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions in Normandy battle area. Flown in support of the 3rd Canadian Division which was advancing on Falaise. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
15 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
LE CULOT (BEAUVECHAIN) |
1005 |
1335 |
3h30 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe night fighter base. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
25 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
RUSSELSHEIM |
2010 |
0510 |
9h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Opel factory for aircraft wings and fuselages, and built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x500 4lb incendiary clusters. |
||||||
|
26 Aug 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-T2 |
KIEL |
1950 |
0150 |
6h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Naval Installations. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. |
||||||
|
29 Aug 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
STETTIN |
2105 |
0555 |
8h50 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Port area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 60x 30lb and 660x 4lb incendiaries. |
||||||
|
31 Aug 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
AGENVILLE |
1250 |
1650 |
4h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 ‘flying bomb’ supply site. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Provided with a Spitfire escort. |
||||||
|
05 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
LE HAVRE |
1650 |
2010 |
3h20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints and pockets of resistance. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
06 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
LE HAVRE |
1710 |
2040 |
3h30 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints and pockets of resistance. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x500lb bombs. Instructed by the Master Bomber to return with bombs. |
||||||
|
08 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
LE HAVRE |
0705 |
1025 |
3h-5 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints to the north of the town & pockets of resistance. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Ten aircraft were allocated Aiming Point 12, and five aircraft allocated Aiming Point 13. It is not clear which aiming point the Ridge crew were allocated. The Master Bomber instructed crews who had not bombed to return with their bombs due to increasing low cloud cover over the target. The Ridge crew suffered an R/T failure so did not receive the Master Bomber's orders. They made four orbits of the target, descending to 3000’ to bomb. |
||||||
|
10 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
LE HAVRE |
1635 |
2005 |
4h-35 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoint ½ mile southwest of the Forêt de Montgeon. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
12 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
FRANKFURT |
1800 |
0140 |
7h:4 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 14x Type 14 incendiary clusters, 120 4lb incendiaries. Returned on 3 engines (reason not known). The 13 Sep 44 Elsham Wolds Station Narrative states: ‘The Squadrons returned to base well on time, F/O Ridge on his customary 3 engines. It is hoped to convert this crew to 4-engined flying shortly.’ |
||||||
|
16 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
LEEUWARDEN |
0025 |
0350 |
3h-25 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe Airfield (flown in support of Operation MARKET GARDEN). Load: 20x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
17 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) |
1620 |
1905 |
3h-20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy gun position to the north of the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
27 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
CALAIS |
0850 |
1150 |
3h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy fortifications between marshalling yards and the Canal de Calais. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
28 Sep 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
CALAIS |
0750 |
1045 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Military Installations to the southeast of the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The target obscured by cloud so the Master Bomber instructed crews to return to base with their bombs. |
||||||
|
07 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
EMMERICH |
1140 |
1555 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strong point within the built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb & 2520x 4lb incendiaries. Crews were diverted on return to due to low cloud at Elsham; only five aircraft landed at base, the others landed at Sandtoft or Lindholme. It is believed that the Ridge crew managed to land at Elsham. |
||||||
|
12 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
FORT FREDERIK HENDRIK, BRESKENS |
0625 |
0920 |
2h55 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Coastal battery (the 1st aiming point from the raid on 11 Oct). Load: 13x 1000lb and 4x 500lb bombs. Hit by flak which severed the bomb-release lead just after the last bomb had fallen. The Elsham Station Narrative for 12 Oct 44 stated: 'Ridge and crew have a lucky escape as flak cuts the bombing lead just after their last bomb is released.' |
||||||
|
14 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
DUISBERG |
0605 |
1105 |
5h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: four Aiming Points (mines and coke ovens) in the Hamborn district. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’ and 2,212x 4lb incendiaries. Flown in support of Operation HURRICANE. |
||||||
|
14 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
DUISBERG |
2230 |
0345 |
5h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area to the north of the docks. Load: B2,K2,M2: 1x 4000lb, 2,732x 4lb incendiaries Flown in support of Operation HURRICANE. |
||||||
|
19 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
STUTTGART |
2115 |
0345 |
6h30 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: The Robert Bosche works (second wave of the attack). Load: 9x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
23 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
ESSEN |
1555 |
2115 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up and industrial areas (including the Krupps works). Load: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
25 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
ESSEN |
1235 |
1720 |
4h45 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Two Aiming Points within the Krupps works. Load: 11x 1,000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
28 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
COLOGNE |
1315 |
1805 |
4h50 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Two Aiming Points: the Mulheim district of Cologne, and the southwestern part of the city. Load: 1x 4,000lb 'cookie', 5x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. Six aircraft were scheduled to attack Mulheim first, followed by the rest on the second Aiming Point. It is not known which Aiming Point as given to the Ridge crew. |
||||||
|
30 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
COLOGNE |
1715 |
2305 |
5h50 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Built up areas on the northwestern part of the city. Load: 1x 4,000lb 'cookie', 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
31 Oct 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
Elsham Wolds to Fiskerton |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Transit from Elsham to the Squadron's new home at Fiskerton. Along with the Squadron's Gunnery Leader, Flt Lt Petersen, RAAF, the crew also carried two groundcrew as passengers, 1235821 Leslie Sidney Francis Hatley, Flight Mechanic Airframe (FMA), and 1820912 Thomas Alexander Dent, Flight Mechanic Engines (FME). |
||||||
|
02 Nov 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
DUSSELDORF |
1600 |
2100 |
5h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Northern built-up area of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
16 Nov 1944 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
DUREN |
1240 |
1715 |
4h35 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions and lines of communication. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 6x 1000lb, 7 or 6x 500lb bombs. Landed back at Fiskerton with the aid of FIDO. Flown in support of the American 1st and 9th Armies. |
||||||
|
14 Jan 1945 |
PD271 |
*UL-T2 |
MERSEBURG – LEUNA |
1935 |
0310 |
7h35 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs |
||||||
|
22 Jan 1945 |
PD271 |
UL-T2 |
DUISBERG |
1640 |
2220 |
5h40 |
P1 Fg Off A.J.L. Ridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city, and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen. It is unclear which Aiming Point was allocated to this crew. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs. Port outer engine failed; the skipper was unable to maintain height and had to bomb short of their allocated target. Crew screened from operations. |
||||||
PERSONAL INFORMATION |
|
Details |
|
|
James William Roberts was born on 18 November 1920 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, son of Norman George Roberts and Jessie Clark. Prior to enlistment he worked as a school teacher; he applied to join the RAAF in 1942, but was sent to the Reserves. Anxious to contribute his services, James enlisted on 21 March 1942 in the Australian Army at Kilcoy, Queensland as a Private Q127304, aged 21 years and 4 months, with a view to joining the RAAF when the time came, He served as a supply clerk in the Australian Army Service Corps and promotion was rapid. On 23 May he was promoted to Lance Corporal and attended the Army Service Corps School. On 01 August he was again promoted to Acting Corporal and finally, on 16 September, to Acting Lance Sergeant. On 07 October he was discharged from the Army on enlistment with the RAAF. Meanwhile, on 22 June 1942 he married Ellen Fay Kidd and they had two children, Noela Fay and Russell. James died on 23 December 1999 in Coloundra, Queensland. He was 79 year old. |
|
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
|
Details |
|
Ridge Crew (likely at Hemswell) L-R Mattocks, Shier, Brinkworth, Payne, Ridge, Jolly, RobertsTim Ridge |
|
Ridge Crew with UL-T2 - L-R Mattocks, Brinkworth, Payne, Roberts, Jolly, Shier, RidgeTim Ridge |
|
Roberts Family |
|
