Douglas Haydock
Flight Sergeant Engineer.
Service Number 980744.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Date of death 26th February 1944.
Age 24.
Swinton Municipal Cemetery Grave reference Sec. C 2627.
Douglas Haydock lived with his wife and daughter at 202 Moorside Road Swinton. He enlisted in the RAF in 1940. After two years of ( presumably active service) he was released to pursue an Aircraft Engineer role within an Aircraft factory. A year later he volunteered for air crew duties as a Flight Engineer. Before the war he was a mechanical engineer for Nunns Garage, Broughton, as a boy he attended St. Peters School, Swinton.
Douglas Haydock was the flight engineer aboard the Avro Lancaster Bomber (mk1) ED383 an aircraft assigned to the 15th Squadron, flying that night under the code LS-C.
Friday the 25th February, the target that evening Augsburg.
The bombing of Augsburg ‘Operation Clarion’ was the final onslaught of the so called ‘Big Week Mission’ (the prolific raids on German factories the industrial backbone of the German War Machine and one of the largest air assaults of the war),the American Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt works throughout daylight hours on 25 February 1944. RAF Bomber Command followed overnight with 594 aircraft completely destroying the centre of Augsburg, it was one of the most concentrated attacks made to date by Bomber Command. 21 RAF aircraft were lost (at least four due to collision).
The strategic and sustained bombings killed and injured many people. 85,000 were left homeless, nearly a quarter of all homes in the region of bombing were destroyed. There were at least a thousand fires burning. Owing to the ice covered hydrants, frozen ground and even the River Lech was ice covered. (the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius) fire fighting was challenging to say the least.
The Germans accused the Allied forces of Terror Bombing.
During World War II, one subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located in Augsburg, providing over 1000 forced labourers to the Messerschmitt military aircraft factory in Augsburg.
I think the camp was actually next door to the factory.
Augsburg finally fell to American allied forces in April 1945. The concentration camp liberated at the same time.
ED383 took off at 2130 hours from Mildenhall . Hit by flak whilst circling the target area over Augsburg which rendered the hydraulics useless, brakes and flaps were deemed to be inoperative when attempting touchdown on the tarmac some time later. Rather than an attempt back to Mildenhall Pilot, Flt/Sgt J. A. Davis made a diversion to Lakenheath owing to low cloud and damage to the aircraft. They made several 'touch and go' attempts before fuel shortage forced them to make a landing, the aircraft over-ran the runway onto soft ground, overturned and caught fire, the time was 05.10 hrs 26th February. Thankfully the remainder of 15 Sqn Lancasters returned safely to the UK.
ED383 had previously flown with No.1656 CU and 622 Sqn before being taken over by 15 Sqn on 16 Dec 1943. ED383 flew 628.15 hours before its demise.
The crew were,
Pilot, Flt/Sgt J. A. Davis +
Flight Engineer, Sgt D. Haydock +
Navigator, Flt/Sgt J. E. Carrott +
Air Bomber, Sgt W. R. Geraghyt +
Wireless Operator, W/Off G. Franklin injured
Mid Upper Gunner, Sgt H. Bysouth injured
Rear Gunner, Sgt W. E. Harbridge injured then later died.
Dramatic attempts were made to rescue the crew of the Lancaster which resulted in two bravery medals being awarded, an OBE and a BEM.
Squadron Leader Pettit was the officer in charge of night flying at Lakenheath when the aircraft, whilst attempting an emergency landing, overshot the end of the runway and overturned. The aircraft immediately caught fire. Pettit rushed to the spot and, with the assistance of the fire party led by leading aircraftman Wray, rapidly freed two members of the crew who had been trapped in the fuselage. Squadron Leader Pettit then located the rear gunner who was seriously injured and trapped upside down in his turret. By this time the aircraft was burning furiously and petrol tanks starting to explode. In spite of this and further danger from exploding ammunition Pettit was resolute in attempting the task of removing the rear turret completely from the fuselage as all other efforts to reach the trapped gunner had failed. By strenuous efforts he was ultimately able to get into the turret while a party headed by Leading Aircraftman Wray wrenched it apart from outside. Eventually the gunner was extracted alive although with severe injuries. Squadron Leader Pettit's coolness, courage and initiative along with Leading Aircraftman Wray's determination in dangerous circumstances were instrumental in saving the lives of three members of the crew of the aircraft.
The wounded men were transferred to Ely Hospital. Rear Gunner, Sgt W. E. Harbridge sadly later died of his injuries.
Squadron Leader Pettit was awarded an OBE, and Leading Aircraftman Wray was awarded the British Empire Medal.
Douglas Haydock was born in Swinton in 1919. The son of Frederick Haydock (1) and Louisa Walsh (2). Before his marriage he lived with his parents at 65 Waverley Road in Pendlebury. He married Arline Smith (3) at Holy Rood, Swinton in 1939, the couple had one daughter.
(1) Frederick Haydock ( a Brass Moulder) was born 1892 in Salford, the son of Roger Haydock born 1857 in Manchester and Alice Maud Mills born 1861 in Manchester, the couple married 1880 Salford.
(2) Louisa Walsh was born 1894 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, the daughter of Edward Walsh born 1864 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire and Emily Walsh born 1866 in Norland, Yorkshire.
(3) Arline Smith was born 1917 in the Barton Upon Irwell district, most likely Pendlebury, she was the daughter of James H Smith and Ruth B Fairhurst who married at Christ Church, Pendlebury in 1915.
This is an updated version with more information included of a piece I initially looked at quite some time ago I briefly corresponded with a member of Douglas’s family. I hope they see this as a tribute and memorial to their relative.
© Susan Tydd
Please do not reproduce without permission
Flight Sergeant Engineer.
Service Number 980744.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Date of death 26th February 1944.
Age 24.
Swinton Municipal Cemetery Grave reference Sec. C 2627.
Douglas Haydock lived with his wife and daughter at 202 Moorside Road Swinton. He enlisted in the RAF in 1940. After two years of ( presumably active service) he was released to pursue an Aircraft Engineer role within an Aircraft factory. A year later he volunteered for air crew duties as a Flight Engineer. Before the war he was a mechanical engineer for Nunns Garage, Broughton, as a boy he attended St. Peters School, Swinton.
Douglas Haydock was the flight engineer aboard the Avro Lancaster Bomber (mk1) ED383 an aircraft assigned to the 15th Squadron, flying that night under the code LS-C.
Friday the 25th February, the target that evening Augsburg.
The bombing of Augsburg ‘Operation Clarion’ was the final onslaught of the so called ‘Big Week Mission’ (the prolific raids on German factories the industrial backbone of the German War Machine and one of the largest air assaults of the war),the American Eighth Air Force bombed the Augsburg Messerschmitt works throughout daylight hours on 25 February 1944. RAF Bomber Command followed overnight with 594 aircraft completely destroying the centre of Augsburg, it was one of the most concentrated attacks made to date by Bomber Command. 21 RAF aircraft were lost (at least four due to collision).
The strategic and sustained bombings killed and injured many people. 85,000 were left homeless, nearly a quarter of all homes in the region of bombing were destroyed. There were at least a thousand fires burning. Owing to the ice covered hydrants, frozen ground and even the River Lech was ice covered. (the temperature was minus 18 degrees Celsius) fire fighting was challenging to say the least.
The Germans accused the Allied forces of Terror Bombing.
During World War II, one subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located in Augsburg, providing over 1000 forced labourers to the Messerschmitt military aircraft factory in Augsburg.
I think the camp was actually next door to the factory.
Augsburg finally fell to American allied forces in April 1945. The concentration camp liberated at the same time.
ED383 took off at 2130 hours from Mildenhall . Hit by flak whilst circling the target area over Augsburg which rendered the hydraulics useless, brakes and flaps were deemed to be inoperative when attempting touchdown on the tarmac some time later. Rather than an attempt back to Mildenhall Pilot, Flt/Sgt J. A. Davis made a diversion to Lakenheath owing to low cloud and damage to the aircraft. They made several 'touch and go' attempts before fuel shortage forced them to make a landing, the aircraft over-ran the runway onto soft ground, overturned and caught fire, the time was 05.10 hrs 26th February. Thankfully the remainder of 15 Sqn Lancasters returned safely to the UK.
ED383 had previously flown with No.1656 CU and 622 Sqn before being taken over by 15 Sqn on 16 Dec 1943. ED383 flew 628.15 hours before its demise.
The crew were,
Pilot, Flt/Sgt J. A. Davis +
Flight Engineer, Sgt D. Haydock +
Navigator, Flt/Sgt J. E. Carrott +
Air Bomber, Sgt W. R. Geraghyt +
Wireless Operator, W/Off G. Franklin injured
Mid Upper Gunner, Sgt H. Bysouth injured
Rear Gunner, Sgt W. E. Harbridge injured then later died.
Dramatic attempts were made to rescue the crew of the Lancaster which resulted in two bravery medals being awarded, an OBE and a BEM.
Squadron Leader Pettit was the officer in charge of night flying at Lakenheath when the aircraft, whilst attempting an emergency landing, overshot the end of the runway and overturned. The aircraft immediately caught fire. Pettit rushed to the spot and, with the assistance of the fire party led by leading aircraftman Wray, rapidly freed two members of the crew who had been trapped in the fuselage. Squadron Leader Pettit then located the rear gunner who was seriously injured and trapped upside down in his turret. By this time the aircraft was burning furiously and petrol tanks starting to explode. In spite of this and further danger from exploding ammunition Pettit was resolute in attempting the task of removing the rear turret completely from the fuselage as all other efforts to reach the trapped gunner had failed. By strenuous efforts he was ultimately able to get into the turret while a party headed by Leading Aircraftman Wray wrenched it apart from outside. Eventually the gunner was extracted alive although with severe injuries. Squadron Leader Pettit's coolness, courage and initiative along with Leading Aircraftman Wray's determination in dangerous circumstances were instrumental in saving the lives of three members of the crew of the aircraft.
The wounded men were transferred to Ely Hospital. Rear Gunner, Sgt W. E. Harbridge sadly later died of his injuries.
Squadron Leader Pettit was awarded an OBE, and Leading Aircraftman Wray was awarded the British Empire Medal.
Douglas Haydock was born in Swinton in 1919. The son of Frederick Haydock (1) and Louisa Walsh (2). Before his marriage he lived with his parents at 65 Waverley Road in Pendlebury. He married Arline Smith (3) at Holy Rood, Swinton in 1939, the couple had one daughter.
(1) Frederick Haydock ( a Brass Moulder) was born 1892 in Salford, the son of Roger Haydock born 1857 in Manchester and Alice Maud Mills born 1861 in Manchester, the couple married 1880 Salford.
(2) Louisa Walsh was born 1894 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, the daughter of Edward Walsh born 1864 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire and Emily Walsh born 1866 in Norland, Yorkshire.
(3) Arline Smith was born 1917 in the Barton Upon Irwell district, most likely Pendlebury, she was the daughter of James H Smith and Ruth B Fairhurst who married at Christ Church, Pendlebury in 1915.
This is an updated version with more information included of a piece I initially looked at quite some time ago I briefly corresponded with a member of Douglas’s family. I hope they see this as a tribute and memorial to their relative.
© Susan Tydd
Please do not reproduce without permission
Above and below documents from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission showing Douglas Haydock and several other military personnel who are interred in Swinton Cemetery. Stancliffe being the company who provided the headstones.