No photo of the ATWELL Crew has been located.

If anyone can assist with a photo of the crew, or further information or photos of any of the crew members, please make contact.

Reference sources – records from National Archives of Australia (NAA) [A9300 (ATWELL) and A9301 (HIBBINS) RAAF service files; Casualty Files A705 (ATWELL); Personnel Occurrence Report (POR) A10605 Vol 2, 1943-1944]; Australian WW2 Nominal Roll; Trove (National Library of Australia); Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC); Papers Past NZ; New Zealand War Graves Project (online); Auckland Museum’s War Memorial Online Cenotaph; London Gazette; Air Force List;
Operational Record Books Forms 540 and 541, from The National Archives (TNA) UK – 462 Squadron (Series AIR-27-1917-01, -02, -03, -04 for Jan & Feb 1944);
– 614 Squadron (Series AIR-27-2121-03, -04, -05, -06 for Mar & Apr 1944); or as noted in the text;
Service Files for RAF/RAFVR are not available, so little can be added for the three RAFVR crew members.

 

ATWELL Crew Middle East

This crew served with 462 Squadron in the Middle East, El Adem, from 24 January 1944, until the end of February 1944.

Pilot – Gerald Joseph ATWELL 411673 RAAF
Bombardier – Victor Barwick PRIME 1586195 RAFVR
Wireless Operator – John Joseph JONES 1030131 RAFVR
Observer (Navigator) – John Malcolm MacLEOD 421937 RNZAF
Flight Engineer – Will Craig McKAY 1560125 RAFVR
Tail Gunner – Leonard Henry HIBBINS 414681 RAAF

Links to Crew summary; additional information on crew members;
Ops at 462 Squadron and 614 Squadron recording aircraft loss/FTR; aircraft identification; Pilot ATWELL's casualty file, which includes information on the fate of other member of this crew.

 

Photo from the National Archives of Australia: A9300, 411673

Pilot Flight Sergeant Gerald Joseph ATWELL (Gerry) 411673 RAAF. The photo is also marked “Ruff”, possibly an abbreviation for Rufforth. He and the crew were training at 1663 CU Rufforth during June and July 1943. The storage envelope is similarly marked.

 

Pilot / Captain

Name: Gerald Joseph ATWELL (Gerry)
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 411673
Date of Birth: 16 January 1917
Place of Birth: Campsie, New South Wales
Date of Enlistment: 24 May 1941
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: Harry ATWELL (brother), Port Kembla, NSW
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: 27
Rank at Death: Pilot Officer
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No
Memorial Site: Malta Memorial, Malta
Reference: Panel 16, Column 1

Photo at left

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Bombardier

Name: Victor Barwick PRIME
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1586195
Date and Place of Birth: ......
Date and Place of Enlistment: ...... *
Next of Kin: Charles V PRIME, (father) Sussex, England
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: 20
Rank at Death: Flight Sergeant
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No
Memorial Site: Malta Memorial, Malta
Reference: Panel 14, Column 1

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 1585001 to No. 1600000 were allocated from Sep 1941 at Weston-super-Mare. This batch includes 1586195 for V B PRIME.
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Wireless Operator

Name: John Joseph JONES
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1030131
Date and Place of Birth: ......
Date and Place of Enlistment: ...... *
Next of Kin: Mrs E JONES, (wife) of Durham, England
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: ………
Rank at Death: Flight Sergeant
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No
Memorial Site: Malta Memorial, Malta
Reference: Panel 14, Column 1

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 965000 to No. 1149977 were allocated from Sep 1939 at Padgate. This batch includes 1030131 for J J JONES.
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Photo from Papers Past, New Zealand – online

Evening Post, 16 May 1944, page 6
Original full caption “Flight Sergeant J M Macleod training in England. He was educated at St. Mark's School and later the Wellington Technical College. He was much interested in amateur theatricals and was a prominent member of the Thespians. Sergeant Macleod was a civil servant in the Native Affairs Department. His wife lives in England.” (Note that in this photo he was at the rank of AC1.)

Observer / Navigator

Name: John Malcolm MacLEOD
Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Service Number: 421937
Date of Birth: 31 Jul 1918
Place of Birth: Christchurch
Date of Enlistment: 08 May 1941 (Application for Aircrew)
Enlisted for Initial Training: 21 March 1942
Place of Enlistment: Rotorua, NZ
Next of Kin: Mrs M MacLEOD (wife), London, England
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: 25
Rank at Death: Flight Sergeant
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No
Burial Site: Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy
Grave reference: V. B. 31.

Photos of MacLEOD at left, and below left

Photo from Papers Past, New Zealand – online

New Zealand Herald, 17 May 1944, page 7
Original caption – Flt-Sgt J M Macleod, of Auckland, killed on air operations. (Note that in this photo he was at the rank of AC1).
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Flight Engineer

Name: Will Craig McKAY (Bill)
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1560125
Date and Place of Birth: ......
Date and Place of Enlistment: ...... *
Next of Kin: Mary C McKAY, (mother) Glasgow, Scotland
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: 22
Rank at Death: Sergeant
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Prisoner of War: No
Burial Site: Bari War Cemetery, Italy
Grave Reference: XV. D. 2.

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 1550001 to No. 1575000 were allocated from May 1941 at Edinburgh. This batch includes 1560125 for W C McKAY.

Please refer to the CM HALL Crew for two photos of McKAY while posted to 462 Squadron at El Adem.
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Photo from the National Archives of Australia: A9301, 414681

Leonard Henry HIBBINS 414681 RAAF, undated, in summer uniform, possibly at 3 WAGS, Maryborough.

Tail Gunner

Name: Leonard Henry HIBBINS
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 414681
Date of Birth: 28 January 1923
Place of Birth: Brisbane, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 08 November 1941
Locality on Enlistment: Theodore, Qld
Place of Enlistment: Brisbane, Qld
Next of Kin: Walter HIBBINS
Date of Death: 20 April 1944
Age at Death: 21
Rank at Death: Flight Sergeant
Posting at Death: 614 Squadron
Roll of Honour: Brisbane, Qld
Prisoner of War: No
Burial Site: Bari War Cemetery, Italy
Grave Reference: VI. B. 22.

Photo from Trove, National Library of Australia – online

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), Sat 29 Aug 1942, page 4.
Original caption as published LEONARD HIBBINS and WALTER HIBBINS (ground staff), sons of Mr and Mrs W L HIBBINS, Theodore, who are serving with the RAAF. (Published errors – Note that the photo is of HIBBINS at the rank of AC1. He is incorrectly named as Pilot. In Aug 1942 he was at 3 WAGS Maryborough training as an Air Gunner. His parents initials, published as D L were also incorrect.)

Photo from Trove, National Library of Australia – online

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), Tues 22 Aug 1944, page 6.
Original caption as published: Flight/Sgt L H HIBBINS, Theodore, who was killed in air operations over Italy on April 20, 1944.
(Note that the photo is of HIBBINS at the rank of AC1.)

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Crew Summary

From their Service Files
15 Mar 1943 – MacLEOD posted to 15 OTU, Harwell
06 Apr 1943 – ATWELL posted to 15 OTU, Harwell
07 Apr 1943 – HIBBINS posted to 15 OTU, Harwell
This assumes the formation of this crew at 15 OTU.

26 Jun 1943 – ATWELL posted to 1663 CU, Rufforth
26 Jun 1943 – HIBBINS posted to 1663 CU, Rufforth
26 Jun 1943 – MacLEOD posted to 1663 CU, Rufforth
No Service File records are available for the RAFVR crew members, but it is known that F/Eng McKAY was a permanent member of ATWELL’s crew, so it can be assumed he joined them at 1663 CU, Rufforth.

462 Squadron
From Personnel Occurrence Report (POR), Jan 1944 for 462 Squadron (NAA Series A10605 Vol 2; 07 Aug 1943 to 01 Mar 1944, NAA; for non-officer RAAF personnel only) –
Pilot ATWELL and Tail Gunner HIBBINS had identical POR records. For reasons unknown, Obs/Nav MacLEOD seemed to have been separated from the crew for a time – details in his section to follow.
13 Jan 1944 – Departed UK
24 Jan 1944 – Arrived Egypt
17 Jan 1944 – Arrived 462 Squadron, El Adem
It is possible that the crew had ferried an aircraft to Middle East Command (MEC), but this is not noted in the POR, or in their Service files.

From TNA – AIR-27-1917-01 (Jan 1944) and AIR-27-1917-03 (Feb 1944), 462 Squadron ORB, Forms 540, Summary of Events – Not named in postings for either month, as none of the crew were Officers.

From TNA – AIR-27-1917-02 (Jan 1944) and AIR-27-1917-04 (Feb 1944), 462 Squadron ORB Forms 541, Record of Ops at 462 Squadron – None on record in the ORB, so presumably no Ops flown by the ATWELL crew.

Late February 1944 – Transferred with 462 Squadron from El Adem near Tobruk in Cyrenaica (Libya), to Celone in Italy.
01 or 03 Mar 1944 – 462 Squadron re-named as 614 Squadron.

614 Squadron
POR not to hand for 614 Squadron, so no details of non-officer postings.
ORB Forms 540 Summary of Events AIR-27-2121-03 March 1944 – not named in postings to 614 Squadron, as none of the crew were Officers.

From Observer/Nav MacLEOD’s Online Cenotaph information, he was also posted to 462 Squadron prior to 614 Squadron. No RNZAF service file is available.
Flight Engineer McKAY was known to be at 462 Squadron, El Adem, as per the memoir by MURPHY of the CM HALL Crew of 462 Squadron.
In documents in Pilot ATWELL’s Casualty file, he is referred to as flying with his “usual crew” on their last Op. The Observer on their first Op at 614 Squadron was usually flying with other crews.

It could therefore be assumed, until proven otherwise, that the usual crew was made up of Australian Pilot ATWELL, New Zealand Observer MacLEOD, English Wireless Operator JONES, Scottish Flight Engineer McKAY, Australian Tail Gunner HIBBINS, and English Bombardier PRIME.
There is no record of any of the crew members ‘moon-lighting’ with other crews at 462 Squadron, in January or February 1944, OR at 614 Squadron in March or April 1944. Pilot ATWELL was not recorded as a second-Pilot at either 462 or 614 Squadron. It can be concluded that of this crew, five were lost on their second Op, but for MacLEOD it was his first. They most likely carried out non-operational training or familiarisation flights at El Adem (462 Squadron) and/or Celone (462/614 Squadrons), however such flights were not recorded in the ORB. No log books for this crew are available for comparison.

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Additional info for Crew members

Pilot – Gerald Joseph ATWELL, 411673 RAAF
Information from Service file A9300, Casualty File A705, WW2 Nominal Roll, POR, ORBs and CWGC.

Pilot ATWELL named as Gerry in MURPHY’s memoir on CM HALL Crew page.
CWGC reference – ATWELL was the son of Henry and Mary ATWELL, of Port Kembla, NSW
From the POR – (and identical to HIBBINS) – ATWELL left UK (13/1/44) > to M E Command > to Egypt (24/1/44) > arrived at 462 Squadron 27/01/1944; he was named in the POR as W/O G J ATWELL 411673; transferred with 462 Squadron to Italy, where the squadron was renamed as 614 Squadron; 2 Ops at 614 Squadron at rank of W/O; see later section for details of these 2 Ops. Death as P/O at 614 Squadron, Italy 20/04/1944.
Ref Casualty File – Commission to rank of Pilot Officer with retrospective effect from 06 April 1944 (letter dated 09 Jun 1944 to Pilot ATWELL’s brother).

From his Service File – ATWELL’s next-of-kin was his brother Harry ATWELL of Port Kembla, NSW. Also listed as contacts in the event of casualty was his fiancée Miss Thelma GARNSEY, of Strathfield, NSW; and also a friend W/O G D JEKYLL 405914 RAAF, c/- “Aus PO”, Kodak House, London.
(Sadly, Pilot George Donaldson JEKYLL, at rank of Pilot Officer, aged 30, lost his life on 09 June 1944, while serving with 102 Squadron, Pocklington, He and his crew of 6 were all killed when their Halifax crashed near Hornsea, East Yorkshire, while returning from a successful night Op to Brest. JEKYLL was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, Grave reference B. F. 8.)

Summary ATWELL’s RAAF Service File A9300, National Archives of Australia. There are many abbreviations, some conflicts in sequence of recorded dates on various documents, and some entries are almost illegible – my apologies for any transcription or interpretation errors.

06 Aug 1940 – Gerald Joseph John ATWELL enrolled in the RAAF Reserve, at Sydney, New South Wales (John was subsequently crossed out); allocated Reserve Badge No. 12171; age 23 years & 7 months; single; birth date 16 January 1917; born in Sydney, NSW; Roman Catholic; no prior Military Service; civil occupation Hair Dresser; no civil convictions; residing at Kurraba Road, North Sydney; no physical or medical details. Medical Category A1B.

24 May 1941 – Gerald Joseph John ATWELL enlisted in the RAAF, at 2 Recruiting Centre (2 RC), Sydney, NSW; (John was subsequently crossed out); age 24 years & 4 months; dob 16 Jan 1917; single; occupation Hair Dresser, Apprenticed 1932-1936 by H ATWELL, of Royal Arcade, Sydney; previous training in Reserve; other details as per his RAAF Reserve application; height 5 ft 9 inches (175.3 cm), weight 163 lb (11 st 9 lb = 73.9 kg) Fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair; scars on
left knee; Medical Category A1B, A3B – Fit Full Flying Duties. Education to Intermediate Certificate at Sutherland High School. Next of kin listed as Harry ATWELL, brother, of Port Kembla, NSW; in later document, another brother Jack ATWELL of Wollongong NSW is listed as additional person to be notified of casualty. After Aug 1942, fiancée Miss T GARNSEY was also added. (Later forms record five weeks service as a Private at 4 CCS, but this is not listed in the WW2 Nominal Roll.)
24 May 1941 – Allocated RAAF service Number 4111673
24 May 1941 – Mustered as Air Crew V
24 May 1941 – Classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2/ACII) on enlistment
24 May 1941 – Posted to 3 Initial Training School (3 I T S) Sandgate, Queensland

13 Aug 1941 – Re-mustered as Aircrew V (P)
18 Aug 1941 – Commenced No. 18 (P) course at 3 I T S, to 13 Oct 1941 – PASS

11 Oct 1941 – Re-mustered as Aircrew II (P)
11 Oct 1941 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC)
12 Oct 1941 – Recreation Leave, 3 days, to 14 Oct 1941

16 Oct 1941 – Posted to 2 Elementary Flying Training School (2 EFTS) Archerfield, Qld

14 Dec 1941 – Posted to 2 Service Flying Training School (2 SFTS) Wagga, NSW

06 Mar 1942 – Awarded Flying Badge (2 SFTS)

03 Apr 1942 – Posted to 5 Service Flying Training School (5 SFTS) Uranquinty, NSW
15 Apr 1942 – Completed Initial Bayonet Course at 5 SFTS, PASS
24 Apr 1942 – Special Leave, 4 days, to 27 Apr 1942

30 Apr 1942 – Re-mustered as Airman Pilot
30 Apr 1942 – Promoted to Sergeant

18 May 1942 – Completed No. 18 (P) Course at 5 SFTS, PASS
20 May 1942 – Posted to 2 Embarkation Depot (2 ED), Bradfield Park, NSW
21 May 1942 – Pre-embarkation Leave, 8 days, to 28 May 1942

14 Aug 1942 – Engagement Notice – Dubbo Dispatch, Fr 14 Aug 1942, page 3 “All About People”

quote…. “ The engagement is announced of Thelma May, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs H E Garnsey, of Quinn-street, Dubbo, to Sergeant-Pilot Gerald Joseph Atwell, RAAF, youngest son of Mr and Mrs H Atwell, of North Sydney.” …..end.
(Ms GARNSEY was added to ATWELL’s files as additional person to be informed in event of casualty.)

24 August 1942 – Attached to RAF
24 August 1942 – Embarked from Sydney, Aus for the UK (same date as Pilot NOURSE, his record naming the ship as “Westernland”, also same date as Pilot CROOT).

03 Oct 1942 – Attached to “T C Retreat C P” to 19 Oct 1942, Authority Rhod 76/42 (if date is correct, on board ship, OR did they stop-over in Rhodesia? The same Attachment for those dates was included in Pilot Gilbert CROOT’s service File, but not in NOURSE’s file. Meaning unknown, not found in internet searches. If you assist, please make contact.)

30 Oct 1942 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

18 Nov 1942 – Disembarked in UK (same date as Pilots NOURSE, and CROOT)
18 Nov 1942 – Posted to 3 Personnel Reception Centre (3 PRC), Bournemouth, UK
28 Nov 1942 – Privilege Leave, 9 days, to 06 Dec 1942

19 Jan 1943 – Posted to 11 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (11 (P) AFU), Shawbury, Shropshire
Undated 1943 – Attached to 1511 BAT Flight to 11 Mar 1943

06 Apr 1943 – Posted to 15 Operational Training Unit (15 OTU), RAF Harwell, UK, for crew formation and training in Wellington aircraft

26 Jun 1943 – Posted to 1663 Conversion Unit (1663 CU) Rufforth, for conversion to Halifax aircraft, and addition of Flight Engineer (named in file as Rufford). Photo of F/Sgt ATWELL believed to be at Rufforth, shown in previous section.
27 Jul 1943 – Privilege Leave, 9 days, to 04 Aug 1943
08 Aug 1943 – Privilege Leave, 5 days, to 12 Aug 1943

14 Aug 1943 – Attached to RAF Station, Lyneham, to 02 Oct 1943
04 Oct 1943 – Embarkation Leave, 3 days, to 06 Oct 1943

15 Oct 1943 – Attached to RAF Station, Lyneham, to 05 Nov 1943 (same as Gunner HIBBINS)
16 Oct 1943 – Privilege Leave, 5 days, to 20 Oct 1943

30 Oct 1943 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

05 Nov 1943 – Attached to B D Unit (is this Bomber Development Unit?) (same as Gunner HIBBINS)
11 Nov 1943 – Privilege Leave, 7 days, to 17 Nov 1943

22 Dec 1943 – Attached to P N T U (is this Pathfinders Navigational Training Unit?) to 23 Dec1943
(similar to Gunner HIBBINS)

25 Dec 1943 – Attached to RAF Station, Lyneham, to 08 Jan 1944 (similar to Gunner HIBBINS)

13 or 15 Jan 1944 – Posted to Middle East Command (MEC), destination 462 Squadron
13 Jan 1944 – Embarked from UK for the Middle East
14 Jan 1944 – Posted to 2 A R C / ACRC (Air Crew Reception Centre, Sale – is this Rabat Sale, French Morocco, North Africa?) (same as Gunner HIBBINS)

24 Jan 1944 – Disembarked Egypt (same as Gunner HIBBINS)
24 Jan 1944 – Posted to, and arrived at 462 Squadron (same as Gunner HIBBINS)

Ops at 462 Squadron – none on record in ORB

Late Feb 1944 – Transferred with 462 Squadron to Celone, southern Italy, near Foggia
01 Mar 1944 – 462 Squadron renamed as 614 Squadron, so 462 Squadron officially ceased to exist
(however, it re-formed in Driffield, Yorkshire in August 1944.)
01 Mar 1944 – Posted to 614 Squadron, Italy

Ops at 614 Squadron – two, as detailed in later section

20 Apr 1944 – Missing air ops, target Mestre Marshalling Yards, Italy
21 Apr 1944 – Posted “Non-Effective Missing” to 1 B P O (Base Personnel Office, Algiers) RAF ME
Later “presumed dead” by Overseas Head Quarters with effect 20 Apr 1944.

06 Apr 1944 – Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Thur 19 Oct 1944, Issue 206, page 2356. (retrospective appointment)

quote…. “CITIZEN AIR FORCE. GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. The following non-commissioned officers (Pilots) are appointed to commissions on probation with the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from the date indicated:– Warrant Officers ….. 411673 Gerald Joseph Atwell …. 06 Apr 1944 …..”
…end

Character and Trade assessments – Musterings as Aircrew (P), Airman Pilot, and Pilot
Under Training – LAC and Sergeant – Character Very Good.
Flight Sergeant and Warrant Officer – Character Very Good; Proficiency and skill – “on strength for training only” (up to Oct 1943 only; not recorded for Middle East postings)

Summary of flying hours – Training, Non-operational, Operational – not in file.

General Conduct Sheet – for all listed postings "Certified No Entry" – 3 ITS Sandgate; 2 EFTS Archerfield; 2 SFTS Wagga; 5 SFTS Uranquinty; 2 ED Bradfield Park; 11 (P) AFU Shawbury; 15 OTU, Harwell; 1663 CU, Rufforth (not recorded for Middle East postings)

Service Conduct Sheet – for all listed postings "Certified No Entry" – 3 ITS Sandgate; 2 EFTS Archerfield; 2 SFTS Wagga; 2 ED Bradfield Park; and RAF Records 21 Sep 1944

Medals – not listed, but assume he would have been entitled to 1939/45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45 as listed in A9301 Service File for Tail Gunner HIBBINS

A summary of Pilot ATWELL's Casualty File is included in a later section.
His body was never recovered, and his name is included on the Malta Memorial, Malta; Panel 16, Column 1.

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Bombardier Victor Barwick PRIME, 1586195 RAFVR – No Service File available

He was at the rank of Sergeant in Ops, but F/Sgt in CWGC death records – promotion date not known.
From the CWGC – PRIME was the son of Charles V. and Minnie R. Prime, of Dagenham, Essex.
Pilot ATWELL’s casualty file lists PRIME’s next-of-kin as his father, Mr V PRIME, and also lists PRIME’s fiancée Miss MANSELL, of Birmingham, as an additional person to be informed.
The body of Victor Barwick PRIME was never recovered.
His name is included on the Malta Memorial, Malta; Panel 14, Column 1.
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Wireless Operator John Joseph JONES, 1030131 RAFVR – No Service File available

The CWGC does not include any family details. However the Pilot ATWELL’s Casualty File includes the name of Mrs E Jones, of Jarrow, Durham, England, as the wife and next-of-kin for W/Op JONES. It also lists Mrs E Brown of Newcastle, Northumberland, England as his sister, and additional person to be informed.
The body of John Joseph JONES was never recovered.
His name is included on the Malta Memorial, Malta; Panel 14, Column 1.
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Observer/Navigator John Malcolm MacLEOD, 421937 RNZAF

From the CWGC – MacLEOD was the son of Donald John MacLeod and of Louie MacLeod (nee Atkinson), of Wellington City, New Zealand; and the husband of Mrs M. MacLeod, of London.
Pilot ATWELL’s casualty file lists MacLEOD’s wife in London as next-of-kin, and his father, then of Mount Eden, Auckland, NZ, as an additional person to be informed.

MacLEOD’s air force service information was located at the NZ Online Cenotaph. However, several obvious errors have been noted in a 2-page reference document used to compile that file at the Online Cenotaph. No RNZAF Service File is available for comparison, so it is not known which information is correct. The source was referenced as “RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 – 1945 (Bound Volumes) – Ma – McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613)”
Full details of how to access that file, may be viewed on MacLEOD’s Cenotaph web-page.

A summary follows (with comments in italics) ….
08 May 1941 – Application for Aircrew
21 Mar 1942 – Attended Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, NZ
29 May 1942 – Embarked for Canada, for further training as Air Observer.
14 Jun 1942 – Disembarked in Canada, and subsequently posted to 5 Air Observers School, Winnipeg.
09 Oct 1942 – Awarded Air Navigator’s Badge; promoted to Sergeant; proceeded to 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax for embarkation to the UK.
27 Oct 1942 – Disembarked in UK, posted to 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, England
Dec 1942 – Jan 1943 – Training at 2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland, followed by a posting back to Brighton.

15 Mar 1943 – Posted to 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, for crewing and training in Wellington aircraft.
01 Jun 1943 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant (possible dating error – usually 6 months between ranks of Sgt and promotion to F/Sgt, making it due on 09 Apr 1943?)

26 Jun 1943 – Posted to 1663 Conversion Unit, Rufforth, with crew for conversion to Halifax aircraft.

Sep 1943 – Posted to 301 Fighter Training Unit, Lyneham (sic, however this appears to be an error for 301 Ferry Training Unit, Lyneham)
Oct 1943 – Flight in Halifax to Rabut (sic, Rabat, French Morocco?), then returning via Gibraltar to England as passenger in a Dakota (a very similar to the experience of the CM HALL Crew – was this the same event, or just a co-incidence?)
Nov-Dec 1943 – Training at Newmarket, Suffolk (no details of Squadron or unit included, no squadrons there flying Halifax; was he at Bomber Development Unit here?)
Jan 1944 – Posted to Lyneham, thence by Halifax to 462 Squadron in the Middle East via Rabat-Sale, Morocco; Castel Benito, Tripoli; Tocra and Benghazi in Libya; arriving at Cairo.

The file then states ………..
“The squadron proceeded to Bari, Italy and F/Sgt MacLEOD re-joined it there early in April, travelling by Dakota aircraft via Malta, and arriving on 10th April 1944. He was transferred to 614 Squadron next day.”
The file goes on to record the last fatal flight as being on the 22/23 Apr 1944 (in error for 20/21 April 1944), target Nestre (in error for Mestre).

Why did MacLEOD de-plane at Cairo? Why did he not proceed to 462 Squadron at El Adem? What is the reason for naming Bari as the Squadron’s new location in Italy? Bari was where two of the crew's bodies were later found. 462 Squadron had relocated from El Adem to Celone, Italy, where it was renamed as 614 Squadron. Why did MacLEOD not arrive at 462/614 Squadron Italy until 10 April 1944? This delayed arrival would however explain why he was substituted by Obs/Nav F/O J BLACK for the crew’s first Op on 15/16 Mar 1944.

From Pilot ATWELL’s casualty File – Cypher message from BPO Algiers (Base Personnel Office) on 02 May 1944, stated …. 614 Squadron advised that the body of NZ421937 F/SGT J M MACLEOD was washed up on the beach at Rodi on April 30, and was identified by metal identity disc on wrist.
30 Apr 1944 – MACLEOD buried at Rodi Civilian Cemetery, Garganico, no grave number. He was reclassified from “Missing” to “Killed Apr 20”.
… 1944 – CWGC relocation of remains to Plot 5 (or V), Row B, Grave 31 at Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy (date unknown, no CWGC grave concentration file for MacLEOD; assumed to be 1944 similar to grave relocations for McKAY and HIBBINS).

The headstone reads ….

421937 Flight Sergeant
J. M. MacLeod
Navigator
Royal N.Z.Air Force
20th April 1944 Age 25
(Cross)
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Flight Engineer Will Craig McKAY, 1560125 RAFVR – No Service File available

Photos of “Bill McKAY” at 462 Squadron, El Adem are shown on CM HALL Crew page

El Adem 02-2 – 462 Squadron, El Adem – Flight Engineer Bill McKAY, firing rounds at bottles – refer to
the MURPHY memoir on that page for more on the handguns.

El Adem 02-4 – 462 Squadron, El Adem – Left to right – Bill McKAY (Flight Engineer from ATWELL
Crew), Vic MURPHY (rear gunner, CM HALL crew), Pat TALL (flight engineer, CM HALL crew) leaning
backwards, and Charlie HALL (pilot) alongside a crashed JU52.

In the Memoir by Tail Gunner MURPHY on that web-page, McKAY was noted as a friend of F/Eng Patrick S TALL (Pat) from previous training; and referred to him as a “young Scot” named Bill. MURPHY had said in his Memoir that F/Eng Pat TALL had become ill soon after identifying the body of his friend Bill McKAY.

From the CWGC – McKAY was the son of Robert and Mary C. McKay, of Crosshill, Glasgow. Mrs McKAY was also listed as F/Eng McKAY’s next-of-kin, in Pilot ATWELL’s casualty file. In January 1945, Mrs R McKay sent a letter and 3 photos to the RAAF Overseas Headquarters, London, requesting that they passed on to the next-of-kin of Pilot ATWELL. They were forwarded to RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne in late January 1945, and subsequently sent by Registered Mail to ATWELL’s brother at Port Kembla, NSW in late February 1945.

From Pilot ATWELL’s casualty File – Cypher message from BPO Algiers (Base Personnel Office) on 17 May 1944, stated …. that the body of SGT MCKAY was washed ashore near Bari on the east coast of Italy, on 01 May, and was identified by Squadron personnel. (i.e. identified by his friend Sgt Pat TALL, Flight Engineer from the CM Hall crew, as detailed in MURPHY’s Memoir.)
Undated May 1944 – McKAY was buried in Plot P2, Row K, Grave 2A at Foggia Military Cemetery, Italy.
(CWGC recorded details as Plot 2, Row K, Grave 2, Foggia Civil Cemetery.)
24 Oct 1944 – CWGC relocation of remains to Plot 15 (or XV), Row D, Grave 2 at Bari War Cemetery, Italy.

The headstone reads ….

1560125 Sergeant
W. C. McKay
Flight Engineer
Royal Air Force
20th-21st April 1944 Age 22
(Cross)
We loved you so dearly.
Jesus saith: follow Me,
I will pilot you safely home
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Tail Gunner Leonard Henry HIBBINS 414681 RAAF 462
The A9301 Service File for HIBBINS was sourced, with details summarised below. However his A705 Casualty File had not yet been digitized by the NAA, as of 01 Oct 2023. Some information about HIBBINS was included in Pilot ATWELL’s A705 Casualty File, and is also included below.

HIBBINS 414681 was erroneously named in the 462 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Report (POR) as F/Sgt L H HIGGENS 414681.
He transferred with 462 Squadron to Italy, where the squadron was renamed as 614 Squadron.
His rank during his postings at 462 Squadron and 614 Squadron was Flight Sergeant.
From the CWGC – HIBBINS was the son of Walter Le Breton HIBBINS and Phoebe HIBBINS, of Dawson Valley, Queensland, Australia. In Pilot ATWELL’s Casualty File, next-of-kin for HIBBINS was listed simply as his father Mr HIBBINS, of Theodore, Dawson Valley, Qld.

In reference to Service File, his perseverance and determination to join the RAAF was eventually successful.

15 Sep 1939 – First Application to join the RAAF (as noted in application on 24 Dec 1939, original not in file; he would then have been aged about 16 years and 7 months)

24 Dec 1939 – Second Application, for an Appointment in RAAF, at RAAF recruiting Centre – Housecraft Training School, St Paul’s Terrace, Brisbane; next-of-kin was his mother Mrs W HIBBINS (husband Walter); date of birth 28 Jan 1923; schooling at Theodore State Primary and High School from 1931-1938; and Rockhampton Technical College from Mar-Jun 1939; employment as garage mechanic and tractor driving, and currently as farm hand; one day a week Fitting and Turning at Tech College; sports – tennis and swimming, college football, and football and cricket at school; height 5 ft 5 inches (165.1 cm), weight 7 st 6 lbs (47.2 kg); Application was signed by his mother, Mrs W HIBBINS, on 10 July 1940 certifying her agreement of the application; 2 referees named, who certified that HIBBINS had “moral courage and suitability for service” – one from Theodore who had known him for 14 years, the second who had known him for nine years. File had hand-written acknowledgement and date-stamp of 28 Dec 1939. (His birth year was under-lined in red, HIBBINS being under-aged at approx 16 yrs, 11 months old).

10 Jul 1940 – Third Application, for Aircrew RAAF, at RAAF Recruiting Centre, Brisbane, Queensland; home address Theodore, Dawson Valley Line, Qld; next-of-kin was his brother, WT HIBBINS, a cotton grower of Theodore; date of birth 28 Jan 1923; British subject of pure European descent; single, both parents Australian; Education at Theodore State High School 1936 – 1938; and Rockhampton Technical College 1939-1940; occupation since leaving school as garage mechanic, currently unemployed; no previous flying experience; previously applied for RAAF in approx Nov 1939; work experience of six months garage work on Internal Combustion Engines, and 2 days a week Fitting and Turning at Tech College; sports – tennis and swimming; one season of college football; height 5 ft 5.5 inches (166.4 cm), weight 8 st 6 lbs (53.5 kg); Application was signed by his mother, Mrs P HIBBINS (Phoebe), on 10 July 1940 certifying her agreement of the application; 2 referees named, who certified that HIBBINS had “moral courage and suitability for service” – one from Theodore who had known him for 8 years, the second was Head Teacher of Theodore Sate School who had known him for four years. File date-stamped as 13 Jul 1940, and marked in red “UNDER AGE” (he would have been aged approx 17 yrs, 5 months, 2 weeks old).

17 Apr 1941 – Registrar General’s Office, Brisbane, certified to 3 Recruiting Centre, Brisbane, that date of birth for HIBBINS was 28 Jan 1923, as per a request by HIBBINS and that a Birth Extract would be supplied to him (perhaps the RAAF had doubted his age?).

26 Apr 1941 – Enrolment in the RAAF Reserve, at Theodore, Qld; Reserve Badge Number 1526; age 18 y 3 months; details mostly as for previous documents; vision 6/6 both eyes; 5 ft 6in and 112 lb; medical classification A1B A3B;
02 May 1941 – Assigned to Class “Air Crew” of the Reserve.

08 Nov 1941 – Enlisted in the RAAF at 3 Recruiting Centre (3 RC), Brisbane, for the Duration of the War and up to 12 months thereafter; age 18 years 9 months; previous occupation farm labourer and tractor driver; single, religion Church of England; next-of-kin Walter Lee B HIBBINS (sic) of Theodore, Qld; height 5 ft 6 inches (167.6 cm), weight 112 lbs (8 st = 50.8 kg); medium complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair, no scars; Medical category A1 B2, A3 B2 (Fit for RAAF Service).
08 Nov 1941 – Issued RAAF Service Number 414681
08 Nov 1941 – Mustered as Air Crew V
08 Nov 1941 – Appointed as Aircraftman 2 (AC2/ACII) on enlistment
08 Nov 1941 – Posted to 3 Initial Training School (3 ITS), Sandgate, Queensland
Photos shown in previous section.

16 Feb 1942 – Re-mustered as Aircrew V (P)

28 Mar 1942 – Re-mustered as Aircrew V (G)
28 Mar 1942 – Re-classified as Leading Aircraftman (LAC)

24 Apr 1942 – Completed No. 25 (G) Wireless Air Gunner Course at 3 ITS, PASS
25 Apr 1942 – Posting Leave, 3 days

30 Apr 1942 – Posted to 3 Wireless and Gunnery School (3 WAGS), Maryborough, Qld

30 Sep 1942 (or 15 Oct 1942) – Posted to 1 Bombing and Gunnery School (1 BAGS), Evans Head, NSW
15/16 Oct 1942 – Commenced No 25 (G) Air Gunners Course at 1 BAGS

12 Nov 1942 – Completed 25 (G) Course at 1 BAGS, PASS
12 Nov 1942 – Awarded Air Gunner’s Badge
12 Nov 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Gunner
12 Nov 1942 – Promoted to Sergeant

13 Nov 1942 (or 25 Nov 1942) – Posted to 3 Embarkation Depot (3 ED), Sandgate, Qld
13 Nov 1942 – Pre-embarkation Leave, 12 days

09/10 Jan 1943 – Posted to 1 ED, Ascot Vale, Victoria

15 Jan 1943 – Attached to RAF (UK) from 1 ED
15 Jan 1943 – Embarked from Melbourne, Vic, for destination UK

17 Mar 1943 – Disembarked in the UK
17/18 Mar 1943 – Posted to 11 PDRC, UK (11 PDC/PDRC moved from Bournemouth to Brighton in May 1943 – Ref: Birtwistlewiki online, 30/Aug/2023)

07 Apr 1943 – Posted to 15 Operational Training Unit (15 OTU), Harwell, England, for crew formation, and training in Wellington aircraft

12 May 1943 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

16 Jun 1943 – Privilege Leave, 10 days, to 25 Jun 1943

26 Jun 1943 – Posted to 1663 Conversion Unit (1663 CU), Rufforth, Yorkshire, UK (written in error as Rufford) for conversion to Halifax aircraft, with addition of Flight Engineer Will Craig McKAY (Bill) to crew.

15 Jul 1943 – Attached to 1484 Flight, to 20 Jul 1943
27 Jul 1943 – Privilege Leave, 9 days, to 04 Aug 1943
08 Aug 1943 – Privilege Leave, 5 days, to 12 Aug 1943

14 Aug 1943 – Attached to RAF Station Lyneham, to 02 Oct 1943
18 Sep 1943 – Admitted to Station Sick Quarters, Lyneham, discharged 27 Sep 1943 (no medical
details recorded)

04 Oct 1943 – Embarkation Leave, 3 days, to 06 Oct 1943

The following Attachments/Postings (Oct 1943 to Jan 1944) were recorded as acronyms, which were difficult to decipher, with some dates out of sequence – they may have been “on Paper” only, and not physically relocating from place to place. If you can assist with ‘translation’, please make contact.

08 Oct 1943 – Posted to 2 ACRC (Air Crew Reception Centre, Sale – is this Rabat Sale, French Morocco, North Africa?)
15 Oct 1943 – Attached to RAF Lyneham, to 05 Nov 1943 (RAF Lyneham assumed to be 301 Ferry Training Unit (301 FTU) but not named as such in file)
16 Oct 1943 – Privilege Leave, 5 days, to 20 Oct 1943
05 Nov 1943 – Attached to B D Unit (is this Bomber Development Unit?) to 23 Dec 1943
18 Dec 1943 – Attached to P N T U (is this Pathfinders Navigational Training Unit?), to 23 Dec 1943 (overlaps BDU attachment)
24 Dec 1943 – Attached to RAF Lyneham, to 08 Jan 1944 (RAF Lyneham again assumed to be 301 Ferry Training Unit (301 FTU) but not named as such in file)
14 Jan 1944 – Posted to 2 A R C (Air Crew Reception Centre, Sale – is this Rabat Sale, French Morocco, North Africa?)

It is not known if this crew was ferrying a Halifax from the UK to the Middle East, as no mention was made of a Ferry Flight in the file. There is no record of embarkation by ship. The time in transit from UK to Middle East is similar to that of the CM HALL crew, who did carry out a Ferry Flight.
HIBBINS had 2 attachments to RAF Lyneham and 2 postings to 2 ACRC – had the ATWELL crew carried out, or been passengers on, a failed ferry flight, similar to the CM HALL crew?

15 Jan 1944 – Posted to RAF Middle East Command (subsequently crossed out, then re-entered)
15 Jan 1944 – Embarked from UK (subsequently crossed out)
24 Jan 1944 – Disembarked in Egypt (subsequently crossed out)
24 Jan 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, then at El Adem, near Tobruk, Middle East (then Cyrenaica, now Libya)

Late Feb 1944 – Transferred with 462 Squadron to Celone, southern Italy, near Foggia
01 Mar 1944 – 462 Squadron renamed as 614 Squadron, so 462 Squadron officially ceased to exist (however, it re-formed in Driffield, Yorkshire in August 1944.)
01 Mar 1944 – Posted to 614 Squadron, MAAF (Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) Celone, southern
Italy, near Foggia; Flying Duties

Operational Flying – No Ops at 462 Squadron, two Ops at 614 Squadron (details in later section)

20 Apr 1944 – Posted as “Missing” as of this date
20 Apr 1944 – Casualty Report 118, “Missing air ops target Mestre Marshalling Yards, Italy”

From Pilot ATWELL’s casualty File – Cypher message from BPO Algiers (Base Personnel Office) on 03 May 1944, stated that on 01 May 1944, HIBBINS’ body washed up on beach east of Rodi on Italian coast, and was identified by identity discs. Reclassified from “Missing” to “Killed 20 Apr”.
03 May 1944 – Buried in Plot 1, Row E, Grave 15 at Foggia Military Cemetery, Italy, with Cross supplied by 240 Wing. (CWGC recorded details as Plot 1, Row A, Grave 15, Foggia Civil Cemetery.)

26 Sep 1944 – CWGC relocation of remains to Plot 6 (or VI), Row B, Grave 22 at Bari War Cemetery, Italy

The headstone reads ….
414681 Flight Sergeant
L. H. Hibbins
Royal Australian Air Force
20th April 1944 Age 21
(Cross)
Brave deed well done
Not lost though parted now

11 May 1944 – Discharge Advice No. 80 – “Previously reported missing, now reported killed air ops near Foggia, Italy, 20 Apr 1944”
23 Apr 1946 – Assessment of Leave Credits (Deceased) for overseas service from embarkation of 15 Jan 1943 to death on 20 Apr 1944
12 Aug 1977 – Letter of request from Union-Fidelity Trustees or Rockhampton, Qld, for details of marital status of HIBBINS, in relation to their processing of the Will and Estate of his mother Phoebe Norma HIBBINS, widow, who died on 19 Jul 1977.
02 Sep 1977 – Response from Air Force Records, that at the time of his death, Leonard Henry HIBBINS was unmarried, and that his next-of-kin was his father Walter Lee HIBBINS.

Leonard Henry HIBBINS had a brother Leading Aircraftman Walter Lee HIBBINS, 75929 RAAF date of birth 17 Jan 1918, married, of Theodore, who served in RAAF ground units (see photo of the two brothers in previous section). He was listed on Leonard Henry HIBBINS’ Certificate of Service document, as an additional person to be informed in the event of casualty. (Not to be confused with their father, Walter Le Breton HIBBINS, listed as Leonard’s next of kin.)

Character and Trade assessments – Mustering Air Gunner
Under Training – Sergeant – Character Very Good.
Flight Sergeant – Character Very Good; Proficiency and skill – “on strength for training only” (up to Oct 1943 only; not completed for Mediterranean postings)

Summary of flying hours – Training, Non-operational, Operational – not in file.
Aircraft Flown – not in file

General Conduct Sheet – Certified No Entry at 3 ITS (Sandgate, Qld); 3 WAGS (Maryborough,
Qld); 1 BAGS (Evans Head, NSW); 3 ED (Sandgate, Qld); 1 ED (Ascot Vale, Vic); 11 PDRC
Brighton, England); 15 OTU (Harwell, England); 1663 CU (Rufforth, England).

Service Conduct Sheet – Certified No Entry at 3 ITS (Sandgate, Qld) as of 30 Apr 1942 (no later
dates)

Medals – 1939/45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45
If you can assist with further information or photos of Leonard Henry HIBBINS, please make contact.
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Ops at 462 Squadron – None on record in the ORB, so presumably no Ops flown by the ATWELL crew.

Ops at 614 Squadron, Celone, Italy

March 1944 – AIR-27-2121-03 Form 540; AIR-27-2121-04 Form 541
15/16 Mar 1944 – Op 1 at 614 Squadron, and first Operational flight anywhere for the ATWELL Crew.
Target Sofia Marshalling Yards, BULGARIA; flying in Halifax II BB420 (ex-462 Squadron aircraft, BB420-H); took off at 2254hrs (15 Mar) from Celone; target Sofia Marshalling yards, Bulgaria; bombed target clearly illuminated by flares; 1 bomb hung up and was released safe after leaving target; severe weather conditions, with icing; this crew returned safely to Celone, landed at 0520hrs on 16 Mar 1944.
On this Op, of 9 crews detailed – four aircraft landed safely at Celone base (including ATWELL's Crew), one landed away (at Biferno); four aircraft FTR – one crew baled and were all safe; another crashed (at San Nicandro, Italy) with 3 killed, and 3 injured and hospitalised; and 2 crews were unaccounted for – one of which was the LAWSON Crew ex-462 Squadron.
Four crews missing on one night – and on this crew’s first Op – this probably would have given them a heightened awareness of what they might encounter in the future.

Crew made up of ………
Pilot W/O G J ATWELL
Wireless Operator F/Sgt J J JONES
Flight Engineer Sgt W C McKAY
Tail Gunner F/Sgt L H HIBBINS
Bombardier Sgt W R PRIME (sic, initials V B)
Observer – substitute F/O J BLACK J.14680 RCAF (ex-462 Squadron, Dec 1943, Jan and Feb 1944; flew in crews captained by HOGAN, TATTERSALL and McLEAN)

April 1944 – AIR-27-2121-05 Form 540; AIR-27-2121-06 Form 541
20/21 Apr 1944 – Op 2 at 614 Squadron, Target Mestre Marshalling Yards, Northern Italy (near Venice) – ten aircraft took off between 1935hrs and 2010hrs; nine aircraft returned safely between 2205hrs and 2250hrs.

Quote … “Ten Halifax II aircraft were detailed for Blind and Visual Marking and Bombing of MESTRE Marshalling Yards. But operation had to be abandoned due to deterioration in weather conditions and Aircraft were recalled and bombs were jettisoned in sea. One aircraft apparently did not receive the recall signal and is missing.... "

The ATWELL crew took off at 2010, but did not acknowledge the recall signal and failed to return; classed as Missing; in ORB as Halifax II JN943 (sic, error for JP108, see later notes regarding identification);

Crew listed in Form 540 as
A411673 W/O G J ATWELL Capt *
NZ421937 F/Sgt J M McLEOD Obs (sic, MACLEOD) *
1030131 F/Sgt J J JONES W/Op
1569125 Sgt W C McKAY F/Eng (sic, 1560125) *
A414681 F/Sgt J H HIBBINS T/Gnr * (sic, initials L H)
1596195 Sgt V B PRIME Bdr (sic, 1586195)
(* known to be ex 462 Squadron; corrections from CWGC records)
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Aircraft Identification

The ORB Forms 540 and 541 for 614 Squadron list it as Halifax JN943.
Pilot ATWELL’s A705 Casualty File lists the aircraft as Halifax JP108.
Which aircraft was correct?

From the Lancasterbombers website (www.lancasterbombers.net) Movement and Loss cards –
According to the “Movement Card” for Halifax JN943, its movements were via 301 FTU (Ferry Training Unit, Lyneham) on 28 Dec 1943, and 3 OADU (Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit, Hurn), on 30 Jan 1944.
JN943 arrived at MAC (Mediterranean Air Command) on 09 Feb 1944.
Halifax JN943 was still in use by 614 Squadron on the nights of 23/24 April 1944; 29/30 April 1944; 07/08 May 1944; and 13/14 May 1944.
It was ‘Struck off Charge’ in August 1944.
No loss card was located.

Halifax JP108 was not located in the March or April 1944 Ops for 614 Squadron.
According to the “Movement Card” for Halifax JP108, its movements were via 301 FTU (Lyneham) on 14 Jan 1944, and 3 OADU (Hurn), on 30 Jan 1944.
JP108 arrived at MAC on 08 Feb 1944.
It was recorded as Cat E (write-off), Missing on 22 April 1944 (sic).
It was ‘Struck off Charge’ on 21 April 1944 (sic, dates out of sequence).
No loss card was located.
However the dates correlate with the loss of the ATWELL Crew.

From this information, it was verified that 614 Squadron's Forms 540 and 541 for April 1944, recording the ATWELL crew on the night of 20/21 April 1944 – Halifax JN943 was incorrect.

Halifax JP108 was correct.
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ATWELL’s RAAF Casualty File A705, National Archives of Australia, 60 pages which also records the recovery of the bodies of Navigator/Observer MacLEOD (RNZAF), F/Eng McKAY RAFVR, and Tail Gunner HIBBINS RAAF. Grave or Memorial details are recorded with each individual crew member in previous sections. Based on records for other crews, similar documentation and letters would have been included in each crew member's Casualty File.

22 Apr 1944 – Initial cypher with loss details, sent from BPO, Algiers to – Air Ministry, Kingsway; RAAF Melbourne Airboard; Wellington (NZ) Airboard; Records Gloucester.
Some transcription errors from original handwritten notes to typed versions (e.g. Initial identification was “Halifax 26 P 108” which should have been Halifax II JP108)

Telegrams, letter-grams, and letters of confirmation to ATWELL’s brother, and ATWELL’s fiancée

24 April 1944 – Letter from W/Cdr of 614 Squadron to HARRY ATWELL advising him of the loss, with a modified version of the letter on 26 April to the Pilot’s fiancée Miss GARNSEY.

…. “It is with deep regret that I have to confirm the bad news that your brother 411673 W/O Atwell, was missing from operations on the night of 20/21 st April, and to give you as many details as possible about the night in question.

The Squadron was operating against a target in Northern Italy and your brother, flying with his usual crew, was among those taking part in the raid. Everything was normal at take off, although the weather was rather uncertain. About half an hour after take off, however, a further weather report was received giving a forecast of very bad weather on the route and in view of this it was decided to recall all the aircraft. A message was at once sent out and was received by all aircraft except your brothers, and all the aircraft except his landed safely at base. Nothing further has been heard.

It is very difficult to say exactly what happened. Icing conditions were met by most aircraft and it is possible that they may have been iced up and out of control, but it is impossible to be certain. I naturally do not wish to raise your hopes unduly, but it is possible that they may have made a successful forced landing or baled out and that some good news may yet be heard. We are all hoping that this may be so.

Your brother had been with the Squadron only a few months, but was already promising to be one of our most reliable pilots and we are all deeply grieved to lose him and the rest of his crew. They were very good friends of us all.

I should like to offer you my deepest sympathy – sentiments in which the entire Squadron wish to join me. We all hope we may yet hear some good news, and you can rely on my letting you know as soon as anything is heard.”

Signed by W/Cdr W T Russell (Commanding Officer of 462 Squadron since Feb 1943, but later in command of 614 Squadron – photo of W/Cdr RUSSELL at 462 Squadron, Middle East)

May 1944 – Cypher messages regarding the recovery of three bodies

12 May 1944 – Follow up letters from new W/Cdr of 614 Squadron to ATWELL’s brother, and a modified version to ATWELL’s fiancée.

In part …….. “On the 1st and 2nd May, the bodies of three members of the crew were washed up near Bari and Rodi, on the east coast of Italy. They were the navigator, engineer and rear gunner.

We have no further news at all about your brother, but in the light of this information, it appears most likely that the remainder of the crew suffered the same fate. There is as yet no confirmation of this and for the present they will still be classified as missing, but I am afraid the chance that they will be safe is very small.

This news came as s great shock to us. We all realise how you must feel, and I can only offer the
sympathy of all of us her who knew and liked your brother.”

…. Signed W/Cdr J S LAIRD

Jun 1944 – Cypher messages and letters regarding the retrospective Commission of Pilot ATWELL to rank of Pilot Officer with effect of 06 April 1944
Nov 1944 – Lists of ATWELL’s personnel effects, for later despatch to his next of kin
Jan 1945 – Letter and 3 photos sent from F/Eng McKAY’s mother in Glasgow, to be forwarded to the Pilot’s Next of kin; carried out.
Feb 1945 – Letters advising that efforts to trace Pilot ATWELL and two other missing members of the crew were not successful and that official presumption of death needed to be considered.
19 May 1945 – Official presumption of Pilot ATWELL’s death as of 20 Apr 1944
27 Jun 1945 – Death of ATWELL’s father, who had been the Executor and sole beneficiary of Pilot ATWELL’s Will. Mrs Mary ATWELL (Pilot ATWELL's mother) then became Executor and sole beneficiary of her son’s RAAF Will. Personnel effects were to be forwarded to Mrs ATWELL, and this was carried out in Nov 1945, and duly receipted on 11 Dec 1945.
12 Jul 1945 – Formal Royal letter of Condolence to next of kin

17 Jul 1947 – Report from the Officer Commanding, HQ RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service, formally advising …..

Halifax JP108 – Missing 20/21 Apr 1944
Capt Aus.411673 P/O ATWELL, GJ – Missing believed drowned
Nav NZ421937 F/Sgt MACLEOD, JM – Grave in Sangro River Cemetery (relocated from Rodi Civil Cemetery)
W/Op 1030131 F/Sgt JONES, JJ – Missing believed drowned
F/Eng 1560125 Sgt McKAY, WC – Grave in Bari Military Cemetery (relocated from Foggia Military Cemetery)
Air/Gnr Aus414681 F/Sgt HIBBINS, LH – Grave in Bari Military Cemetery (relocated from Foggia Military Cemetery)
A/Bdr 1586195 F/Sgt PRIME, VB – Missing believed drowned
“The case may then be considered closed on the assumption that Flight Sergeants PRIME and JONES, together with Pilot Officer ATWELL were lost at sea with the aircraft.”

Details of original and relocated graves were included in the Report – those details have been recorded with each crew member's information.

21 Jan 1947 – Pilot ATWELL’s Commission Form forwarded to his next of kin, his brother Harry ATWELL, who was also eligible for a Memorial Scroll.

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