Allyson Newburg's Blog, page 2

After the War - Gordon Nicol

Following his liberation from Dulag Luft, Nicol returned to Canada in early May 1945 via the S. S. Ranchi, a British passenger steam ship.  The passengers would celebrate Victory in Europe Day during the voyage.

On returning to Vancouver, Nicol studied law at the University of British Columbia while dating his future wife, Hazel Bridget Casey.  The two stayed in touch even when he articled for a year in Salmon Arm, BC.  In 1951, Nicol opened a family law practice in Vancouver in partnership with a fellow RCAF veteran, Frank Smitton. The following year, Nicol and Hazel were married and they would have two children, David and Linda.

Nicol passed away in Vancouver on June 6, 1986 at the age of 63.

After the War - David Yemen

Wedding of David Yemen and Mary Burton
Douglas Hicks (far left) acted as best man
Source: The Yemen familyDavid Yemen and fiancé Mary Burton had planned to be married in March 1945.  Unfortunately March would come and go with Yemen first at Dulag Luft then Stalag XIIID and finally at Stalag XIIA where he would spend the last weeks of the war with crewmate Gerard Kelleher. 

Germany officially surrendered on May 8, 1945 which is likely the same day Yemen and Kelleher arrived back in England from Germany.  Yemen and his fiancé quickly got to work on their wedding plans and the two were married (with Doug Hicks as best man) on May 21, 1945. 

Yemen returned to Canada via the French ocean liner S.S. Ile de France, docking at Pier 21 in Halifax on July 14, 1945.  Back in Mansfield, England, Mary was still awaiting approval of her settlement arrangements.  A pregnant Mary would finally arrive in Canada in January 1946 via ship to Halifax and onwards to Saskatchewan by train where she and David would settle in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  Their first child, Fran was born April 10, 1946 and the couple would go on to have five more: Dorothy, Linda, Peter, Bill, and Joe.

David Yemen passed away on May 30, 1986 in Yorkton at the age of 71.

After the War - Gerard Kelleher

Sadly, there is very few details about Gerard Kelleher's life after the war.

In September 1946, Kelleher married Sheila Doyle (1926 - 2008) and their daughter Maureen Ann (1947 - 2005) was born the following year. 

Gerard Kelleher passed away in August 25, 1973 at the age of 48.

After the War - Tom Ditson

After arriving back in Canada in May or June 1945, Tom Ditson continued his recovery (from injuries sustained in the Pforzheim raid) for a short time in a rest home and by November 1945, was working as a foreman for Goodyear.  In 1947, the company sent Ditson to their St. Mary’s Ohio Pliofilm plastic wrap plant to learn about the technology and assist in getting production underway at a new plant.  It was in the Ohio plant that Ditson would meet his future wife, Marilyn.

Ditson married Marilyn Louree Williams (1928-1997) on July 29, 1950 in Auglaize County, Ohio.  He continued his work at Goodyear, and in 1955, was elected as President of the newly formed Goodyear Rod and Gun Club an offshoot of the company’s Recreation Club.

Ditson passed away in a car accident October 1965 in Port Credit at the age of 50, leaving behind his wife, his son Wayne and daughter Karen.  A second daughter, Lynn was born a month later.

And Then There Were Two... the Remaining Lancasters

After WW II, about 230 Lancasters served with the RCAF in several roles including, Arctic reconnaissance, maritime patrol and as a bomber. The Lancaster was ceremonially retired from the RCAF at Downsview (Toronto) in April 1964.

Of the 7377 Lancasters that were built in Britain and Canada during WW2, just 17 survive worldwide today.  Only two are airworthy:

PA474, The 'Battle of Britain Memorial Flight' Lancaster
with the markings of 550 Squadron's Phantom of the Ruhr.
Source: 550 Squadron WebsitePA474 is stationed at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, England and is operated by the RAF’s ‘Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’, and aerial display group.  This aircraft, nicknamed 'Thumper' was delivered too late in the war to have ever been put into battle.  For a time, this Lancaster flew the markings of 550’s Squadron’s own Phantom of the Ruhr.

FM213 'Vera'
Source: The Canadian Warplane Heritage MuseumFM213 is located at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and like the UK Lancaster, never saw combat.  This Lancaster, nicknamed ‘Vera’ is currently marked KB726 in honour of P/O Andrew Mynarksi, who flew with RCAF’s No. 19 “Moose” Squadron. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is the only place in the world where the public can purchase a seat on board this amazing aircraft.

Andrew Mynarski was posthumously awarded won the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry, on June 13, 1944, when his Lancaster was shot down by a German night fighter. As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft. The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash, but Mynarski died from his burns.

In August 2014, 'Vera' flew across the Atlantic via Labrador, Greenland and Iceland to to join its English counterpart for a series of appearances around the United Kingdom, encountering engine failure and an emergency landing along the way.  This historic reunion is commemorated in the documentary film "Reunion of Giants."

A third Lancaster is on its way to taking flight... Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 ‘Just Jane’ is under restoration at the Lincoln Aviation Heritage Center at the former RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England.  Restorers hope 'Just Jane' will take to the air in 2020!  For the latest updates, visit https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/news/lancaster-nx611-return-to-flight/.
  

Visit The Harris Crew Goodreads page

The Harris Crew has its own Goodreads page.  Goodreads allows users to track the books you are reading, you have read or want to read. 

Did you love The Harris Crew?  Leave a review!

Winding Down the Blog

January 2020 marked 75 years since the Harris Crew was assigned to 550 Squadron at North Killingholme, England. Though the crew’s tour was brief, they participated in some of the most controversial raids of World War II and went to battle against Germany’s top night fighter. Members of the crew endured time as prisoners of war.  Three members of the crew would never return to their families.

After five months of following the crew members through daily updates, the blog will soon be winding down.  Daily blog updates will continue for two more weeks and then I will sign off... At least for now.

Is this the end of the blog?Definitely not.  I will continue to pass along news and stories related to the crew, Bomber Command and 550 Squadron, but rather than sending out updates daily, they will arrive periodically.

Where can I learn more about the Harris Crew?Read the book of course!  The Harris Crew is now available for order.  Unfortunately due the current COVID-19 crisis and the closure of many printing houses, availability has not been consistent.  If your favorite online site shows the book as unavailable, please check back as the situation is changing daily.  If you want to get a copy right away (why wouldn't you?) and are having difficulty ordering one online, please email me at theharriscrew550@gmail.com.

The Harris Crew Website - Learn more about the crew and 550 Squadron here.  Details are a bit thin on the website at the moment, but I will continue to add material in the coming months.

The Harris Crew Blog - I am working on importing the blog into the website and will let you know when that happens, but in the meantime, you can read all of the blog entries on this site.

Accident Report Filed by Gordon Nicol

David Yemen's Post-POW Report

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, located at Hamilton airport was founded in 1972 with the aim to acquire and maintain a complete collection of aircraft flown by Canadians and Canadian military from the beginning of World War II to the present.

Surely the star of the museum's collection is Avro Lancaster FM213.  This Lancaster, nicknamed ‘Vera’ is currently marked KB726 in honour of P/O Andrew Mynarksi, who flew with RCAF’s No. 19 “Moose” Squadron. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is the only place in the world where the public can purchase a seat on board this amazing aircraft.

When not in the air, 'Vera' is parked in the museum's main display hangar, allowing visitors to view the exterior of the aircraft, including the bomb bays.  Though it is generally not possible to enter or view the interior of the aircraft, the museum occasionally has events where this is possible.  Call ahead if your heart is set on getting inside.

Rear air gunner Douglas Hicks had the opportunity to get inside 'Vera' in 2005 when she traveled to the New York Air Show.