605 Squadron was based at RAF Manston near
Dover, a forward airfield and had been there
since April 1944 after being transferred
from RAF Bradwell Bay. This move had been in preparation for
D Day operations. The squadron was engaged
in missions to suppress and attack German
targets in the invasion area. 605 Sqn was
also credited with the shooting down of the
first German plane during the invasion on 6
June 1944.
Mr. Tom
Harris, Roberts navigator writes from
Australia:
""I crewed up
with Bob Brigden early 1942 when he had
recently obtained his
pilot wings and I returned from Canada as a
navigator. We joined 605 Sqn at
Ford (south coast of England) and flew
Bostons. The war at that time was
running slowly, French collapse, Dunkirk
tragedy and the British Army trying
to re-arm. We flew over France -no bombs-
leaflets mainly about 8th Army
success in North Africa. We did have 8 fixed
forward firing machine guns used
to attack trains or areas believed to be
used by Germans (French were
supposed to be indoors under curfew). Around
Christmas 1942 we converted to
the wonderful De Havilland mosquito and flew
out to join 23 Squadron on Malta a
few weeks later. The war here was on in
earnest. A Royal Navy and Merchant
marine convoy had braved the German air and
submarine onslaught to restock
Malta. Terrible Navy casualties and losses
but a win for the island. Bob and
I completed 50 sorties. Closing down
Italian/German Aerodromes to help the
RAF Wellington bomber squadrons, canon fire
into west coast electrical railway
transformers, bombing or strafing fuel
depots, army bases, etc. Eight hectic
months - we lost several good mates. Bob and
I returned to England, he as a
flying instructor, and myself as a navigator
instructor. I was married to
Coral, my wife on 10.6.44 - 4 days after
D-Day. Bob and I were recalled to
join 605 squadron at Manston, Kent to help
track down V1 sites and destroy that
terrible menace striking London. We also
kept up our sorties on
reconnaissance - it was on one such mission
we were shot down."
Robert Brigden
in front of a Douglas Boston III
(picture via Tony Brigden)
On the night
of 1 September 1944, F/O Brigden and W/O Harris carried out a night
intruder operation over southern
Netherlands.
They were shot
down by German anti aircraft fire. W/O
Harris managed to escape from the plane an
parachuted to safety. F/O Bridgen died when
the plane crashed near the town of Heesbeen,
just south of the river Maas.
(picture
courtesy of Tony Brigden)
F/O Brigden is
buried in Heesbeen Protestant cemetery. He
was 21.
(picture
courtesy of Wiebe B. de Ringh, via Tony Brigden)
