Albert didn't
have to fight in the war. He told his wife he
wanted to make the world safer for his children
and grandchildren. Helen became pregnant the one time he was able
to come home on leave. He never saw his only
child. His son John was about 5 months old when
Albert was killed.After Albert enlisted in the
Royal Canadian Air Force, he went through training
in Canada and became a wireless operator. In
England he was posted to 44 Squadron but transferred to the U.S.A.A.F. on December 2, 1943,
while in training. He remained with the R.C.A.F. and
was posted to 44 squadron on "Detached Service",
meaning he was officially with the U.S.A.A.F., but
was allowed to finish his tour of operations
with his original squadron.
In June 1944 he was,
for administrative purposes,
stationed at the 12th Replacement Control Depot at
Station 561, Chorley, Lancashire.
On 21/22 June 1944
he flew a mission as a wireless operator with
his Lancaster
crew of 44 Squadron. The crew
consisted of:
P/O R Wood (RNZAF)
Sgt F W Such (RAF)
W/O A J Sargeant (RAAF)
W/O A M Leonard (RCAF)
T/Sgt A E Martin (USAAF)
F/S C J Phillips (RAF)
Sgt V McKenzie (RAF)
On
the night of the 21st of June, 1944, the crew
took off from their base Dunholme Lodge in
Lincolnshire in Lancaster I LL938-S. They took
off from their base at 23.23 and they were tasked to bomb the
synthetic oil plant at Wesseling, close to
Cologne. It was P/O Wood's third mission with 44
squadron. He had already 500 hours logged.
The Lancaster was shot down over the target
area, crashing near the town of Oberempt. The
pilot, P/O Wood, air bomber WO II Arthur Leonard
and air gunner Sgt. Vincent McKenzie were killed
and buried in the town. Sgt Such, F/S
Philips and W/O Sargeant were taken POW. The
American wireless operator T/Sgt Albert Martin
is still missing.
W/O A Sargeant
RAAF, wrote: “Wesseling was our second
op as a crew. After the skipper and I each took
part in a familiarization trip to Aunay we went
to Beauvais for our first op and attacked a V
weapon site. Our next target was the oil plant,
but we were hit by a night fighter shortly after
entering Germany and had to get out.”
“George Phillips the M/U had opened the rear
door when he spotted Tich Mackenzie, the rear
gunner, struggling with an already opened
parachute. While helping him to gather it up the
door closed end jammed fast trapping them both.
As Frank Such, the flight engineer, helped
Russell Wood with his parachute he could see the
skipper's face was covered in blood. Forwards in
the nose Bud Leonard lay slumped over the bomb
sight, and as Frank went forward and pulled the
release handle it came away in his hand.”
“Meanwhile the
aircraft entered a steep spiral and I found
myself stuck fast by the accompanying forces. My
salvation came when LL938 exploded blowing
Charles, Frank and I clear. Our WOP Al Martin
was an American who, having enlisted in the RCAF,
had transferred to the USAAF during training. He
died with the rest of the boys. We three
survivors were quickly rounded up next day.”
(Above
quote is courtesy and (C) of
207 Squadron RAF Association website)
After the war the three were taken from Oberempt by the
American Graves Registration to Margraten
American Cemetery were
they were reburied. In 1947 they were moved to
their permanent resting place at the Nederweert
War Cemetery.
T/Sgt Martin is
mentioned on the Margraten Wall of the Missing.
W/O Sargeant
after war moved to Canada with his wife Mona. He
passed away on 20 September 1998 in Gimli,
Manitoba.
