RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: RedMystic on Monday 11 April 11 19:34 BST (UK)

Title: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Monday 11 April 11 19:34 BST (UK)
Hi to all. I'm trying to determine how best to research a person's WWII record. I have a some info that is anecdotal (the man in question recorded a 30 minute tape sometime in the 1980s & gave it to his sister) and a few bits that I've been able to verify. I'd very much appreciate so tips on the best way of going about substantiating and fleshing out various stories. Here are where my interests lie. Any help will be much appreciated.

Wallace Stanhope Gaunt (1918 Yorkshire-2008 Australia)

Apparently he navigated on more than 60 missions. How might I verify this?

Enlisted as an air observer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1940 before training in South Africa.
- He mentioned being one of only 5 who were commissioned following the south African training. What does that mean and where can I find more about the purpose and nature of the training?

Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve No. 466 (RAAF) Squadron; awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
- How can I determine what this was for and when it was received?
GAUNT, Wallace Stanhope, F/O (116793, RAFVR*) - No.466 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 October 1943. Citation from Air Ministry Bulletin 11720.

"Flying Officer Gaunt is a most able and determined navigator. Whatever opposition has been encountered on his many raids, he has remained calm and continued to perform his tasks with impressive courage. His cooperation, coolness and devotion to duty have contributed much to the success of operations which have included fourteen effective sorties to the heart of the Ruhr area."

Source: Operational Record Book of No.466 Squadron is available on-line via Australian National Archives.  
Received bar for Distinguished Flying Cross for participating in the bombing raid on the Gestapo HQ in Norway. He was severely injured in this raid & apparently the plane barely made it back to Britian.
- I have his verbal description of this raid & have found the London Gazette that substantiates the recognition. Where might I find an historical record of the raid and/or an official description of what his role was and/or what was experienced by his plane when it was so badly damaged?

Joined 466 squadron, flying Wellingtons; squad apparently included Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Americans, English; sustained heavy losses
- where might I determine when he flew with this group, for how long, and the raids they flew?

Volunteered for Mosquitoes, 617 squadron then 627 squadron
- where might I determine when he flew with this group, for how long, and the raids they flew?

Became Captain of Aircraft assigned to train flight crews
- I have his verbal description of flying with flight crews to when they weren't getting along in order to try to improve effectiveness and survival rates. Is there anywhere to go to get documentation on this type of activity and/or his role in it?

Joined British Intelligence and participated in evacuation of POWs, Concentration Camp victims, as well as remapping the portions of Europe that had be occupied by the Russians
- Are there any sources for information on roles like these?

TX in advance for any assistance. I'd love to build a profile for him. I only met him once and hadn't started family research nor had any knowledge of what he'd done at the time. Apparently, he rarely spoke of his experiences and his children know less that I've been able to dig up. Amazingly, his sister (my mother-in-law) never listened to the tape he'd made of his experience - I am thankful that at least she didn't throw it out.

Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: janrm on Tuesday 03 May 11 20:08 BST (UK)

Hi!

If you want, I can look more some info on the Norway Gestapo-headquarter bombing in some Norwegian WW2 books I have.

..but I need some details, year, date, place...!

Jan (Mr.) Norway
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 03 May 11 21:11 BST (UK)
How generous of you janrm (Mr. Norway). Many thanks.

The taped message Wallace made in the 1980s says the raid took place in September 1942 (give me an hour or so to re-listen to the tape; I'm looking at my notes and now I'm not sure if this wasn't 1944; back shortly with a confirmation).  He indicates that the plane he was in was one of the first (or the first) that flew in over Oslo's harbour as it was to mark the bomb site that was on a main thoroughfare that ran up from the harbour.

Unexpectedly, there was some sort of military ship in the harbour that fired on them causing the plane & a number of its crew members (including Wallace) significant damage / injury.

Other planes came in behind Wallace's, but it doesn't sound like the bombing run was successful in destroying its intended target.

The tape goes on to say that the crew didn't expect to make it back to Britian as damage sustained was too severe. They decided to give the return trip a try as it was viewed as a better alternative than crash landing & capture in Nazi territory.

This is from memory, but if need be I could give the tape another listen to see if it indicates where the plane set down after making its way back to Britian.

I'm not sure as it isn't clear on the tape, but Wallace mentions the 627 squad (Mosquitos) just before he describes the Oslo raid, so it may be that squad that was involved.
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 03 May 11 22:05 BST (UK)
Hi janrm

I've had another listen to the tape. He'd left squad 627, but was still flying in Mosquitoes. He doesn't give a year, but says it took place mid-day New Year's Eve. He was "controller" in a new flight group: "five group" or "fire group" (can't quite make out what he said) that was a "marker force".

They flew the Oslo raid with 5 other Mosquitoes. They were to bomb the Gestapo headquarters, but were under strict orders not to hit the pallace which was next door.

His was the first plane in and he references his pilot as "Peter". Their plane was badly damaged (no under carriage, 1/2 a wing gone, and holes in fuselage; they stalled out at under 160 knots so knew they would have significant problem landing).

All 6 planes from the raid got back to Britian; Wallace's was last to arrive and made a crash landing. All the aircraft from the raid were unable to fly again. He says something like they were assessed as "cat ac" (not airworthy).

Does this help?
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: kyt on Wednesday 04 May 11 04:24 BST (UK)

Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve No. 466 (RAAF) Squadron; awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

- How can I determine what this was for and when it was received?

Received bar for Distinguished Flying Cross for participating in the bombing raid on the Gestapo HQ in Norway.

Wallace Stanhope GAUNT (116793)

Received DFC 15 October 1943 (no citation in the LG but if you ask over on http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.phpthen someone maybe able to provide it

Bar to DFC. Citation on link below:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36964/supplements/1205

Gaunt's Mosquito on the Gestapo raid was DZ633, and there is a picture of that aircraft in the Osprey book Mosquito bomber/fighter-bomber  By Martin Bowman

There is no mention of Gaunt in the 617 Squadron ORB, so though he may have volunteered for it, he doesn't seem to have been taken on strength:

http://www.dambusters.org.uk/docs/recordbook.pdf
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: janrm on Wednesday 04 May 11 10:43 BST (UK)
Yes, I think this may bring us further!

By entering gestapos hovedkvarter in the søk (=search) box here http://www.sdl.no it will return some 16 pictures of the bombing in Oslo Dec 31, 1944.

Back when I've had a look in my books,

J
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: kyt on Wednesday 04 May 11 11:26 BST (UK)
For his time with 466 Squadron you can go through the Squadron ORB:

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/Login.htm

click on Guest

then search for 466 Squadron

look for A2217    22/49/ORG    
[Overseas Headquarters, RAAF, London] Formation and movement of No 466 (B) [Bomber] Squadron - RAAF [flew Wellington IIIslater Halifax Mark 6, from Driffield later Leconfield and again to Driffield- disbandoned 26/10/1945 [0.75cm]
1941 - 1945
Barcode: 4269858

That should give you all 1534 pages.

Skip to page 31 for the first mission entries.

but get you started:

10.12.42 - Joined 466 . Already a Flying Officer, but no mention of where he came from. With that rank he was either an instructor uptil then or had served in another squadron

13.1.43 – Flew first mission. Aircraft (Wellington HE389) on mining mission. Pilot was Wing Commander R E Bailey
(page 32)


K
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Wednesday 04 May 11 13:58 BST (UK)
Many TX kyt & janrm.

I don't have much time today, but I am very excited to get at these links!!!!  :-*

kyt,

You indicated that Wallace must have already been a Flying Officer when he joined the 466. There is a mention on the tape of 13 squadron which he volunteer for or flew with just after it was "back from Dunkirk". Perhaps this was his prior experience.

BTW: His father had a significant role in building the prototype for the first Spitfire (and a whole list of other planes, some of which Wallace flew), so, young though he was, Wallace knew how to fly before the war started. Wallace used to be called upon to sit in the Spitfire flight deck during early construction of the prototype so that it could be designed to fit a man of similar size & reach. The Westland Wallace is named after Wallace because of his father's involvement in its design & construction.
   
You mentioned that he wasn't in the 617. My notes say that he volunteered for that just after its last raid and, if I understand what Wallace wanted to convey on the tape, it may be at that point that 627 was formed and so he slid into a place with them. (I'll have to go back and check the dates for the 627 squad to see if that works, and also re-listen to that part of the tape.)

janrm

TX for the link. I'm very excited to dig into it.

TX again to both of you.

Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: janrm on Wednesday 04 May 11 18:29 BST (UK)

Does Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Yeadell  RAF 627 mean anything to you?

J
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Wednesday 04 May 11 23:00 BST (UK)
It doesn't to me, but I only met Wallace once and my husband only met him twice so I don't have much to go on. I have sent an e-mail inquiry to Wallace's son in Australia, but as mentioned earlier in this thread, it seems that I know more about his dad's experience than his children do. I'll let you know if he has any recollection of that name.

Is there something significant about this person that connects to Wallace's experience?

My husband mentioned that he thought he'd heard that Wallace attended a memorial event in Norway in the early 1990s (perhaps 1994 - 50th anniversary?) where he and several other participants of the raid were recognized.
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Thursday 05 May 11 00:51 BST (UK)
Just in from the cousins in Oz: Yeadell doesn't appear to be a name known to Wallace's children.

The Mosquito pilot, "Peter", referenced on the tape when Wallace described the Oslo raid was Peter Mallender. One of Wallace's sons was apparently named in his honour. Does this help with tracking things back?
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: janrm on Thursday 05 May 11 07:39 BST (UK)

Some more info:

I didn't find anything detailed in my books, but there are several Norwegian websites covering this bombing. Flight Lieutenant Wilfred Yeadell, RAF 627 appears to be the pilot of one of the aircraft carrying out this mission.

According to the info I found, this attack on Gestapo was special as it was initiated by Norwegian resistance & hence "political".

The bombing, however, went badly wrong and hit a crowded tram on nearby Drammensveien killing some 79 civilians. (the number varies) 27 German soldiers were also killed. My mother was a teenager in Oslo those days and remembered this.

Apparently Mr. Yeadell saw his bomb hitting the tram and the thought of the casualties haunted him the rest of his days.

Jan
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Thursday 05 May 11 13:53 BST (UK)
How sad. I'm glad your mother survived the war / occupation of Oslo. I can't begin to imagine what that was like.

I wasn't aware of the political ramifications of being called in by the resistance.

Have you found anything that might indicate that the crew that flew that mission wasn't all British? I recently came across an article written by a Canadian (from 3 hours south of me no less) in the early 1990s. He has since passed away. He describes something that sounds quite similar, though like Wallace mentions no civilian casualties. He does indicate that one of the crewmen received a bad injury to the leg. That could well have been Wallace as the London Gazette & Wallace's tape both refer to his leg injury.



Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Friday 06 May 11 14:53 BST (UK)
Special TX to kyt who sent a PM with lots of info on Wallace & the 466 as well as some meaty leads. Much appreciated. :)
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: janrm on Monday 09 May 11 19:14 BST (UK)
Hi again!

Is this topic now solved?

Haven't been able to find more on the 1944 bombing, but there was a failed attempt in September 1942 as well, killing the British airmen Sergeant G.K. Carter (aged 26) and Sergeant W.S. Young (aged 26). They are buried at the British cemetery of honours at Vestre Aker, Oslo. The Germans credited Unteroffizer Erich Klein from 1/JG5 the shooting.

Jan
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 17 May 11 15:01 BST (UK)
Hi Jan

Sorry for the tardy reply. I've been away for a week. I'm always looking of more info on Wallace.

Before I left I found an article which appeared in a newpaper in the Scarborough Evening News (though he died in Australia) published on Fri Nov 14, 2008. It was called Death of airman who destroyed Gestapo HQ but had very little detail on that raid or the others in which Wallace participated.

I very much appreciate th information and leads that you did dig up for me.

I'll continue on my search of his involvement in the Gestapo bombing, as well as the other squads with whom he was involved. I've still not figured out anything about the training assignment in 1940 in South Africa. The newspaper article says: "Out of the 12 men in his training group he was the only one who survived the first year and was later commissioned in 1942."

Thank you again for your help along the way.

Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 14 June 11 02:10 BST (UK)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,538593.0.html

Good evening to those following this research & particularly to those who have generously provided insight & direction.

Today (with much joy) I received 5 photos of Wallace including the one in this attachment. It shows him posed in front of one of the planes he crewed, the Yvonne Proudbag. Wallace is the fellow standing on the immediate right. The photo notation indicates that Mac, the pilot is to his immediate left, slightly behind him. The rest of his crew include the man kneeling as well as the two immediately left of Wallace & Mac. The others in the photo "are another crew butting in." (That's what the back of the photo says. ;D)

I have also received a letter penned by Wallace while in hospital a few days after his bombing run over Norway on New Year's Eve. It speaks about the great job the pilot, Peter, did in crash landing the plane somewhere around Aberdeen as well as Wallace's  injuries.

Thanks again for your assistance in researching my relative.

Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 21 June 11 17:39 BST (UK)
Hi all.

I'm continuing to look for info on Wallace's war career specific to the folllowing periods. Can anyone point me in the right direction with respect to where I might be able to access more info about his experience / responsibilities as they pertain to the following?

Enlisted as an air observer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1940
- Records show that he didn't join the 466 until late 1942. Where can I find info on what he did between the time he joined up in 1940 & flew his first mission with the 466 on 12 December, 1942.
- NOTE: He already knew how to fly at the start of the war. He was a Flight Office by the time he got to the 466.

Trained in South Africa sometime between joining up in 1940 & becoming part of the 466 in late 1942.
- What type of training might this have been?
- Is there any way to determine the timeframe for this training?

Became Captain of Aircraft assigned to train flight crews
- I have been unable to find any detail on Wallace's role in this other than his tape.
- I am unsure of where this fits in the timeline.
 
Joined British Intelligence and participated in evacuation of POWs, Concentration Camp victims, as well as remapping the portions of Europe that had be occupied by the Russians
- I have been unable to obtain any additional info beyond what Wallace provided on the tape.

Yvonne Proudbag
I've been searching to confirm if Wallace crewed the Yvonne Proudbag. I started with a search to determine which squad that plane was with thinking that the most likely thing is that it was the 466. The only records I can find when I Google refer to a Dutch book & the plane's final flight. Can anyone shed any light on this or let me know where I need to go to confirm if Wallace crewed the Yvonne Proudbag?

DID crew up on Wellington X HE212 "Yvonne Proudbag"; in fact , just a few nights before she was lost. Here are the details from the No.466 Sqn RAAF ORB for the raid on Dusseldorf on 25/26 May, 1943:

OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK
Detail of Work Carried Out.
466 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron.
For the month of MAY, 1943.
F.541

Date: 25.5.1943
A/c. type & No.: Wellington X HE212

Crew:
F/O MacFarlane A. A. Pilot.
Sgt Collins S. B/A.
F/O Gaunt W.S. Nav.
P/O Midgley D.E. W/A.G.
Sgt Scale A.H.P. A/G.

Up: 23.42
Down: 04.31

BTW, so far I've verified that Wallace flew 75 missions (his tape said he flew more than 60). As my research is not complete, I anticipate that this number will go higher yet.

Finally, in the event anyone comes on RootsChat & does a search for this fellow by name, the picture that is attached in my last post includes Flight Officer Alexander Arthur MacFarlane. He is the "Mac" standing to the left & slightly behind Wallace.

TX in advance for your guidance & direction.
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Sunday 03 July 11 12:42 BST (UK)
A little bit more about Wallace.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,541320.10.html
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 07 May 13 17:35 BST (UK)
It is happy dance day. Thank you Chatters who helped me along the way.  :-*

I now have the book At First Sight, personal accounts written by former members of No 627 squadron. Several chapters were written by Wallace & his flying partner, Peter Mallender.

I've also received two unpublished pieces written by Wallace. One is specifically about the Oslo bombing and his recovery. Another is called: Those that Fight I do not Hate.

It is amazing to get this kind of peak into his experience! Thanks again for your help a few years ago. I can now mark this complete. :)
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: Standeven on Tuesday 11 February 14 19:53 GMT (UK)
I am a distant relative of Wallace Gaunt and have family information about him and his parents. Anything I can help with?
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Tuesday 11 February 14 20:51 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat! :)

I'm viewing on my phone; will get back to you when I'm at my desk.

Post 2 more times on this thread - just Hi, then another post & I'll be able to send you a private message.

It's great to find another researching Gaunt. I'm doing a happy dance. :)
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: Standeven on Tuesday 11 February 14 21:18 GMT (UK)
Hi!
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: Standeven on Tuesday 11 February 14 21:19 GMT (UK)
Hi again!
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: DeeBoneham on Friday 21 February 14 13:00 GMT (UK)
There is a lovely group for 462&466 Squadron on Facebook if either are you on that.  They have just done their second newsletter and released it on there.  If you are in either UK or Aus there are reunions both ends within the next six months.  I am not connected to the Sqns except by interest and both John and Tiana have made me very welcome on there.  They would love to have you and your families join the band....
Dee
Title: Re: WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt
Post by: RedMystic on Monday 24 February 14 17:39 GMT (UK)
Thanks Dee. I'll check it out. :)