WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt

[RedMystic]

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.

[janrm]

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

[RedMystic]

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.

[RedMystic]

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?

[kyt]

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

[janrm]

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

[kyt]

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

[RedMystic]

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.

[janrm]

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

J