WWII Navigator, Wallace S. Gaunt

[RedMystic]

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.

[RedMystic]

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?

[janrm]

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

[RedMystic]

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.

[RedMystic]

Special TX to kyt who sent a PM with lots of info on Wallace & the 466 as well as some meaty leads. Much appreciated.

[janrm]

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

[RedMystic]

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.

[RedMystic]

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. )

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.

[RedMystic]

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.