Rogerson, John Turner

Suggest an edit/submit more info Submit a photo

Personal Information

Rank P/O
Forename(s) John Turner
Surname Rogerson
Gender M
Age 33
Decorations
Date of Death 03-10-1943
Next of Kin Son of Rudolph and Fanny Rogerson. Husband of Gladys Gertrude Rogerson, of Lytham.
ROGERSON JT

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Handley Page Halifax V
Serial Number LK637
Markings

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country United Kingdom
Burial/Memorial Place Lytham (St. Peter'S) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Grave Reference Grave 268.
Epitaph PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF JOHN TURNER, BELOVED HUSBAND OF GLADYS R.I.P.

IBCC Memorial Information

Phase 2
Panel Number 235

Enlistment Information

Service Number 156417
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 6
Squadron 427 (Lion)
Trade WOp/AG
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Miscellaneous Information

The pilot was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while the injured flight engineer was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their actions on this night, Gazetted on 9th November 1943. The citation reads: "Flight Lieutenant Laird and Sergeant Cardy were pilot and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Kassel one night in October 1943. During the operation the bomber was hit by a hail of bullets from an enemy fighter. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Laird coolly and skilfully outmanoeuvred the enemy aircraft and set course for this country. Two of his crew had been killed, however, and Sergeant Cardy was wounded in the arm and in the eye. In spite of intense suffering, this gallant airman refused to leave his post and executed his normal duties until he finally fainted through loss of blood. Later, when he again recovered consciousness, he attempted to do as much as he could to assist his captain in the homeward flight. By a superb effort Flight Lieutenant Laird succeeded in reaching base where he effected a safe landing in difficult circumstances. This officer displayed outstanding skill, courage and tenacity, while Sergeant Cardy's exemplary conduct and great fortitude were beyond praise."

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Click here to view

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/24
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/23

Fellow Servicemen

Findlay J C (F/O)

Last Operation Information

Start Date 03-10-1943
End Date 04-10-1943
Takeoff Station Skipton on Swale
Day/Night Raid Night (21% moon)
Operation Kassel
Reason for Loss Attacked from below by an unseen enemy aircraft at approx 2000 hrs while flying over the Zuider Zee, Holland. The rear turret was extensively damaged and the fuselage was raked with cannon fire, killing both the rear gunner and wireless operator and also injuring the flight engineer. The Halifax also caught fire but after pilot put the aircraft into a steep diving turn the airflow put out the fire. The intercom was disabled in the attack as was the hydraulic system and also the bomb doors were damaged initially preventing them being jettisoned. On the return flight a 2000lb bomb fell through the damaged bomb doors but this then opened the doors to allow the rest of the larger high explosive bombs to be jettisoned. Having made contact with flying control they had initially received instruction that the aircraft be abandoned and not landed (since some bombs were still aboard and a belly landing was the only viable option with the undercarriage stuck up). However, the flight engineer, who was by then in and out of consciousness, managed to instruct others how to locate and then cut hydraulic pipes that would allow the undercarriage to lower and lock down. Realising that the seriously injured flight engineer would probably not survive a parachute descent the pilot opted instead to try to land the aircraft to give a better chance of survival. They landed at Skipton on Swale airfield at around 22.40hrs but some incendiary bombs then ignited on landing and set the aircraft on fire. The five remaining crew members made a safe escape from the aircraft and the fire was soon put out.

Honour This Person

Since 1945 the brave men and women who gave their lives whilst in the service of Bomber Command, to protect our country have been largely ignored and forgotten by successive governments.

It is now time to make that right.

Honour this person now

Events At IBCC

We have an exciting events programme here at IBCC! From Concerts with stars to our annual Salute to the 40s weekend, from Dinner dances to Family Fun Days..

Something for all the family!

View Upcoming Events
 
 
 
 

Please Wait

Close

Suggest An Edit

I warrant that the information i’m supplying is accurate to the best of my knowledge and I have the rights to provide this information.

Submit a Photo

I warrant that I own the copyright or have the correct commercial print licences in place for the images and or artwork I’m uploading.

Once submitted, your photo will be submitted for verification and will be shown on the database record shortly.

Disclaimer I acknowledge that I remain the copyright holder of the original document(s). I hereby grant copyright in the digital version to the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) and I consent to IBCC making digital copies freely available online under a Creative Commons non-commercial licence. IBCC may also use, reproduce or incorporate it into other works in any media, or licence its use for purposes of ensuring the sustainability of its Digital Archive and Losses Database. I understand that digital copies will be owned and controlled by IBCC, and I irrevocably agree to IBCC using and publishing digital copies however it sees fit, but always in line with its responsibilities to preserve and protect such ephemera.

Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.