MOFFATT, Bertram Augustus
R/80237
Warrant Officer 2(Navigator)
Bertram Augustus MOFFATT
Royal Canadian Air Force in RAF (New Zealand) 75 Squadron
Killed on Active Duty on 9th April 1943
Aged 25
"For ever and ever, be strong"
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Born on 24th November 1917, in Gregg, Manitoba, he was the husband of Lilian Mary MOFFATT (née GILLETT) of 13 Gold Street, Cambridge. ( she re-married as COOKE,
living at Gotobed Stores, Black Horse Drove, Littleport, Cambs. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Augusta MOFFAT (née LESLIE) of Carberry, Manitoba. Bertram was a student of the University of Manitoba prior to enlistment on 13th November 1940. 5' 5 1/2 " tall, weighing 125 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. Initially he underwent a course of training as a pilot, but that was terminated and he trained as an Air Observer, promoted to Sergeant 28 February 1942, before completing a Navigators Course. On 28th August 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and on February 2nd 1943 became a Warrant Officer Two. After many postings and courses in Canada, he eventually arrived in England at 3 Personnel Reception United (Bournemouth) on 12th May 1942. Then in succession he was posted to 261 Advanced Flying Unit; 12 Operational Training Unit; 1657 Conversion Unit (Stradishall) before joining 75 (NZ) Squadron on 8th February 1943. The medal on the right of his bar is the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp. This was for volunteering for active service and the maple leaf represents the clasp for service outside Canada. We are indebted to the Library and Archives Canada [Bertram Augstus Moffat R80237 RG24/ box 28261 ] for Bertram's service record above. Short Stirling Mk3 BK770 c/s AA-L was delivered to No.75 Sqdn 2/4/1943. This was the first Stirling Mk3 to be lost by 75 Sqdn. Nine aircraft were detailed to carry out a raid on Duisburg, in the Ruhr, with bombs of 1000 lb. and incendiaries of 30 lb. and 4 lb. Four of the aircraft however were forced to return early owing to severe icing conditions, which prevented the aircraft from gaining height. Four of the remaining aircraft successfully bombed the target through cloud. Large fires were seen glowing below the clouds. A fair amount of heavy predicted A.A.Fire was encountered, some enemy aircraft were seen, but no combats took place. The weather was 10/10ths cloud, with electrical storms, rain and severe icing, which prevented this operation from being a complete success. Airborne at 21:30 on 8/4/1943 from Newmarket 'AA:L' and her crew of seven survived the raid and were almost back home to their base at Newmarket Heath. They had made radio contact with the Squadron at 1:10 am reporting their progress home and all seemed well. Nothing more was heard from AA:L, but then while overflying Diss, just 30 miles from home, the aircraft went out of control and entered a near-vertical dive, crashing at Valley Farm, Bressingham, 3 miles WNW of Diss. The cause of the loss of control of the aircraft is still unknown. An oak tree now stands at the site of the crash as a permanent memorial to the crew who were: W/O J.A.E.Walsh RNZAF KIA; Sgt J.H.Worthington KIA; F/S B.A.Moffatt RCAF KIA; Sgt F.H.Reddicliffe KIA; Sgt J.W.Scudder KIA; Sgt S.A.Curtis KIA; Sgt P.G.Stuart RCAF KIA. The three Commonwealth airmen, along with Sgt Reddicliffe and Sgt Curtis, are buried in Newmarket Cemetery. The others were taken to their home towns. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details