Carpe Diem - 576 Squadron RAF

PERSONAL INFORMATION

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CREW MEMBER PROFILE

SERVICE RECORDS

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS

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Date	Event	Aircraft Flown
SERVICE RECORDS
01 Jan 1942 01 Jan 1942	Enlisted in the RAF at No.14 Recruiting Centre, Weston-super-Mare. Date not known.
01 Jan 1943 01 Jan 1943	No.61 Air School, No.15 Observers Course, George, SA. Date not known	ANSON
09 May 1944 09 May 1944	18 OTU, Worksop & Finningley (Bastick crew formed)	WELLINGTON
23 Jul 1944 23 Jul 1944	Accident in Wellington MF696 3m N of Worksop. No casualties.	WELLINGTON
01 Aug 1944 01 Aug 1944	Promoted to Flt Sgt. Date not known but between July and October 44.
09 Sep 1944 09 Sep 1944	11 Base, Lindholme, for 1656 HCU, Lindholme	HALIFAX
09 Oct 1944 09 Oct 1944	1 LFS, Hemswell	LANCASTER
14 Oct 1944 14 Oct 1944	576 Sqn, Elsham Wolds & Fiskerton	LANCASTER I & III
29 Oct 1944 29 Oct 1944	Set Rank from Flight Record
20 Feb 1945 20 Feb 1945	Set Rank from Flight Record

Date	Aircraft	Code	Flight Details	T/O	Land	Flt Time	Crew
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS
29 Oct 1944	NG119	UL-D²	Training	1435	1935	5h00	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Pre-operational cross-country exercise.
31 Oct 1944	NG119	UL-D²	Elsham Wolds to Fiskerton	nk	nk	0h20 tbc	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Transit to Squadron's new home at Fiskerton. Two groundcrew were carried as passengers; 1245903 James Leslie Brentnall (Airframe mechanic) and 613 Elson (Engine mechanic).
03 Nov 1944	JB410	UL-H²	Training	1610	2025	4h15	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Cross-country navigation exercise.
04 Nov 1944	PD309	UL-W²	BOCHUM	1730	2220	4h50	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Built-up area. Bombed at 17,000ft. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs
06 Nov 1944	NF976	UL-Q²	GELSENKIRCHEN	1200	1610	4h10	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Nortstern synthetic oil plant. Bombed at 17,000 ft. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs
09 Nov 1944	NG119	UL-D²	WANNE-EICKEL	0830	1310	4h40	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Synthetic oil plant. Bombed at 20,000 ft. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs
10 Nov 1944	PD309	UL-W²	Training	1500	1655	1h55	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Practice bombing and fighter affiliation.
11 Nov 1944	ME317	UL-C²	DORTMUND	1605	2135	5h30	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Hoesch Benzin GmbH synthetic oil plant. Damaged by flak. Bombed at 16,000 ft. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs.
13 Nov 1944	ME317	UL-C²	Training	1430	1630	2h00	P1 Plt Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Cross-country navigation exercise.
16 Nov 1944	ME317	UL-C²	DUREN	1255	1725	4h30	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Enemy positions & lines of communication. Damaged by light flak. Flown in support of American 1st & 9th Armies. Bombed at 10,000ft. Load: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs.
21 Nov 1944	ME317	UL-C²	ASCHAFFENBURG	1605	2215	6h10	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt J.L.M. McTernaghan AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards. Bombed at 12,500 ft. Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs.
25 Nov 1944	ME735	UL-B²	Training	1425	1550	1h25	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Practice bombing.
29 Nov 1944	NG119	UL-D²	DORTMUND	1225	1735	5h10	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Industrial and rail targets within the built-up area. Bombed at 14,000 ft. Hit by heavy flak which damaged the port inner engine. The shell burst between the port inner and the fuselage, which rendered the WOp, Sgt Gould, unconscious and causing severe ear damage for which he was was subsequently grounded. The port inner and one other engine had to be shut down and the aircraft was forced to return to Fiskerton on the remaining two engines. Load 1x 4000lb, 5x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs.
30 Nov 1944	ME317	UL-C²	Training	1625	1930	3h05	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt D.S. Gould MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise.
29 Dec 1944	NF975	UL-J²	SCHOLVEN / BUER	1515	2100	5h45	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Sgt E. Johnson MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs.
01 Jan 1945	ME317	UL-C²	Training	nk	nk	2h10	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs, practice bombing and fighter affiliation.
05 Jan 1945	NF975	UL-J²	ROYAN	0205	0905	7h00	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Enemy garrison & supply depot. Flown in support of the Free French forces besieging the town. Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs.
14 Jan 1945	NF975	UL-J²	MERSEBURG / LEUNA	1915	0325	8h10	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs
16 Jan 1945	NF975	UL-J²	ZEITZ - TROGLITZ	1735	0120	7h45	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Braunkohle-Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel). Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 12x 500lb bombs.
22 Jan 1945	NF975	UL-J²	DUISBERG	1655	2155	5h00	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs
27 Jan 1945	NF975	UL-J²	Training	nk	nk	3h00	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	High-level bombing, 'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs, air-to-sea firing
01 Feb 1945	NF975	UL-J²	LUDWIGSHAFEN	1605	2255	6h50	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Marshalling yards, factories and enemy troop positions. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 1620x 4lb incendiaries
03 Feb 1945	NF975	UL-J²	BOTTROP	1615	2200	5h45	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Prosper coking plant & benzol refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs
06 Feb 1945	NF975	UL-J²	Training	nk	nk	1h20	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Practice bombing.
15 Feb 1945	PD363	UL-K²	Training	nk	nk	2h55	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer PAX Flt Sgt D.S. Gould
NOTES:	Practice bombing, air-to-sea firing, and 'Y' (H2S) simulated bombing runs. Flt Sgt Gould, having recovered from his ear problem, appears on the trip too: probably under supervision on his first trip back.
20 Feb 1945	NF975	UL-J²	DORTMUND	2140	FTR	nk	P1 Fg Off R.S. Bastick P2 FE Sgt F.G.J. Martin AB Flt Sgt W.V. Bibby NAV Flt Sgt W.G. Frost RAAF WOp Flt Sgt J. Coates MUG Sgt H.A. Sargent RG Sgt R.L. Swaffer
NOTES:	Target: Rhenania Ossag oil refinery, in the Reisholz district of the city. Load: 1x 2000lb, 2100x 4lb incendiaries. The fate of NF975 may never be known, as the aircraft and her crew disappeared with out trace, nothing being heard from the crew after take-off from Fiskerton at 2141. The crew are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial, on Panels 266, 270, 276, 277 and 284.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public

PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public

CREW MEMBER PROFILE

First Name/s:

William Victor "Vic"

Service No/s:

1579109

Air Bomber