CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

BRADBURY

First Name/s:

Walter Edward

Service No/s:

1575514

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

Air Bomber

Awards:

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown
01 Jun 1941

Enlisted in Birmingham at some point after 1 June 1941.

01 Dec 1944

Joined 576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, at Fiskerton, Linconshire. Exact date TBC.

Lancaster
29 Dec 1944

Set Rank from Flight Record

31 Dec 1944

Set Rank from Flight Record

02 Jan 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

07 Jan 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

14 Jan 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

16 Jan 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

29 Dec 1944

NF976

UL-Z2

SCHOLVEN BUER

1520

2125

6h05

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery in Gelsenkirchen Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs

31 Dec 1944

LM594

UL-A2

OSTERFELD

1455

2100

6h05

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Marshalling yards Load: Z2: 6x No.15, 5x No.14 Incendiary Clusters, and 120x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, and 6x 500lb bombs.

02 Jan 1945

NF975

UL-J2

NUREMBURG

1505

2315

8h10

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt P. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Marshalling Yards & Built-up Area Load: C2, D2, J2, L2, O2, X2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 1,598x 4lb incendiaries A2, F2, G2, H2, K2, Q2, V2, W2, Y2: 1x4000lb, 14x 500 R2: 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, 5x 500lb

07 Jan 1945

UL-R2

MUNICH

1845

0305

8h20

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Industrial and transport area Load: C2, L2 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1492x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1320x 4lb incendiaries

14 Jan 1945

PD312

UL-R2

MERSEBURG - LEUNA

1925

0340

8h15

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs COMBAT - Jet aircraft at position 5035N 0820E (SW of Gressen). Enemy aircraft claimed destroyed.

16 Jan 1945

PD271

UL-T2

ZEITZ / TROGLITZ

1745

0135

7h50

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Braunkohle Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel) Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs.

28 Jan 1945

LM227

UL-I2

STUTTGART (ZUFFENHAUSEN)

1955

0250

6h55

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Hirth aero-engine factory & Boash ignition works Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs Saw bomber bursting into flames & exploding on ground

01 Feb 1945

ME317

UL-C2

LUDWIGSHAFEN

1605

2305

7h00

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Marshalling yards, factories & troop positions. (Mannheim) Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1620x 4lb incendiaries

02 Feb 1945

ME317

UL-C2

WIESBADEN

2135

0130

3h55

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Built-up Area (where large amounts of troops were resting) Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1604x 4lb incendiaries Took off late and could not catch main force. Instructed to abort at 50°40N 04°00E. 4000lb ‘Cookie’ jettisoned.

03 Feb 1945

LM594

UL-A2

BOTTROP

1620

2205

5h45

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Prosper coking plant & benzol refinery Load: 1x 4000lb, 16x 500lb bombs.

08 Feb 1945

ME317

UL-C2

POLITZ

1925

0345

8h20

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

IG Farben synthetic oil plant 5333.5N 01444.5E Master Bomber: Snodgrass 1 & 2 MF: Press On

13 Feb 1945

PD403

UL-F2

DRESDEN

2130

0730

10h00

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Built-up area. Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP Load: A, F, G, J, P: 1x 2000lb bomb and 1484x 4lb incendiaries. B, C: 1x 2000lb bomb and 1650x 4lb incendiaries. H, O, Q, R, T, X: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1180x 4lb incendiaries. V, K: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1270x 4lb incendiaries.

23 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

PFORZHEIM

1555

0250

10h55

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Operation THUNDERCLAP – Built-Up Area 4852N 00842E Ball bearing factory Master Bomber: Blacktie 1,2,& 3 Main Force: Wastepipe Load: 1x 4,000lb Cookie, 2480x 4lb incendiaries

28 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

NEUSS

0850

1045

1h55

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Enemy Ground Positions General recall Load: Unknown

01 Mar 1945

PD363

UL-K2

MANNHEIM

1155

1815

6h20

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Built-up area Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb, 1770x 4lb incendiaries

05 Mar 1945

RF120

UL-D2

CHEMNITZ

1655

0215

9h20

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Built-up area – Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP Load: D, F, H, M, N, P, X, Y: 1x4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb bomb and 1650x 4lb incendiaries.

07 Mar 1945

RF120

UL-D2

DESSAU

1705

FTR

uk

P1   Fg Off C.T. Dalziel
P2   
FE   Sgt P.R. Montgomery
AB   Sgt W.E. Bradbury
NAV  Sgt W.E. May
WOp  Sgt A. Burns
MUG  Sgt G.T. Thorley
RG   Sgt D. O’Sullivan

NOTES:

Built-up area Load: D, G, H, K, L, M, N, W, X, Z: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1170x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incendiaries Abandoned RF120 UL-D2. Crashed between the towns of Plettenburg & Attendorn. This was their 15th operation as a crew. Fg Off Dalziel and Sgt Bradbury were the only survivors and became POWs. Sgt O’Sullivan rests at Rheinberg War Cemetery; Sgts Montgomery, Burns, Thorley and O'Sullivan at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

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