[COMMANDING OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION]
HEAP, Richard Eric. 649556, Sergeant, No.10 Sqn.
Sergeant Heap was posted to No.10 Squadron in August, 1942, and after completing an excellent tour of 30 sorties totalling 185 operational hours has now been screened and recommended for posting as an instructor. Shortly after his arrival at this unit, this N.C.O. lost his crew yet nevertheless quickly acquired a reputation for his extraordinary enthusiasm for operations and for his unusual keenness to fly with anybody, anywhere at any time.
Although his aircraft had twice been heavily damaged by enemy flak over Essen and once returned with 18 holes in the fuselage, this N.C.O. has continued to operate with relentless enthusiasm and efficiency. Sergeant Heap has consistently shown himself to be a first class gunner and airman who has never failed to take a personal pride in the achievements and record of his squadron and I have no hesitation in strongly recommending that his fine work and infectious morale whilst on operations with this squadron be rewarded by the grant of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[REMARKS BY STATION COMMANDER]
This N.C.O. is a cheerful fighter and a skilful Air Gunner who, by his example, has inspired great confidence and helps to maintain a high standard of morale in his squadron.
I strongly recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
[REMARKS BY AIR OFFICER COMMANDING]
Sergeant Heap has completed a full operational tour and has at all times shown himself to be a skilled and courageous Air Gunner.
I strongly recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
The immediately available records show he was engaging in some seriously challenging and dangerous night bombing raids to many of the best defended targets in Germany. He had experienced two serious and separate incidents of fire and major damage to his aircraft while on raids to Essen.
[TO ESSEN.....AND TWO DANCES WITH DEATH]
On the evening of the 12th March 1943, HALIFAX DT789 of No.10 Squadron left Melbourne airfield at 19.25hrs on an operational sortie to bomb Essen, the home of the Krupps steel and armaments company.
Sgt Richard Heap was the mid-upper gunner for this sortie.
The aircraft bombed the target area at 21.20hrs from 16,500 feet, but around the time of releasing its bomb load the aircraft received a serious and near direct hit from a high explosive flak shell. This clearly exploded very near and slightly below the aircraft in the rear starboard quarter and inflicted 18 holes to the tail fins, rear turret perspex and bomb bay doors which in the same instant seriously damaged the starboard outer engine which then totally failed.
The rear turret was riddled by shrapnel fragments which seriously wounded the rear gunner Flight Sergeant Barsalou of the RCAF who bravely refrained from informing and distracting the pilot who went on to successfully bomb the target.
A few minutes later when the pilot once more inquired if he was all right, Barsalou still gave a reassuring reply and warned him of the presence of an enemy fighter.
This was duly shaken off and Sgt Heap was ordered to investigate the rear turret where he found Barsalou slumped over his guns and the turret a mass of blood. Barsalou had received several serious shrapnel wounds. Although in great pain, very weak and bleeding profusely, he attempted to minimize his injuries and insisted that he could bear up until the English coast was reached. When the aircraft finally landed at Melbourne at 23:33, Barsalou was rushed to hospital. He survived his ordeal and the war and was awarded an immediate DFM.
The crew of this aircraft displayed courage, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force.
By the spring of 1945 and having flown one complete tour and after a period of instructing was into his second tour with No.10 Sqd. All this flying since August 1942, had made Sgt Richard Heap one of the most experienced members on the squadron. It was therefore on 6th March 1945, and with great sadness as it was only 63 days before the end of the war, that Richard left Melbourne to bomb Chemnitz on what was to be his final sortie.
[F/O RICHARD HEAP'S FINAL SORTIE]
HALIFAX III NR131 ZA-N, No. 10 SQUADRON
Airborne 16:57 5th March 1945 from RAF Melbourne, Yorks.
CRASHED AT MUHLHAUSEN, GERMANY.
The cause of the aircraft's loss was not established but it is likely to have been shot down by night fighter action.
POW CAMP STALAG IX.C AT MUHLHAUSEN The Aircraft was on a major 750+ aircraft bombing raid to Chemnitz as part of Operation Thunderclap and crashed onto the wooded high ground behind the P.O.W. Camp of Stalag IXC at Mulhausen. The bodies of the seven dead crewmen were recovered from the wreckage by the P.O.W.'s.
As all the bodies were recovered together from the crash site it is apparent that although in a fast decent and certainly without power, that the aircraft was in a largely intact condition before it hit the ground. This would indicate that the pilot had not issued an order for the crew to bail out and had probably intended making a forced landing. This would be a difficult feat at night over wooded terrain.
He may for a time have had at least partial control of what was clearly a very badly disabled but fully crewed machine.
The aircraft probably broke up when it hit the trees.
Had the aircraft sustained catastrophic structural damage or fire at high altitude then there would have been a totally different outcome with perhaps a chance of the crew abandoning the aircraft by parachute.
With a typical Nazi 'attitude' the German high command issued an order forbidding a burial service for the seven crewmen, but two weeks later, on 20th March 1945, funeral proceedings were conducted by the seriously brave Camp Senior Chaplain, The Reverand. J.R.Bamber MA. (Who apparently told the Nazi camp commandant that he could shoot him after the service.) (Pictured Left)
Originally buried at Neuer Friedhof, the crew of seven were later re-interred in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. (CWG papers dated 1st September 1947 confirm the reburial.) F/O Heap, a Regular pre-war airman, had gained his DFM on a previous tour with 10 Squadron, promulgated 13th July 1943. F/S Rees had joined the RAF as an apprentice clerk in the late 1920's.
The Lost Crew of NR131 were:
F/L A.D.Stephen
Sgt T.T.Elliott
F/S K.V.Rees
F/S B.Robson
F/O H.C.Maria RNZAF
P/O C.J.Roberts RCAF
F/O R.E.Heap D.F.M.
A truly excellent & rare casualty DFM to a brave Lancashire lad from Burnley.
SOLD
CURRENTLY RESEARCHING .