F/SGT Mervyn James Herd, RAAF 425439

Male 1920 - 1944  (23 years)


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  • Name Mervyn James Herd 
    Prefix F/SGT 
    Suffix RAAF 425439 
    Born 31 Dec 1920  Kilcoy, Queensland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 26 Mar 1944  From wounds received during night mission Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 26/27 March, 1944; ESSEN:

      Harris surprised the German night fighters when he suddenly switched his attention to the Ruhr. Over 700 bombers set out on this Sunday evening led by 'Oboe' equipped PFF Mosquitoes, which marked the target well. Subsequent reports confirmed that the raid had been successful and the loss of 9 aircraft and crews, which represented just 1.3 per cent of the force.
      A Lancaster which failed to regain Fiskerton was that of P/O Bert Shinn (ND676) and crew in M-Mother; their story of determination and heroism begins over Essen: At the commencement of their bombing run over the target, they were attacked by an enemy night fighter. The bombs were jettisoned as cannon shells ripped into the rear of the aircraft; rear gunner, Sgt Armstrong battled the fire out after 15 long minutes. The damage sustained included both turrets u/s and the starboard inner and outer engines were practically powerless. During the dive the aircraft had lost 5,000 feet, but as they levelled out, flak or possibly the fighter hit them again; this time the intercom, hydraulics, H2S and Gee were all rendered destroyed. A check on the crew positions revealed that the navigator, Sgt Hague was wounded and the wireless operator, F/Sgt Herd was unconscious with head injuries. Losing height with just two good engines and the controls very heavy, P/O Shinn somehow struggled back to England. Reaching the Norfolk coast and not knowing if his wireless operator was dead or alive, the pilot ordered his crew to bale out over Swanton Morley; the pilot then went on to make a wheels up crash landing at Coltishall. The pilot?s decision to stay with his W/op had been fraught with many dangers. Despite the pilot?s valiant effort, when Sgt Mervyn Herd RAAF, was removed from the aircraft, he had already lost his fight for life:
      It goes without saying that P/O Bert Shinn received an immediate DFC.
      http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personnel_index/detail/Herd_MJ
    Buried City Cemetery Cambridge Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I14792  Hickey, List, Bundesen, Thomsen, Jensen, Jessen
    Last Modified 16 Aug 2015 

    Father Peter Herd,   b. 23 Dec 1874, Markinch, Fife Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1962, Kilcoy, Qld Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years) 
    Mother Alice Wilson,   b. 29 Jul 1881, Queensland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1974, Queensland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years) 
    Married 4 Jan 1899  Qld Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F202  Group Sheet


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