A pilot who took part in the first RAF Bomber Command daylight raid on Berlin is at rest in a Sussex village churchyard.

Our good friends L and C were recently on holiday in Sussex where, when visiting the churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene in the village of Rusper, they came across the Commonwealth War Graves of 2 RAF officers.  Knowing my wife and I have family links to the RAF and an interest in its history, L sent me photographs of the two headstones.

Both these officers died while serving in Operational Training Units.  Flying Officer John Gerald Rappoport (RAFVR) aged 28 died on 21 April 1943 while serving with No.2 OTU of Coastal Command.  He was flying a Bristol Beaufighter when it stalled and crashed while attempting a night landing at RAF Catfoss in Yorkshire, both he and his navigator were killed.

Flight Lieutenant Antony Trelawney Wickham DFC (RAFVR) was in a de Havilland Mosquito of No. 60 OTU when, during an overshoot at RAF High Ercall in Shropshire on 14 June 1944, an engine cut out and a crash-landing ensued.  He and his co-pilot did not survive the crash.

Flt. Lt. Wickham was an experienced and distinguished pilot.  On 30 January 1943 he had taken part in the first RAF Bomber Command daylight raid on Berlin.  The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt (Penguin Books Ltd., 1985) tell the story:

“Two formations, each of 3 Mosquitoes, made dramatic attempts to interrupt large rallies being addressed by Nazi leaders in Berlin on this day.  These raids would be the first time the German capital was bombed in daylight. 

3 Mosquitoes of 105 Squadron successfully reached Berlin and bombed in mid-morning at the exact time Goering was due to speak.  The speech was postponed for an hour.  These 3 Mosquitoes returned safely.

In the afternoon, 3 Mosquitoes of 139 Squadron arrived at the time Goebbels was due to speak and again bombed at the correct time, but the German defences were alerted and the aircraft of Squadron Leader D. F. Darling was shot down.  Darling and his navigator, Flying Officer W. Wright, were both killed and are now buried in Berlin.”

At the time of the raid Wickham held the rank of Flying Officer and was second in command of the three 105 Squadron Mosquitoes.  All ten surviving aircrew were awarded the DSO, DFC or DFM for their actions.  Wickham received the DFC. 

Although F.O. Rappoport and Flt. Lt. Wickham have no connection with Somerset I have written this blogpost with the thought in mind that training for war has its own hazards, and can be just fatal as warfare itself.