EASTGATE, Colin Henry
| Service Number: | 430019 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 December 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 463 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Coburg, Moreland - Victoria, Australia, 12 November 1914 |
| Home Town: | Corryong, Towong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Colac Agricultural High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Commission Agent for Vacuum Oil Company |
| Died: | Shot down during night bombing raid - Lille (Fr), Lille, France, 10 May 1944, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Forest-sur-Marque Communal Cemetery, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Corryong War Memorial, Horsham & District War Memorial & Cenotaph, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 430019 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 430019, No. 463 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Night Bombing Raid on Lille (Fr) rail head |
Bad night over Lille - 10/11 May 1944
Lille is a major rail hub in northern France close to the Belgian border and a major junction between Paris, to the south, Calais to the west and Brussels (Belgium) to the north. It was a key target in the run up to D Day in June 1944 when a major bombing offensive called the Transportation Plan, was directed at transport infrastructure, to impede the provision of reinforcements to the intended battlefront - the location of which was, of course, top secret at this point in time.
On the night of 10/11 May 1944 a large fleet of bombers were despatched to bomb a series of rail yards in northern France, at Lille, Lens (further south), Courtrai, Ghent (further north in Belgium) and Dieppe on the Atlantic coast. Over 500 aircraft were involved; the majority were Lancasters but also Halifaxes and some fast and nimble Mosquitos performing a Pathfinder and Target marking role.
Both 463 and 467 Squadrons RAAF were scheduled to take part in the Lille raid on the evening of 10/11 May. It was to be the worst night of the war for the two Waddington squadrons. Of 31 aircraft despatched between them, six failed to return. The total losses of the raid were 12 so the two RAAF squadrons represented 50% of the total losses. A total of 42 men were missing the next morning. This represented a loss rate of 20%. The impact of the empty seats at breakfast would have been devastating.
This was followed the next night by the loss of 467 Squadron's CO, decorated Pacific veteran GPCAPT John 'Sam' Balmer OBE DFC and his crew, leading another Transportation Plan raid.
There was only one survivor from the six Australian aircraft. Squadron Leader Phil Smith, DFC, flying B for Baker in 467 Squadron was thrown clear of his exploding aircraft, and managed to parachute to safety minus a flying boot and then spent four months evading the Germans. B for Baker exploded as it was dropping its bombs; it may have suffered a similar fate to JO-J in 463 Squadron - been destroyed by a German night fighter attacking from below (but unlikely given they were directly over the target where the risk from flak and falling bombs tended to discourage night fighter attack), been hit by flak or most likely, it may have collided with another aircraft
The story of JO-J's loss from 463 Squadron, provides an insight as to the fate that befell a number of aircraft that night and the cause of losses that was only identified the following month when a German nightfighter fitted with upward firing cannon, was captured after it landed at an occupied airfield by mistake. JOJ was shot down on its way home, by Lt Hans Schmitz flying a Messerschmitt Bf110G night fighter variant with upward firing cannon, nick-named 'Schrage Musik' by the Germans. The aircraft positioned itself in a blind spot under the Lancaster, before unleashing a hail of 20mm cannon fire into the underside of the bigger plane. The effect was often catastrophic as was the case with JOJ, which broke up in mid-air and rained wreckage in and around the Dumoulin quarry near Langemark in northern Belgium. There were no survivors.
LL881 - 22/03/44 to 10/05/44, Callsign JO-E: 11 Missions.
The first on 22/23-Mar-1944 to Frankfurt.
The 9th mission on 10/11-May-1944 to Lille when LL881 was listed as missing.
418915 FSGT John Henry BROWN RAAF WOP 31 HELLEMMES
427445 FSGT George Martin DANN RAAF RGNR 30 FOREST/MARQUE
430019 FSGT Colin Henry EASTGATE RAAF MUG 29 FOREST/MARQUE
410493 FLGOFF George Oswald JONES RAAF NAV 23 FOREST/MARQUE
10119 POFFR William John LEWIS RAAF FENG 32 FOREST/MARQUE
416443 WOFF Alan Richard MacKENZIE RAAF BAim 26 FOREST/MARQUE
420413 FLGOFF Dudley Francis WARD RAAF PILOT 24 FOREST/MARQUE
8 missions were flown by this crew.
LL-882 - 463 Sqn. 24/03/44 to 10/05/44, Callsign JO-J 'The Langemark Lancaster - see related story.
There were 15 missions recorded in the Operational Record with the first in March 25/26 1944 to Aulnoye.
407199 FLOFF Robert McKerlie CROFT RAAF MUG 27 WEVELGUM
407821 FLOFF David Payne CROSTON RAAF RGNR 32 WEVELGUM
1443752 FSGT Bertram FRASER RAF BAim 22 WEVELGUM
134697 FLOFF Ronald JACQUES RAF NAV ? WEVELGUM
1802369 SGT Harry Law MOLYNEUX RAF FENG 21 WEVELGUM
422817 SQNLDR Mervyn POWELL RAAF PILOT 29 WEVELGUM
406700 FLTLT William Neil READ RAAF WOP 22 WEVELGUM
HK535 - 463 Sqn.
20/12/43 to 10/05/44, Callsign JO-N 11 Missions.
First mission to Frankfurt 20/21-Dec-1943. This was their 11th Mission
24519 FSGT Richard William ASH RAAF MUG 20 HELLEMMES
1609134 SGT Raymond Herbert BOULTON RAF FENG 19 HELLEMMES
422414 FSGT Ivan CHAPPLE RAAF NAV 24 HELLEMMES
423878 POFF Walter Thomas PETERS RAAF BAim 24 HELLEMMES
1459044 SGT Leonard Edgard PRINGLE RAF WOP ? HELLEMMES
425226 FLTLT Eric Mc Laren SCOTT RAAF PILOT 22 FOREST/MARQUE
424888 WO William Allen SLADE RAF RGNR 23 MISSING
No. 467 Squadron RAAF
LM475 Callsign PO-B for 'Baker'. A very experienced crew. First mission Dec 1943 See blog link in Sidebar. This was their 20th Mission and the last for Phil Smith to complete his second Tour.
1352851 SGT Eric Reginald HILL RAF MUG 22 LEZENNES
425413 FSGT Alistair Dale JOHNSTON RAAF WOP 24 LEZENNES
658844 FSGT Jeremiah PARKER RAF BAim 30 LEZENNES
423311 FSGT Gilbert Firth PATE RAAF RGNR 27 LEZENNES
412686 WOFF Royston William PURCELL RAAF NAV 22 LEZENNES
400495 SQNLDR Donald Phillip Smeed SMITH RAAF PILOT EVADE the only survivor from 12 aircraft
1850279 SGT Kenneth Harold TABOR RAF FENG LEZENNES
LL788 Callsign PO-G
2221020 SGT Charles Arthur NASH RAF MUG 23 FOREST/MARQUE
424914 FSGT Herbert William Reid FERGUSON RAAF RGNR 28 HELLEMMES
417176 FSGT Brian Gordon GRASBY RAAF WOP 21 HELLEMMES
422506 FSGT William Stanley HANCOCK RAAF BAim 22 HELLEMMES
1431527 SGT Cyril DUTHOIT RAF FENG LEZENNES
420870 POFF William Eldred FELSTEAD RAAF PILOT 22 LEZENNES
1580333 SGT John MELLOR RAF NAV 30 LEZENNES
EE143 Callsign PO-J
427870 FSGT Bernard Francis CODY RAAF MUG 23 ANNAPPES
2220133 SGT George BENNETT RAF RGNR 27 HELLEMMES
419298 FLOFF Harry Ronald CROUT RAAF BAim 29 HELLEMMES
414997 POFF Douglas HISLOP RAAF PILOT 23 HELLEMMES
1891298 SGT Bertram Stephen LONGHURST RAF FENG 37 HELLEMMES
25243 FLOFF John Francis TUCKER RAAF WOP 25 HELLEMMES
424239 FSGT Kevin Campbell WAIGHT RAAF NAV 20 HELLEMMES
Three other Australians were lost in other aircraft on the raid;
414761 POFF Hugh DonaldD CAMPBELL RAAF PILOT 23 9 Sqn LM528 WS-D HELLEMMES
423359 FLOFF Albert Edward TYNE RAAF BAim 33 9 Sqn LM528 WS-D FOREST/MARQUE
425794 FSGT Walter James WHITE RAAF AG 23 9 Sqn LM520 WS-X FOREST/MARQUE
This remains a work in progress
We are tracking images of these men; if you can help, Register and join over 20,000 people who have contributed material to the site.
Thanks to ADF Serials website for this detail, and to the researchers of 'Aircrew Remembered' to which links have been posted.
Thanks also to Conrad Dumoulin, Belgium for providing assistance in the preparation of this article and that of the 'Langemark Lancaster' to which his father was a witness.
Thanks to Adam Purcell, his excellent blog @somethingverybig.com and the story of 'B for Baker' of No. 467 Squadron
CWGC websites and cemetery pages
WW2 Nominal Roll
AWM Roll of Honour
Submitted 15 February 2020 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
Flight Sergeant Colin Henry Eastgate was the Mid Upper (dorsal) turret gunner of Lancaster tail number LL891 C/S JO-E of No. 463 Squadron RAAF based at Waddington in Lincolnshire.
He was killed in action in the course of a night bombing raid on the French city and major rail junction of Lille, in northern France, on the night of 10/11 May 1944. He was 29 years old at the time of his death. There were no survivors from their aircraft.
Biography contributed by Stephen Learmonth
Colin was born on the 12th of November 1914 at Coburg, Victoria. He was the eldest of four children of Ernest William John and Myrtle Irene Hazel (née Pierce) Eastgate. Ernest went on to serve as a Lieutenant in the First World War with the Australian Flying Corps in France and then with the Royal Flying Corp in England.
Colin had two brothers, Jack and Robert, and a sister, June. He enjoyed sports, especially cricket, swimming and basketball. He also participated in AFL football and tennis. During his teenage years he attended the Colac West State School and the Colac Agricultural High School. In 1930 he passed the entrance exams to Melbourne University but after leaving school began work as a baker’s apprentice, which lasted for a period of 3 months. He went on to work as a clerk and finally a manager for the Permewan Wright Limited. On the 13th of May 1939 Colin married Jean Simpson from Horsham. In December of the following year they had a son, Colin John.
Colin was working as a commission agent for the Vacuum Oil Company when he enlisted in the RAAF on the 4th of December 1942 at Tallangatta. He was allocated the Service Number 430019. He provided his residential address at ℅ Hutton’s Court House Hotel, Hansen St in Corryong. Colin’s initial training was conducted at the No. 11 Training School. After this he was sent to No. 11 Elementary Flight Training School at Launceston in Tasmania. It was here that personnel were sorted into what path they would continue to follow in the RAAF. Colin was chosen as an air gunner. He underwent further training as an air gunner and was promoted to Sergeant.
On the 4th of August 1943, Colin embarked for overseas service from Adelaide, arriving the following month in the UK. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme he was one of almost 27000 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners and engineers, who joined Australian and British squadron during the war.
He undertook further training and, on the 9th of March 1944, was posted to No. 463 Squadron RAAF. In early May he and his crew were flying back from a raid on Schweinfurt when evasive action caused two of the aircraft’s engines to fail. Just before dawn a third engine died, and the crew decided to attempt a landing in the English Channel, hoping to be picked up from the water. As they crossed the enemy coastline they were joined by a guard of friendly Spitfires. By jettisoning everything they could, they eventually made it back to English soil.
On the night of the 10th of May, 31 Lancaster bombers from 463 and 467 Squadrons, RAAF, departed as part of a major RAF raid from Waddington, England. Their target was the heavily defended railway yards in Lille in France. Colin was the mid-upper (dorsal) turret gunner of Lancaster Mk 1 bomber L.L.881 “JO-E” (see aircrafts nose art above), one of the squadrons few aircraft with an all-Australian Crew. Lancaster LL881 took off from RAF Wadington at 2214 hours. Their bomb load consisted of 1 x 4000 lb (1800kg), 6 x 1000 lb (450 kg) and 8 x 500 lb (225 kg) bombs.
Twelve Lancasters were lost on the raid, and 50 airmen were recorded as casualties. This included Colin. His Lancaster failed to return to base and was presumed shot down by enemy action. After the war it was discovered that the aircraft had exploded, and the bulk of wreckage fell onto a factory south of the target. The crew included: Flight Officer D.F. Ward (pilot), Pilot Officer W.J. Lewis (Flight Engineer), Flight Officer G.O. Jones (navigator), Flight Sergeant L.G. Mackenzie (air gunner/bombardier), Flight Sergeant J.H. Brown (wireless operator/air gunner), Flight Sergeant C.H. Eastgate (air gunner), and Flight Sergeant G.M. Dann (air gunner).
The bodies of the seven crew members were recovered by the Germans and interred in two separate cemeteries. Colin and five others were buried in the Forest-Sur-Marqe Communal Cemetery.
At the time of Colin’s death, his father, Ernest, was a Squadron leader in the RAAF stationed at the No. 1 School of Technical Training at the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. After Colin’s death, Jean and Colin jnr moved back to Horsham where they lived with Colin’s mother, Myrtle , at 28 Dimboola Road, in Horsham, Victoria. In April of 1945 Jean received notification that she had been granted a war pension of £5/19/- (equivalent to $481.75 in 2022) and per fortnight and a further £1/15/- ($141.69) per fortnight for Colin jnr.
Colin is remembered on the International Bomber Command Memorial, the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, the Horsham & District Cenotaph and War Memorial, and the Corryong War Memorial. For his service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.
Click images to start slideshow.