Hauptmann Gerhard Raht

1920-1977

Informations trouvées sur Internet…

La source est Carsten Petersen

Re: Hauptman Gerhard Raht

Sun Mar 16, 2008 02:28

Gerhard Rath was born on the 6th of June, 1920 in Reinfeld in Holstein.

He came in the spring of 1942 to 4./NJG 3 in as a young Leutnant. He shot down his first plane in the night 26/27 July 1942.

On the night 17/18 January 1943 Lt Rath (with Fw Durssen and Ofr Novak) shot down a Lancaster assisted by 10./212.

In the night between the 29th of 30th of July 1943 he shot down three British bombers (his victories 8-10). He was at that time one of the more successful pilots in II./NJG 3 and had at the end of 1943 16 victories. He had recieved the Ehrenpokal on the 6th of September 1943.

He was on the 13th of December 1943 shot down during a day operations. His Ju 88C-6 Werk Nr 750371 crashed near Itzehoe. The crew parachuted and Rath escaped unharmed. Uffz Anton Heinemann and Uffz Werner Hesse were wounded.

Rath shot down four bombers during one night on the 22/23 March 1944 (victories 22-26). He recieved the Ritterkreuz after 34th victories on the 24th of June 1944. He was at that time a Hauptmann.

He had at that time transferred to 1./NJG 2 at Langensalza, where he was appointed the Staffelkapitän on the 1st of April 1944. He recieved the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on the 3rd of April 1944.

He was already on the 13th of May 1944 promoted to Gruppenkommandeur I./NJG 2.

During the night of 7/8 July 1944 he managed to shoot down three bombers (victories 36-38) and had at the end of 1944 42 victories. He was rather successful in shooting down several bombers during one night.

7/8 February 1945 – 6 bombers (victories 46-51)
3/4 March 2 bombers (Fernnachtjagd England)
15/16 March 5 bombers (victories 54-58)He received the Eichenlaub [Couronne de chêne tissé à partir de feuilles de chêne] on the 15th of April 1945 and finished the war with 58 victories during 171 missions.

Gerhard Rath died on the 11th of January 1977 in Reinfeld.

Victories

17.01.43 Ltn. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster 756 4E9 3000 m 21.59
10.03.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 5./NJG 3 Lancaster 964 8H7 at 4500 m 22.12
30.03.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 5./NJG 2 Halifax 957 2E9 5300 m 00.50
17.06.43 Oblt. Raht I./NJG 1 Lancaster 05 Ost S/KH-57 6200 m 02.08
22.06.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 1./NJG 1 Stirling 12 km W Antwerp 3800 m 01.32
25.06.43 Oblt. Raht 1./NJG 1 Lancaster Ostw Mönschau 3100 m 00.25
29.07.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg Hannover 4800 m 23.10
30.07.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster bei Warseln 6000 m 00.23
30.07.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Halifax II 1 km SE Rederstall 5900 m 00.40
30.07.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht Stab II./NJG 3 Halifax II 1 km S Tellingsbeek 6000 m 00.52
18.08.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht Stab II./NJG 3 Lancaster 3 km E Flensburg 3500 m 02.57
24.08.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht Stab II./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg Berlin 3500 m 00.58
27.09.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-motor Hannover 4800 m 23.10
20.10.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg 15 km NE Stendal 6000 m 20.15
20.10.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster AQ-43G 6000 m [Haguenau] 22.35
22.10.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster AQ-43g 6000 m [Haguenau] 22.35
01.12.43 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Halifax [Frisians-Denmark] 17.54
15.02.44 Oblt. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster N.O. Hadersleben at 5.200m 20.03
24.02.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg 300 m Kels a. Baden-Baden 5.600m 22.02
25.02.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg Slügsberg W. München 6.000m 22.43

15.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg S.W. Stuttgart 5.700m 23.12

22.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg Raum Hannover 6.200m 21.28
22.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg N.W. Frankfurt-Main 21.48
22.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg N. Frankfurt-am-Main 21.52
22.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg W.N.W. Frankfurt-Main 6.000m 22.14
24.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg Obj. Berlin 5.300m 22.28
31.03.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg  » S.W. Bonn gegend FuFIda » 5.000m 00.26
23.04.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Halifax S.S.W. Objekt Target 6.000m 01.23
23.04.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster W.N.W. Düsseldorf 5.000m 01.44
25.04.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 4-mot Flzg 30-40 km. S. Fl.Pl. Echterdingen 4.500m 02.43
27.04.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 4./NJG 3 Lancaster Schweinfurt 4.500m 02.15
12.06.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot Flzg Franz. küste 1.500m 00.53
23.06.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht 34 Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot Flzg S.E. Compiègne 3.000m 00.37
01.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 Lancaster Raüm Bailleau 2.400m 01.44
08.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot. Flgz. 05 Ost S/AB-AC 3.500m 01.05
08.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot. Flgz. 05 Ost S/AE 3.400m 01.11
08.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot. Flgz. 05 Ost S/TD-TE 3.200m 01.29
19.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot Flzg 04 Ost N/AG 2.500m Coulommiers 02.07
19.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot Flzg 04 Ost N/FF at 3.200m Gien 02.17
29.07.44 Hptm. Gerhard Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot. Flgz. EG-FG at 2.500m 00.45
26.08.44 Hptm. Raht Stab I./NJG 2 4-mot. Flgz. E.S.E. Kaiserslautern 01.53

 

 

Toutes les 58 victoires ne sont pas sur le forum. Je sais par contre que le 15 mars 1945 il va abattre le Halifax de Roland Laporte.

 

 

Tous auront la vie sauve sauf l’ingénieur de bord Rodrigue Arcand.

 

l’ingénieur Rodrigue Arcand

Le père de Laurent Lamontagne n’a jamais oublié cette mission du 15 mars 1945…

le sans-filiste Jacques P. Lamontagne

Sous-lieutenant d’aviation Joseph Jules Rodrigue Arcand – Prise Deux

Archives Canada commence la numérisation des dossiers militaires de ceux morts durant la guerre.

Cliquez ici pour voir le dossier de cet aviateur.

En 2010, j’avais écrit ce billet alors qu’on cherchait à en savoir plus sur ce flight engineer, un des rares Canadiens a occupé cette fonction dans un équipage de la RCAF du Bomber Command.

Voici le dernier aviateur sur qui Nicolas cherche des informations.

À la mémoire de
Sous-lieutenant d’aviation
JOSEPH JULES RODRIGUE  ARCAND
décédé le 15 mars 1945

Service militaire :

Numéro matricule : J/94671

Âge : 22

Force : Aviation militaire

Unité :  Aviation royale du Canada

Division : 425 Sqdn.

Renseignements supplémentaires :

Fils de David et Jeanne Arcand, de Trois-Rivières, province de Québec, Canada.

Informations sur le lieu d’inhumation :

Cimetière :
CIMETIÈRE DE GUERRE D’HOTTON
Belgique

J’ai trouvé ceci sur le site de Richard Koval…

Cliquez sur l’image

J’ai fait un montage avec une des photos…

La citation pour la DFC de Roland Laporte

Je ne pense pas que vous lisez tout ce que j’écris sur ce blogue dédié à l’escadrille 425 Alouette.

Ce n’est pas mon but tout comme je ne voulais pas que vous lisiez toutes les neuf pages du document de Pierre Gauthier.

Ce diaporama nécessite JavaScript.

Mon but c’est de vous faire découvrir l’histoire de cette escadrille et de vous intéresser à m’écrire comme l’a fait le neveu de Rodrigue Arcand qui a partagé le peu qu’il connaissait au sujet de son oncle.

Cette citation se trouve sur le site Internet Airforce.ca.

On y mentionne la mission où le flight engineer Rodrigue Arcand a trouvé la mort dans l’écrasement du Halifax que pilotait Roland Laporte.

LAPORTE, F/L Joseph Roland Serge Yvan (J6958)

– Distinguished Flying Cross

– No.425 Squadron

– Award effective 18 May 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1085/45 dated 29 June 1945. Sequence on names on pay card appears as Joseph Serge Yvan Rolland Laporte.

Born in Montreal, February 1918; home there (salesman); enlisted there 8 September 1939 as Aero Engine Mechanic. To Technical Training School, St. Thomas, 16 December 1939. Promoted AC1, 1 July 1940; to Ottawa, 17 July 1940; to No.2 SFTS, 31 July 1940. Remustered to aircrew, 23 March 1941 when he reverted to AC2 and was posted to No.3 ITS; graduated 21 April 1941 when posted to No.11 EFTS; graduated 9 June 1941 when posted to No.6 SFTS; graduated and commissioned 20 August 1941. To Trenton, 21 August 1941. To No.13 SFTS, 22 November 1941. To No.11 EFTS, 12 December 1942. Attained rank of Flight Lieutenant, 1 June 1943. To No.13 SFTS again, 8 January 1944. Posting date from there uncertain but taken on strength of No.3 PRC, 13 April 1944.

With his crew he reported from No.76 Base to No.425 Squadron, 23 December 1944. Repatriated 13 June 1945. Retired 13 September 1945. Re-engaged, 2 October 1946 as Flight Lieutenant, No.438 (Auxiliary) Squadron, Montreal. Retired 25 August 1948 to live in Trois Rivieres. Photo PL-42488 shows him. DFC and Bar presented 24 August 1948.

One night in March 1945, this officer was detailed to attack Chemnitz. Before reaching the French coast the distant reading compass became unserviceable and a little later the starboard engine failed. Undeterred, this officer continued to the target which was bombed most effectively. On the return journey the aircraft came under fire from the ground defences and sustained several hits. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Laporte flew back to base and landed safely. This officer, who has completed many sorties has invariably displayed a high degree of skill and resolution.

LAPORTE, F/L Joseph Roland Serge Yvan, DFC (J6958) – Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross – No.425 Squadron – Award effective 3 July 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945.

This officer was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Hagen one night in March 1945. The target was successfully attacked, but whilst photographs of the bombing were being taken, the aircraft was hit several times by anti-aircraft fire. A little later, the bomber was engaged by two enemy fighters. The enemy came in with guns blazing. Flight Lieutenant Laporte’s aircraft was struck by a stream of bullets. Considerable damage was sustained. The starboard engine burst into flames. A fire commenced in the fuselage but it was extinguished by a member of the crew. Unfortunately, the flames in the burning engine could not be controlled. It became imperative to abandon the aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Laporte gave the necessary order. Ammunition was exploding intermittently as his comrades jumped. In these harassing moments, Flight Lieutenant Laporte, who had been struck by a bullet which passed through both his elbows, displayed great coolness, remaining at the controls until his crew members were clear. As he was preparing to leave, an explosion occurred. Flight Lieutenant Laporte was thrown to the floor. He got clear of the debris, however, and jumped to safety. This officer set a magnificent example of courage, coolness and resolution.

The crew (which had reported to the squadron with him in December 1944) were as follows: J42771 F/O Joseph Achille Louis Phillipe Rodrique (navigator), R164759/J42771 WO2 Jacques Pacifique Lamontagne (WAG), J40677 F/O John Hilliard Foley (bomb aimer, killed in a Harvard, 22 March 1949), Can 8166A/J94977 Flight Sergeant Joseph Rene Raymond St. Onge (rear gunner), R253830/J94932 Sergeant Joseph Laurent Veronneau (mid-upper gunner) and R177470/J94671 Sergeant Joseph Jules Rodrique Arcand (flight engineer, killed 15/16 March 1945 in the incident described below and which won him Laporte the Bar to DFC. The events involved Halifax III PN172 G/425, airborne 1730 hours.

The Form 541 entry read as follows:

Target: Hagen. Bomb load: same as “I”. Weather clear with visibility good. Target identified by red Target Indicator built up area and Gee homing. Bombed centre of smoke as directed by Master Bomber from 18,7000 feet at 2036 hours, 156 mph, heading unknown. Master Bomber heard clearly giving good instructions. Target well marked and bombing appeared well placed. Smoke was rising to 3/4,000 feet. At target, 2037 hours, 18,700 feet, hit by flak just near mid-upper position, putting hole through flooring. At 2118 hours in the Charleroi area at 9,000 feet we were attacked by a fighter. Six members of the crew baled out successfully but the Flight Engineer, R177470 Sergeant J.R. Arcand was killed.

Prior to being attacked, the Mid-Upper gunner saw unidentified twin-engined aircraft 500 feet below flying on a reciprocal course. Before this the Rear gunner had given corkscrew starboard as he thought he saw what might have been an aircraft firing about 1,000 yards astern and approaching quickly. About two minutes after seeing the aircraft on reciprocal course the bomb aimer, having moved to the Navigator position saw tracer from starboard and below, pass through the nose of the aircraft, blowing it off. Other bullets struck the starboard inner engine, setting it on fire as well as the starboard side of the fuselage and inside the cockpit just behind the Engineer’s position. The Engineer tried to extinguish the fire without much success. Following this there was another attack which set the starboard outer engine on fire.

Pieces started to come off the starboard main plane. The Engineer was going back to fight the fire inside. The pilot feathered the engine and used the engine extinguisher. He gave order to the crew to abandon aircraft and held aircraft under control. When, apparently, everyone had jumped, the pilot rose from his seat, to realize that his harness was caught in the “windshield de-icer pump.” He got back on the seat and at same time getting free from the pump. He was getting ready to jump when he was suddenly thrown to the floor where his left foot got caught in between the window ‘chute and the wireless panel. He managed to push himself with his right foot towards the hatch, where he was sucked out with terrific force, his two boots remaining in the aircraft. The five members landed successfully. None of them can understand why the Engineer did not leave the aircraft as he was beside the rear escape hatch with the mid-upper gunner. The latter states that the engineer was working at the leg straps of his harness when last seen. It is believed that he went down with the aircraft but I can give no explanation as to why he did not jump. His body was found where the aircraft crashed. The aircraft crashed approximately 4 ½ miles northwest of Gosselines, Belgium. During the attack, none of the gunners opened fire. One crew member’s watch read 2130 hours as he was descending by parachute. The only injuries suffered by some members of the crew were strained ankles. All returned to this unit.

 

J’en connais beaucoup sur l’escadrille 425 Alouette, une escadrille dont j’ignorais même l’existence en 2010 avant de rencontrer un vétéran, puis un autre, et un autre, et un autre, et un autre…

La mémoire joue des tours après 20 ans, 30 ans, 40 ans, 50 ans, 60 ans…

Mais pas le logbook.

Le logbook ne ment jamais comme me le racontait Jean-Paul Corbeil encore hier lors de ma 15e rencontre avec lui depuis 2010.  On ne pouvait pas y écrire n’importe quoi comme il me l’avait déjà raconté en octobre dernier.

Cliquez ici…

Le mécanicien de l’équipage Laporte

Roland Laporte terminait son témoignage comme ceci…

J’identifie le cadavre trouvé dans les débris comme étant celui du mécanicien de bord. Puis nous partons à la recherche des autres membres de l’équipage. Une équipe de secouristes américains nous apprend alors qu’ils sont déjà rendus au dispensaire, où nous les retrouvons peu après, souffrant de contusions mineures, mais sains et saufs.

Le mécanicien c’était un petit gars de Trois-Rivières…

1923-1945

J’en avais déjà parlé en 2010, car il était un aviateur sur lequel Nicolas Clinaz cherchait des informations.

À la mémoire de
Sous-lieutenant d’aviation
JOSEPH JULES RODRIGUE  ARCAND
décédé le 15 mars 1945

Service militaire :

Numéro matricule : J/94671

Âge : 22

Force : Aviation militaire

Unité :  Aviation royale du Canada

Division : 425 Squadron

Renseignements supplémentaires :

Fils de David et Jeanne Arcand, de Trois-Rivières, province de Québec, Canada.

Informations sur le lieu d’inhumation :

Cimetière :
CIMETIÈRE DE GUERRE D’HOTTON
Belgique

Pour mieux me documenter, j’avais trouvé ceci sur le site de Richard Koval où on voyait l’équipage de Laporte…

Puis, j’avais fait un montage avec une des photos…

Quatre ans plus tard, son neveu m’a écrit et m’a envoyé des images de son logbook que j’avais partagé.

La dernière entrée dans le logbook…

15            Haly G                   F/L La Porte  Engr    OPS Hagen  Reported missing

 

L’équipage de Laporte

C’est l’équipage de Laporte qui a été descendu au-dessus de la Belgique. Tous ont sauté en parachute sauf Rodrigue Arcand.

Rodrigue n’écrira jamais ses souvenirs de guerre. Il ne parlera jamais de ses souvenirs de guerre comme le mitrailleur Laurent Veronneau en a parlé.

Guy Tremblay en a parlé ici.

Je vais laisser parler le logbook de Rodrigue comme j’ai fait parler le logbook de Jacques Morin. On se revoit la prochaine fois, le temps de vous laisser lire les textes de Guy Tremblay sur Laurent Véronneau.

Le début et la fin de son service outre-mer

Son arrivée en Angleterre… 5 juillet 1944

No. 3 Personal Reception Centre

Un télégramme adressé à son père… 22 mars 1945

 Veuillez accepter mes condoléances profondes…

 

Le logbook de Rodrigue Arcand

Je viens de recevoir le logbook de Rodrigue Arcand. Je vais le mettre en ligne tout de suite et y revenir la semaine prochaine.

À venir… Un hommage à Joseph Rodrigue Arcand

Un petit gars de Trois-Rivières…

1923-1945

J’en avais déjà parlé.

Voici le dernier aviateur sur qui Nicolas cherche des informations.

À la mémoire de
Sous-lieutenant d’aviation
JOSEPH JULES RODRIGUE  ARCAND
décédé le 15 mars 1945

Service militaire :

Numéro matricule : J/94671

Âge : 22

Force : Aviation militaire

Unité :  Aviation royale du Canada

Division : 425 Sqdn.

Renseignements supplémentaires :

Fils de David et Jeanne Arcand, de Trois-Rivières, province de Québec, Canada.

Informations sur le lieu d’inhumation :

Cimetière :
CIMETIÈRE DE GUERRE D’HOTTON
Belgique

J’ai trouvé ceci sur le site de Richard Koval…

J’ai fait un montage avec une des photos…