14-15 August 1944 Warsaw supply-dropping mission, check of 178 Squadron ORB

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Who can tell me if any 178 Squadron aircraft, engaged in supply-dropping missions to Warsaw on 14-15 August 1944, were damaged by Flak in the target area?

Thanks for any details, Theo

[Pat Atkins]

No idea about 178 Sqdn a/c but in case it's helpful: on that night a 148 Sqdn Halifax II, JD319-G (pilot, W/O Larry Toft DFM), was hit and damaged by AA fire at 300 ft "over Vistula" before dropping supplies on Napoleon Square, Warsaw.

Apologies if this is irrelevant to your enquiry, Theo.

Cheers, Pat.

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks for the info Pat -I was under the impression that the 14-15 August 1944 Warsaw supply-dropping mission was carried out by 15 'heavies' of 31 and 178 Squadron and 1586 (Polish Special Operations) Flight, but it appears that 148 also contributed to the effort on this night.

And question re. 178 Squadron solved -thanks Carsten!

Cheers, Theo

[Theo Boiten]

.. one additional queston re the 14-15 August 1944 supply dropping mission: three 31 Squadron Liberators returned to base severely shot up by the intense light Flak hosed up over Warsaw on this night, but the 31 Sqn ORB does not give the serial numbers of these B-24s. Who has the serial numbers of these three a/c?

Thanks, Theo

[Col Bruggy]

Originally Posted by Pat Atkins

No idea about 178 Sqdn a/c but in case it's helpful: on that night a 148 Sqdn Halifax II, JD319-G (pilot, W/O Larry Toft DFM), was hit and damaged by AA fire at 300 ft "over Vistula" before dropping supplies on Napoleon Square, Warsaw.

Apologies if this is irrelevant to your enquiry, Theo.

Cheers, Pat.

Hello,

The pilot of No.148 Sqn Halifax JD319:'G' on 14/15 August, 1944, was, 1444455 F/Sgt (Pilot) Arthur John TOFT (later DFM).
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8389242
AIR 27/996/16 - No.148 Sqn ORB - 01/08/1944-31/08/1944 (F.541) Image 11 of 15.

Are A. J. Toft and "Larry" Toft, one and the same airman?

Col.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Col., and Theo

"Larry" was his nickname....he was also known as "Brazilian nut" since he was born in São Paulo-SP.

I was in touch with "Larry" Toft, DFM during a long time and met him in 2014 in the UK. We managed, thanks to the Brazilian Air Force (and specially his last Commanding Officer) to have him honored. Sadly he passed away less than 30 days short of the Cerimony...but he knew he would be "decorated" and remembered here.

I wrote a short article about him on a Brazilian Aviation magazine, which he passed to his crewmembers.

He was a very charming and dinamic "Gentleman"...the breed of men that fought for a better world and mankind will see no more. It was an Honour to have met him personally...and he drove us on his Rover, at 94 years!...

Most humbly yours,
Adriano Silva Baumgartner

[Col Bruggy]

Adriano,

Thanks for the clarification on A. J. Toft/"Larry" Toft. The question arose out of the index entries in Oliver Clutton-Brocks' book, Trusty To The End - The History of 148 (Special Duties) Squadron 1918-1945. Clutton-Brock has two entries in his index, one relates to, Toft, F/S AJ (pp.399, 434, & 324), the other example is, Toft, W/O L (pp.435, 436, 440 & 448). Both relate to the same individual. To complicate matters, it seems the index was compiled sometime before the final format of the book was decided, and most references are a page or two out of sequence. It looks as if pages were added to the book after the index was constructed.

The book itself is a shocker. It really should be reprinted by an organization with some concept of how to prepare a book for publication, ie, poor illustrations, text out of sequence, poor index (many citations missing) etc. Don't they employ copyeditors or proofreaders anymore? No complaints with Clutton-Brocks' work, that's fine, but the above problems make the book difficult to read/use as a reference.

Col.

[Pat Atkins]

As a nearly time-expired pilot Larry Toft converted my uncle Don to Halifaxes when he, Don, transferred to 148 Sdn from 624 Sqdn (where he flew Stirlings). I corresponded with Larry occasionally over matters 148 - I agree with Adriano, he was a really lovely guy and a very brave one.

Larry provided brief notes on this op (as Adriano knows): "14/15 Aug Warsaw. drop zone Napoleon Square. Over Vistula at 300 feet aircraft hit by anti aircraft fire, engines pierced and part of flap shot away. dropped 9 containers plus packages from 550 ft on preplanned timed run in - felt certain on target. DCO. 10hrs20." The Toft crew flew three of these overlong, dangerous ops between 11/12 and 16/17 August (and were then operational over N Italy a few short hours later) - the attrition rate at this time was considerable in 148 Sqdn.

Cheers, Pat