Service number 432010 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Avro Lancaster III / NE168 / EM-F
207 Squadron
Pilot
Take Off Station Spilsby
Night Operations Houffalize: To attack German supply routes in the Belgian Ardennes
Crashed into woodland in the target area. The bodies of the crew were initially buried on a nearby farm.
Miguel Perez was born in Darwin on 19 August 1924 and was one of six children. Son Rafael Perez from Spain and his Filipino-Australian wife Mary. He completed his education in Sydney when the family was evacuated from the Northern Territory after the Japanese attacks on the city in February 1942.
During training he was involved in an undocumented aircraft accident on 26 July 1943 resulting in the deaths of Leading Aircraftmen Cedric Jones and Kenneth Smith. Three days after the incident Perez qualified as a Sergeant Pilot. He travelled to San Francisco and across America by train to New York before embarkation to England, arriving in late 1943. Promotion to Flight Sergeant came on the 29 January 1944. The next phase of his career was at an Operational Training Unit where he formed up with his new crew; navigator George Patterson, bomb aimer William Cleary, wireless operator John Kennedy and rear gunner Ken Otterwell. Kennedy a single man from Ayrshire was at 35 over the age of airmen usually associated with Bomber Command.
Now proficient in night flying, navigation, bombing, cross country and fighter affiliation the next move for Perez was to a Heavy Conversion Unit where it would be the first time the crew, now joined by flight engineer Edwin Deller and mid-upper gunner John Shepherd would fly in a Lancaster. With their training completed the crew received its first posting to an operational squadron, No.207 of Bomber Command, stationed at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. Miguel Perez was commissioned on 25 October 1944 and appointed Flying Officer on 7 December.
After a period of familiarisation exercises at their new base the 20 year old Australian skipper was detailed for a ‘second dickie’ trip to Munich on the 17/18 December 1944 with Flying Officer George Stenhouse, who had completed 27 operations. The trip was uneventful other than a malfunction which resulted in the complete bomb load being brought back to base.
Training continued through the Christmas period with the crew developing their efficiency and discipline under their young leader. At 07.47h on Monday 1 January 1945 they took off in Lancaster EM-F NE168 for what was to be their first operational flight as a complete crew. The target was Ladbergen and the Dortmund Ems Canal. The target was bombed at 11.20h and the rear gunner Sgt Ken Otterwell observed a good concentration and smoke rising from the canal. EM-F touched down safely at 13.37h, this time with their own hang up, a single 500lb GP bomb.
For the next trip to Royan on the French Atlantic Coast F/O Perez would be reunited with Lancaster PB295, the aircraft in which he completed his ‘second dickie’ trip. Take off was at 00.57h on 5 January 1945. With the bomber stream flying over Allied held territory Perez noted in his debrief. “Pretty good show. Practically unopposed.”
The following night, Saturday 6 January 1945 found the Perez crew again on the battle order. This time the target for the night’s operation would be Houffilize in the Belgium Ardennes to attack the German supply system. The crew were allocated their debut Lancaster EM-F NE168. This short penetration raid would be their last. At approximately 03.00h heading into the target area the aircraft was hit by a Flak burst, either in, or close to the bomb bay causing a catastrophic explosion. Such was the destruction the only member of the crew able to escape the aircraft was the rear gunner who was thrown clear.
The wreckage of NE168 fell scattered some 3km from Houffilize in the vicinity of Randoux Farm, which was occupied by German soldiers. Sgt Ken Otterwell landed with a badly injured foot and was taken to the farm. He was well treated by the Germans and taken away for medical treatment but lost a leg as a result of his injury. The remaining six bodies of the crew were not recovered until 1948 when their remains were discovered in dense woodland. They were buried on a nearby farm.
After an investigation, conducted in early 1949 only three of the crew could be positively identified; Sgt Deller the Flight Engineer, the Bomb Aimer F/Sgt Cleary and Mid-Upper Gunner Sgt Shepherd. All the bodies were reinterred in the Houffilize Communal Cemetery. F/O Perez, Sgt Patterson and Sgt Kennedy, the Pilot, Navigator and Wireless Operator are buried in a collective grave, each with an individual headstone. The six 207 Squadron aircrew rest with four members of a 61 Squadron Lancaster shot down on the same operation in similar circumstances.
Miguel Perez young life is honoured on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War memorial in Canberra and on a plaque on the Darwin Cenotaph. In addition, ‘Perez Street’ in the Darwin suburb of Wanguri is named in his memory.
Sources:
Mike Naylor
RAF operational records.PRO
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Philippines Newsletter
Avro Lancaster III / NE168 / EM-F
207 Squadron
Pilot
Take Off Station Spilsby
Night Operations Houffalize: To attack German supply routes in the Belgian Ardennes
Crashed into woodland in the target area. The bodies of the crew were initially buried on a nearby farm.
Miguel Perez was born in Darwin on 19 August 1924 and was one of six children. Son Rafael Perez from Spain and his Filipino-Australian wife Mary. He completed his education in Sydney when the family was evacuated from the Northern Territory after the Japanese attacks on the city in February 1942.
During training he was involved in an undocumented aircraft accident on 26 July 1943 resulting in the deaths of Leading Aircraftmen Cedric Jones and Kenneth Smith. Three days after the incident Perez qualified as a Sergeant Pilot. He travelled to San Francisco and across America by train to New York before embarkation to England, arriving in late 1943. Promotion to Flight Sergeant came on the 29 January 1944. The next phase of his career was at an Operational Training Unit where he formed up with his new crew; navigator George Patterson, bomb aimer William Cleary, wireless operator John Kennedy and rear gunner Ken Otterwell. Kennedy a single man from Ayrshire was at 35 over the age of airmen usually associated with Bomber Command.
Now proficient in night flying, navigation, bombing, cross country and fighter affiliation the next move for Perez was to a Heavy Conversion Unit where it would be the first time the crew, now joined by flight engineer Edwin Deller and mid-upper gunner John Shepherd would fly in a Lancaster. With their training completed the crew received its first posting to an operational squadron, No.207 of Bomber Command, stationed at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. Miguel Perez was commissioned on 25 October 1944 and appointed Flying Officer on 7 December.
After a period of familiarisation exercises at their new base the 20 year old Australian skipper was detailed for a ‘second dickie’ trip to Munich on the 17/18 December 1944 with Flying Officer George Stenhouse, who had completed 27 operations. The trip was uneventful other than a malfunction which resulted in the complete bomb load being brought back to base.
Training continued through the Christmas period with the crew developing their efficiency and discipline under their young leader. At 07.47h on Monday 1 January 1945 they took off in Lancaster EM-F NE168 for what was to be their first operational flight as a complete crew. The target was Ladbergen and the Dortmund Ems Canal. The target was bombed at 11.20h and the rear gunner Sgt Ken Otterwell observed a good concentration and smoke rising from the canal. EM-F touched down safely at 13.37h, this time with their own hang up, a single 500lb GP bomb.
For the next trip to Royan on the French Atlantic Coast F/O Perez would be reunited with Lancaster PB295, the aircraft in which he completed his ‘second dickie’ trip. Take off was at 00.57h on 5 January 1945. With the bomber stream flying over Allied held territory Perez noted in his debrief. “Pretty good show. Practically unopposed.”
The following night, Saturday 6 January 1945 found the Perez crew again on the battle order. This time the target for the night’s operation would be Houffilize in the Belgium Ardennes to attack the German supply system. The crew were allocated their debut Lancaster EM-F NE168. This short penetration raid would be their last. At approximately 03.00h heading into the target area the aircraft was hit by a Flak burst, either in, or close to the bomb bay causing a catastrophic explosion. Such was the destruction the only member of the crew able to escape the aircraft was the rear gunner who was thrown clear.
The wreckage of NE168 fell scattered some 3km from Houffilize in the vicinity of Randoux Farm, which was occupied by German soldiers. Sgt Ken Otterwell landed with a badly injured foot and was taken to the farm. He was well treated by the Germans and taken away for medical treatment but lost a leg as a result of his injury. The remaining six bodies of the crew were not recovered until 1948 when their remains were discovered in dense woodland. They were buried on a nearby farm.
After an investigation, conducted in early 1949 only three of the crew could be positively identified; Sgt Deller the Flight Engineer, the Bomb Aimer F/Sgt Cleary and Mid-Upper Gunner Sgt Shepherd. All the bodies were reinterred in the Houffilize Communal Cemetery. F/O Perez, Sgt Patterson and Sgt Kennedy, the Pilot, Navigator and Wireless Operator are buried in a collective grave, each with an individual headstone. The six 207 Squadron aircrew rest with four members of a 61 Squadron Lancaster shot down on the same operation in similar circumstances.
Miguel Perez young life is honoured on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War memorial in Canberra and on a plaque on the Darwin Cenotaph. In addition, ‘Perez Street’ in the Darwin suburb of Wanguri is named in his memory.
Sources:
Mike Naylor
RAF operational records.PRO
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Philippines Newsletter
Service number 432010 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Avro Lancaster III / NE168 / EM-F
207 Squadron
Pilot
Take Off Station Spilsby
Night Operations Houffalize: To attack German supply routes in the Belgian Ardennes
Crashed into woodland in the target area. The bodies of the crew were initially buried on a nearby farm.
Miguel Perez was born in Darwin on 19 August 1924 and was one of six children. Son Rafael Perez from Spain and his Filipino-Australian wife Mary. He completed his education in Sydney when the family was evacuated from the Northern Territory after the Japanese attacks on the city in February 1942.
During training he was involved in an undocumented aircraft accident on 26 July 1943 resulting in the deaths of Leading Aircraftmen Cedric Jones and Kenneth Smith. Three days after the incident Perez qualified as a Sergeant Pilot. He travelled to San Francisco and across America by train to New York before embarkation to England, arriving in late 1943. Promotion to Flight Sergeant came on the 29 January 1944. The next phase of his career was at an Operational Training Unit where he formed up with his new crew; navigator George Patterson, bomb aimer William Cleary, wireless operator John Kennedy and rear gunner Ken Otterwell. Kennedy a single man from Ayrshire was at 35 over the age of airmen usually associated with Bomber Command.
Now proficient in night flying, navigation, bombing, cross country and fighter affiliation the next move for Perez was to a Heavy Conversion Unit where it would be the first time the crew, now joined by flight engineer Edwin Deller and mid-upper gunner John Shepherd would fly in a Lancaster. With their training completed the crew received its first posting to an operational squadron, No.207 of Bomber Command, stationed at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. Miguel Perez was commissioned on 25 October 1944 and appointed Flying Officer on 7 December.
After a period of familiarisation exercises at their new base the 20 year old Australian skipper was detailed for a ‘second dickie’ trip to Munich on the 17/18 December 1944 with Flying Officer George Stenhouse, who had completed 27 operations. The trip was uneventful other than a malfunction which resulted in the complete bomb load being brought back to base.
Training continued through the Christmas period with the crew developing their efficiency and discipline under their young leader. At 07.47h on Monday 1 January 1945 they took off in Lancaster EM-F NE168 for what was to be their first operational flight as a complete crew. The target was Ladbergen and the Dortmund Ems Canal. The target was bombed at 11.20h and the rear gunner Sgt Ken Otterwell observed a good concentration and smoke rising from the canal. EM-F touched down safely at 13.37h, this time with their own hang up, a single 500lb GP bomb.
For the next trip to Royan on the French Atlantic Coast F/O Perez would be reunited with Lancaster PB295, the aircraft in which he completed his ‘second dickie’ trip. Take off was at 00.57h on 5 January 1945. With the bomber stream flying over Allied held territory Perez noted in his debrief. “Pretty good show. Practically unopposed.”
The following night, Saturday 6 January 1945 found the Perez crew again on the battle order. This time the target for the night’s operation would be Houffilize in the Belgium Ardennes to attack the German supply system. The crew were allocated their debut Lancaster EM-F NE168. This short penetration raid would be their last. At approximately 03.00h heading into the target area the aircraft was hit by a Flak burst, either in, or close to the bomb bay causing a catastrophic explosion. Such was the destruction the only member of the crew able to escape the aircraft was the rear gunner who was thrown clear.
The wreckage of NE168 fell scattered some 3km from Houffilize in the vicinity of Randoux Farm, which was occupied by German soldiers. Sgt Ken Otterwell landed with a badly injured foot and was taken to the farm. He was well treated by the Germans and taken away for medical treatment but lost a leg as a result of his injury. The remaining six bodies of the crew were not recovered until 1948 when their remains were discovered in dense woodland. They were buried on a nearby farm.
After an investigation, conducted in early 1949 only three of the crew could be positively identified; Sgt Deller the Flight Engineer, the Bomb Aimer F/Sgt Cleary and Mid-Upper Gunner Sgt Shepherd. All the bodies were reinterred in the Houffilize Communal Cemetery. F/O Perez, Sgt Patterson and Sgt Kennedy, the Pilot, Navigator and Wireless Operator are buried in a collective grave, each with an individual headstone. The six 207 Squadron aircrew rest with four members of a 61 Squadron Lancaster shot down on the same operation in similar circumstances.
Miguel Perez young life is honoured on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War memorial in Canberra and on a plaque on the Darwin Cenotaph. In addition, ‘Perez Street’ in the Darwin suburb of Wanguri is named in his memory.
Sources:
Mike Naylor
RAF operational records.PRO
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Philippines Newsletter
Avro Lancaster III / NE168 / EM-F
207 Squadron
Pilot
Take Off Station Spilsby
Night Operations Houffalize: To attack German supply routes in the Belgian Ardennes
Crashed into woodland in the target area. The bodies of the crew were initially buried on a nearby farm.
Miguel Perez was born in Darwin on 19 August 1924 and was one of six children. Son Rafael Perez from Spain and his Filipino-Australian wife Mary. He completed his education in Sydney when the family was evacuated from the Northern Territory after the Japanese attacks on the city in February 1942.
During training he was involved in an undocumented aircraft accident on 26 July 1943 resulting in the deaths of Leading Aircraftmen Cedric Jones and Kenneth Smith. Three days after the incident Perez qualified as a Sergeant Pilot. He travelled to San Francisco and across America by train to New York before embarkation to England, arriving in late 1943. Promotion to Flight Sergeant came on the 29 January 1944. The next phase of his career was at an Operational Training Unit where he formed up with his new crew; navigator George Patterson, bomb aimer William Cleary, wireless operator John Kennedy and rear gunner Ken Otterwell. Kennedy a single man from Ayrshire was at 35 over the age of airmen usually associated with Bomber Command.
Now proficient in night flying, navigation, bombing, cross country and fighter affiliation the next move for Perez was to a Heavy Conversion Unit where it would be the first time the crew, now joined by flight engineer Edwin Deller and mid-upper gunner John Shepherd would fly in a Lancaster. With their training completed the crew received its first posting to an operational squadron, No.207 of Bomber Command, stationed at Spilsby in Lincolnshire. Miguel Perez was commissioned on 25 October 1944 and appointed Flying Officer on 7 December.
After a period of familiarisation exercises at their new base the 20 year old Australian skipper was detailed for a ‘second dickie’ trip to Munich on the 17/18 December 1944 with Flying Officer George Stenhouse, who had completed 27 operations. The trip was uneventful other than a malfunction which resulted in the complete bomb load being brought back to base.
Training continued through the Christmas period with the crew developing their efficiency and discipline under their young leader. At 07.47h on Monday 1 January 1945 they took off in Lancaster EM-F NE168 for what was to be their first operational flight as a complete crew. The target was Ladbergen and the Dortmund Ems Canal. The target was bombed at 11.20h and the rear gunner Sgt Ken Otterwell observed a good concentration and smoke rising from the canal. EM-F touched down safely at 13.37h, this time with their own hang up, a single 500lb GP bomb.
For the next trip to Royan on the French Atlantic Coast F/O Perez would be reunited with Lancaster PB295, the aircraft in which he completed his ‘second dickie’ trip. Take off was at 00.57h on 5 January 1945. With the bomber stream flying over Allied held territory Perez noted in his debrief. “Pretty good show. Practically unopposed.”
The following night, Saturday 6 January 1945 found the Perez crew again on the battle order. This time the target for the night’s operation would be Houffilize in the Belgium Ardennes to attack the German supply system. The crew were allocated their debut Lancaster EM-F NE168. This short penetration raid would be their last. At approximately 03.00h heading into the target area the aircraft was hit by a Flak burst, either in, or close to the bomb bay causing a catastrophic explosion. Such was the destruction the only member of the crew able to escape the aircraft was the rear gunner who was thrown clear.
The wreckage of NE168 fell scattered some 3km from Houffilize in the vicinity of Randoux Farm, which was occupied by German soldiers. Sgt Ken Otterwell landed with a badly injured foot and was taken to the farm. He was well treated by the Germans and taken away for medical treatment but lost a leg as a result of his injury. The remaining six bodies of the crew were not recovered until 1948 when their remains were discovered in dense woodland. They were buried on a nearby farm.
After an investigation, conducted in early 1949 only three of the crew could be positively identified; Sgt Deller the Flight Engineer, the Bomb Aimer F/Sgt Cleary and Mid-Upper Gunner Sgt Shepherd. All the bodies were reinterred in the Houffilize Communal Cemetery. F/O Perez, Sgt Patterson and Sgt Kennedy, the Pilot, Navigator and Wireless Operator are buried in a collective grave, each with an individual headstone. The six 207 Squadron aircrew rest with four members of a 61 Squadron Lancaster shot down on the same operation in similar circumstances.
Miguel Perez young life is honoured on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War memorial in Canberra and on a plaque on the Darwin Cenotaph. In addition, ‘Perez Street’ in the Darwin suburb of Wanguri is named in his memory.
Sources:
Mike Naylor
RAF operational records.PRO
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Philippines Newsletter
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