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Gordon P. Rolfe

Gordon P. Rolfe . “Tail of a Tale Gunner”. Chapter 1: “Joining Up”. Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in early September 1943 to contribute to war efforts Posted to Manning Depot for basic training Then Dispatched to Winnipeg for Air Gunner training

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Gordon P. Rolfe

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  1. Gordon P. Rolfe “Tail of a Tale Gunner”

  2. Chapter 1: “Joining Up” • Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in early September 1943 to contribute to war efforts • Posted to Manning Depot for basic training • Then Dispatched to Winnipeg for Air Gunner training • After that he was directed to #3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Manitoba

  3. Military Training Morse Code Reading Aerial Warfare Tactics Aircraft Recognition Familiarization with .303 Browning Physical Training

  4. Chapter 2: “Across the Pond” • May 25th, 1944 Gordon began his trip over seas on the Empress of Scotland • Arrived in Southampton, England on June 1st, 1944 • Early July, Gord was posted to #83 O.T.U (Operation Training Unit) there he met his crew of seven who would accompany him in the Lancaster on many future missions. • Each member had his own responsibilities

  5. Eric Wireless Operator “Blackie” Pilot “Mac” The Navigator “Jock” Flight Engineer Gordon Rear Gunner George Mid Upper Gunner Grant Bomb Aimer

  6. Operations 1. LUDWIGSHAVEN - a chemical works centre 2. ULM - manufactured heavy army vehicles and fighting equipment 3. BONN - railway centre and railway marshalling yards 4. KOBLENZ - large railway marshalling yards 5. GELSENKIRCHEN-SCHOLVEN - made synthetic oil plants 6. OSTERFELD - railway marshalling yards 7. NUREMBURG - large city which enclosed a transportation and industrial centre. Industries including the production of tanks and Diesel engines 8. HANNOVER - industrial city 9. NEUSS - large city with large railway marshalling yards 10. MERSEBURG - another city with synthetic oil plants 11. BRUX - located in Czechoslovakia only time Gordon bombed outside of Germany synthetic oil plants

  7. Operations (Continued) 12. STUTTGART - large plants producing jet and Heinkel planes 13. MANNHEIM - large railway marshalling yards and troop concentrations 14. BOTTROP - coking plant for synthetic production of oil 15. KLEVE - Nazi supply depot 16. DRESDEN - large transportation centre 17. DORTMOND - railway centre and railway marshalling yard 18. DUISBURG - transportation centre in the Ruhr 19. PFORZHEIM - communication centre and manufactured precision instruments 20. MANNHEIM - another railway centre 21. COLOGNE - industrial city and railway centre, contained the famous cologne cathedral which was billeting German troops

  8. Operations (Continued) 22. DESSAU - large airplane factory producing Junkers fighters and bombers 23. CASSEL - factories producing tanks, trains, and jet fighters 24. HANNOVER - large railway centre 25. PADERBORN - transportation and rest centre for Nazi soldiers 26. NORDHAUSEN - Nazi troop concentration centre 27. LUTZKENDORF - synthetic oil plants 28. KIEL - shipbuilding yards and U-boat submarine pens (covered dock) purpose was to sink the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER and it was a success 29. PLAUEN - many railway marshalling yards 30. POTSDAM - suburb of Berlin which was a transportation and barracks for Nazi troops

  9. Ops Wing • The “Ops Wing” was awarded by the RCAF. • Given to a soldier once he completed his tour of operations. • When Gordon completed his tour of operations it had consisted of 30 operations.

  10. Aircraft Allies USAF Mustang Thunderbolt RCAF Spitfire

  11. Gordon’s Legacy • In 2004, Gordon published his short novel “Tale of a Tail Gunner” • Tale of a tail gunneris an autobiography of his experiences during world war two through December 15th, 1944 -April 14, 1945 • Includes his log book of 30 operations and events. 36 photos and illustrations.

  12. Achievements Canadian Volunteer Service Medal France and Germany Star 1939-45 Star War Medal 1939-45

  13. Present Day

  14. The End

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