Air gunner
426 Squadron, RCAF
Killed in action 18 August 1943
Pilot officr Dos Santos was from Trinidad, but had enlisted in the RCAF in Canada.
He was a member of 426 (Thunderbird) Squadron and on the night of 17/18 August 1943 was part of the crew of Wing Commander Leslie Crooks DFC, DSO, the squadron commander.
The squadron was assigned to take part in the attack on the German research centre at Peenemunde and nine of its Lancasters took off on time and headed east.
Crooks' aircraft, DS-681 coded OW-V, was attacked by a night fighter. According to Martin Middlebrook in his book The Peenemunde Raid, at least one RAF airman saw Crooks' Lancaster going down.
‘Report No19 Greifswald, 2 miles S of, 00.50. Aircraft seen falling on fire but managed to get down and make a forced landing, finally bursting into flames on the deck after what appeared to be the third bounce.'
Crooks and most of his crew were on the 6th or 8th operation of their second tour, hence presumably why Dos Santos had been promoted to Pilot Officer.
The air bomber, Sgt Reading, bailed out and survived, but the remainder of the crew were killed. Reading and flight engineer Sgt John Hislop were replacements and both on their first mission.
Pilot: W/Cdr Leslie Crooks, 33, Peterborough, Northants
Flight engineer: Sgt John Hislop, 21, of Glasgow
Air bomber: Sgt Reading
Navigator: F/Sgt Alfred Howes, 21, Shepherds Bush, London
Wireless operator: F/Lt Francis Marsh DFC, Toronto
Air gunner: P/O Theophilus Dos Santos, 21, Trinidad
Air gunner: P/O Henry Smith, 24, Toronto
The crew is buried at the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.
On 28 May 1943 Squadron Leader Crooks award of the DSO was published in the London Gazette.
It reads as follows:
'As a Squadron Leader took part in No.426 Squadron's third operation, 21 January 1943; date of award incident was 26 April 1943; Commanding Officer of unit, 15 February to 17 August 1943 (missing, Peenemunde raid).
'This officer's courage and skill were admirably demonstrated during a recent attack on Duisburg. When approaching the target his aircraft was raked by cannon fire from an enemy fighter. Wing Commander Crooks skilfully evaded the attacker but his aircraft had sustained much damage.
'Although one aileron and half the port tail plane had been shot away, while the hydraulic and electrical systems were rendered inoperative, Wing Commander Crooks flew the bomber back to this country.
'Unfortunately, it was impossible to effect a safe landing, but when the crew were forced to abandon aircraft, all descended safely. In the face of heavy odds, Wing Commander Crooks set an example worthy of high praise.'
Crooks was born in Bishop Aukland and had lived in York. He enlisted in the RAF as an apprentice in 1927 and served as a Sergeant pilot in Iraq from 1935-1937. He was commissioned 1940 and awarded the DFC in February 1941 for services with No.58 Squadron.
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