“ TA I L O F A TA L E G U N N E R”

GORDON P. ROLFE

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

MILITARY TRAINING

Morse Code Reading Aerial Warfare Tactics

Aircraft Recognition

Physical Training

Familiarization with .303 Browning

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

“Mac” The Navigator

EricWireless Operator

“Blackie”Pilot

“Jock”Flight

Engineer

GordonRear

Gunner

GeorgeMid Upper Gunner

Grant Bomb Aimer

OPERATIONS

1. LUDWIGSHAVEN - a chemical works centre 2. ULM - manufactured heavy army vehicles and fighting equipment 3. BONN - railway centre and railway marshalling yards4. 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 engines8. HANNOVER - industrial city9. NEUSS - large city with large railway marshalling yards10. MERSEBURG - another city with synthetic oil plants 11. BRUX - located in Czechoslovakia only time Gordon bombed outside of Germany synthetic oil plants

OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)

12. STUTTGART - large plants producing jet and Heinkel planes13. MANNHEIM - large railway marshalling yards and troop concentrations 14. BOTTROP - coking plant for synthetic production of oil 15. KLEVE - Nazi supply depot16. 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 instruments20. MANNHEIM - another railway centre 21. COLOGNE - industrial city and railway centre, contained the famous cologne cathedral which was billeting German troops

OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)22. DESSAU - large airplane factory producing Junkers fighters and bombers 23. CASSEL - factories producing tanks, trains, and jet fighters24. 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

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.

AIRCRAFT ALLIES

USAF Mustang Thunderbolt RCAF Spitfire

GORDON’S LEGACY

• In 2004, Gordon published his short novel “Tale of a Tail Gunner”

• Tale of a tail gunner is 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.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1939-45 Star Canadian Volunteer

Service Medal

France and Germany Star

War Medal 1939-45

PRESENT DAY

THE END