Hoppy Hopgood: 'If I don't come back will you please destroy that letter'

[@concise707]

An important fact of the Dams mission not generally known is that Hopgood, (M - Mother), #2 in the attack on the Möehne and shot down during his run, had suffered significant damage on the way to the target. The port outer engine was hit and feathered, the front gunner (Gregory, not Sutherland) was probably killed as nothing more was heard from him for the rest of the mission. The wireless operator (Minchin) reported being ‘hit in the leg’; it was actually nearly severed, but that was not known about until nearly an hour later when the rear gunner found him crawling up the fuselage (have you seen inside a Lanc fuselage?) and assisted him to abandon the aircraft. During that time Minchin never uttered any complaint. The rear gunner (Burcher) was hit in the groin and stomach, which must have stung just a wee bit. The loss of the port outer meant that there was no power to the rear turret either. Hopgood himself was badly hit in the HEAD and continued to fly with the Engineer (Brennan) holding a handkerchief to the wound in an effort to staunch the serious blood loss. Despite these significant setbacks, Hopgood continued to the target with Gibson and Martin without a murmur and attacked unhesitatingly when ordered to do so. On 3 engines, with no suppressive fire from the front turret, he flew an accurate attack into the now thoroughly alerted defences and paid the price. However, even then, Hopgood’s heroism knew no bounds and he remained in control of a now blazing, fully asymmetric, aircraft while he tried to gain height for his crew to abandon the mortally hit Lancaster. Due to Hopgood’s gallant efforts, 3 of his crew DID get out, although the seriously injured Minchin did not survive the very low level abandonment. Bomb Aimer Fraser and Rear Gunner Burcher did get away with it, Burcher with a broken back after hitting the tailplane. They both only survived because they had the presence of mind to pull their ‘chutes INSIDE the aircraft and feed the canopy into the slipstream and be dragged out by it. Burcher landed, unable to move due to his injuries, immediately downstream of the dam that his colleagues were trying to destroy and in the path of any potential flood. The point of this comment is that, with all the criticism commonly levelled at the Military in general and Bomber Command in particular, the personal attributes of loyalty, bravery, selflessness and real heroism of this order should be recognised forever - and people reminded of it on a regular basis. Without doubt, Flt Lt John Vere 'Hoppy' Hopgood DFC*, aged 22, was deserving of the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross.

[@maxwellfan55]

Concise707 I am shocked and humbled at this rarely acknowledged account. I agree totally with your assessment regards awards and would have them extended to all of this crew.

[@simongarrettmusic]

Hear, Hear

[@johnhardman3]

The same point about posthumous medals would apply to other members of the squadron who carried out their attacks but didn't get back, such as Henry Young. In the disastrous 'Dortmund-Ems Canal' raid in Sept.,1943, Leslie Knight did everything to save his crew before his death:

[@globaleye8]

Many thanks for your comprehensive account of the sacrifice made by Hopgood and his crew...sobering stuff indeed...will should never forget them.

[@mattharte7334]

concise707 It's incredible to hear M - Mother's story and I agree your comments entirely, if ever anyone deserved a VC then it was Hopgood.

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Thank you so much for this! 💙

[@globaleye8]

Looking at Britain today.... whatever happened to men of this calibre ?

[@smfvmd]

Different gravy, mate.

[@Beverley617]

one of our heroes

[@ajg617]

Actually, Ken Brown in his 50th anniversary address told the story of John Burpee coming up to him while they were outside waiting on the buses to head to their aircraft and sticking out his hand saying good-bye Ken and Brown knew he wouldn't be coming back. Ken Brown's interview is on YT and is very interesting, particularly his interactions with Gibson.

[@davidgray2653]

How many young lads today would make the ultimate sacrifice that these young men did

[@lauriemoore7220]

Let's hope we never need to find out.

[@stephensmith4480]

Lots of them did in Afghanistan. When you take The Queen`s Shilling, or The Kings as it is now, you take what goes with it. Just like lads did in The Falklands, or Northern Ireland.

[@antyeardsley]

617 squadron forever.

[@neckoil]

thank you sir