On 23 February 1945, Ted Swales took his final flight as Master Bomber for a raid on Pforzheim.

Edwin ‘Ted’ Swales was one of that select band of fighting men from the Commonwealth who answered the King’s call to defend the Empire against the evil tyranny of fascism.

Originally a soldier, he fought in the desert and at El Alamein before transferring to the South African Air Force (SAAF) and finally joining the Pathfinders’ elite 582 Squadron. He had nothing to prove, but constantly pushed himself and those that flew with him until he attained Master Bomber status and was briefed to lead the attack on Pforzheim on 23 February 1945.

Ted Swales and his crew and ground crew, February 1945. Ted is at the very top. Standing on the far right is his exceptional navigator, Dudley Archer, whose unique collection of flying logs and maps is held by the RAF Pathfinders Archive. The 23 February 1945 log and map are missing, clearly having gone down with the aircraft.

Among the other 582 Squadron Pathfinders supporting him that night was a cosmopolitan mix of Colonial and former-Colonial types helping to win the war for the Allies: a New Zealander, Flight Lieutenant Murray Nairn; an Australian, Flying Officer ‘Hal’ Mettam; an American, Flying Officer Oswald Interiano; an Irishman, Flight Lieutenant Paddy Finlay; and three Brits, William Underwood, Frank Lloyd and Jimmy Brown.

The attack comprising 367 Lancaster and 13 Mosquitoes went well, the marking and bombing being described as ‘particularly accurate’ in post raid reports and having inflicted damage of the most severe nature. More than 17,000 people were killed, one of the heaviest air-raid death tolls in Germany of the war, and more than 80% of the town’s built-up area was destroyed.[i]

Ted Swales, as Master Bomber, did his job well, but his aircraft was intercepted by a German nightfighter and badly damaged. With only two engines he decided first to make for neutral Switzerland before changing his mind and heading for home. The Lancaster soon became uncontrollable, however, and he ordered the crew to bail out, the last doing so at only just above the safe parachuting height. Immediately afterwards, the Lancaster – with Ted still at the controls – crashed into the ground.

Within 24 hours the extent of Ted Swales’ bravery was known. The commanding officer, Stafford Coulson, sat down to compose the ‘particulars of meritorious service’ for which the recommendation of a Victoria Cross – Britain’s highest award for gallantry – was being made. Coulson gave a full account of the raid, and Ted’s part in it. He wrote:

“Throughout this difficult and hazardous return journey, Captain Swales made it plain that he was determined to bring his aircraft and crew back without further damage, in the best interests of operational flying. When he found that this was no longer possible in toto, his only thought was for the safety of his crew. This latter was only ensured by his complete disregard for his own safety and his acceptance of certain death for himself.”

Stafford also cited two other examples of Swales’ bravery: the attack on Duisberg, when again he brought his crew safely home, and the daylight Cologne/Gremberg operation for which he received an immediate DFC.

The commanding officer’s recommendation was endorsed by the station commander (and former 582 Squadron commander) Group Captain Peter Cribb. He wrote:

“This is undoubtedly a superlative example of heroism and self-sacrifice. There can be no doubt that Captain Swales, fully aware of the risks involved, made a most determined effort to ensure the success of his mission […] Making up for his lack of experience by his resolution and tenacity, he has risen quickly to the status of master bomber, and it is in this capacity he has best demonstrated his qualities of heroism and unflinching devotion to duty. Having thus terminated a brilliant career by giving his own life that seven others might live, I most strongly recommend that he be awarded the Victoria Cross…”

The final word came on 2 March from Donald Bennett himself, who made a point of stressing the success of the attack in which Swales died:

“PRU [photo reconnaissance unit] cover of the target has subsequently proved that the attack was one of the most concentrated and successful of the war. He showed heroism beyond praise in sacrificing his own life in order to ensure the safety of his crew.”[ii]

SEAN FEAST, February 2026

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[i] The Bomber Command War Diaries, Middlebrook and Everitt, Viking Books (1985).

[ii] As quoted in Master Bombers, Sean Feast, Grub Street (2008).