BATTLE OF BRITAIN ‘LACE’
102-year-old RAAF Bomber Command veteran Howard Hendrick DFC OAM has sadly passed away.
Howard Hendrick DFC OAM was born in October 1923, the son of a soldier settler. He attended primary and secondary school at Renmark.
On ANZAC Day 1942, at the age of 18, he joined the RAAF. Completing flying training at Parafield and Deniliquin he obtained his Wings and was sent to England to serve with Bomber Command.
Posted to 460SQN in June 1944, he completed 31 operational missions including flying as pilot B for Baker – all with the same crew! On one of his early missions in mid-September 1944 targeting Frankfurt, they encountered German fighters while ingressing to the target. Seeing tracer fire fly past his cockpit window, the Lancaster then got caught in multiple German search lights. Howard immediately opened the bomb doors and directed the bomber aimer to release their bombs to lighten the load of the aircraft to allow it to go into evasive manoeuvring. He then closed the bombs doors and immediately threw the aircraft into a downward corkscrew spiral descending rapidly from 22,000 feet to 6,000 feet. The aircraft rapidly descended and shook violently but the German fighters gave up. Howard then arrested the violent dive that he had put the aircraft into and nursed the aircraft back to base, the crew exhausted but relieved.
The aircraft was inspected the next day and declared a write off with wing rivets having been sprung, fuel tanks moved and bolts connecting the major spurs fractured highlighting the immense violent manoeuvring Howard had put the aircraft through to evade the German fighters. But, he saved his crew that night.
He again saved his crew on 2 January on a mission targeting Nuremberg deep into Germany. After dropping bombs and on their return to base, the aircraft was suddenly hit by flak causing the outer port engine to erupt in a ball of flame and loss of the mid-upper gun turret. Howard feathered the engine and threw the aircraft into a dive to try to extinguish the engine fire.
Extinguishing the outer engine, Howard then found the flames and flak had damaged the inner port engine as well so he then feathered that engine as well knowing they now risked recovering to base flying on only two engines at a reduced speed and alone. Nursing the stricken aircraft back to Binbrook, Howard landed the aircraft nine hours after it had taken off. It was another incredible feat of airmanship and the crews 29th mission.
Howard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; appropriate recognition for his incredible airmanship during his tour with 460SQN. The citation read “Flying Officer Hendrick has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.”
Howard was then posted to No 667 Conversion Unit as a flying instructor on Lancasters.
Wanting to keep flying after the war, Howard became a commercial pilot with British Airways where he flew scheduled routes between London, Johannesburg and Sydney.
After four years with the airline, he returned to Australia to take up a Soldier Settler block in Loxton, where he worked and lived with his family for more than 60 years.
He retired in his eighties and became a local hero of the Loxton community sharing his stories as a veteran with schools, oral collections and in his own book, Full Circle, published several years ago.
He was awarded the Loxton Citizen of the Year in 2016 and in 2019 was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community.
In October 2023, AFA_SA joined with the Loxton community in celebrating Howard’s 100th birthday at the Loxton Show.
A member of the AFA Mitcham Branch and one of the few remaining South Australian Bomber Command veterans, AFA have been honoured to have Howard and members of his family attend the annual Bomber Command Commemorative Service at the Air Force Memorial, Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide in recent years. At the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative Service, Howard attended hearing his remarkable story of courage, service and airmanship be told as part of the keynote address by WGCDR Andrew McCarron, then Commanding Officer No 462 Squadron.
He was a true gentleman and a hero of the Loxton community where he lived all his life apart from his service in World War 2 and post war flying with British Airways.
Howard Hendrick was one of a special generation that gave so much of themselves in World War 2 for which our Nation will forever be indebted to. You can read more about Howard Hendrick and his service in World War2, by reading our biographical profile on Howard on the AFA-SA Website: https://afasa.org.au/aviator-profiles/howard-hendrick
Story courtesy of Greg Weller, Vice President AFA SA
Image Captions
SGT Howard Hendrick shortly after graduating with his wings and posted to England to serve with Bomber Command
Howard Hendrick DFC OAM at the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative service in Adelaide.
Howard Hendrick DFC OAM at the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative service in Adelaide laying rosemary on the Bomber Command Commemorative Wreath.
WW2 Bomber command veteran Howard Hendrick DFC OAM who completed 31 missions with 460SQN points to the 460SQN Plaque on the Air Force Memorial at Adelaide after the 2025 Bomber command Commemorative Service.
