Lancaster LL880 6 October 1944

Lancaster Mk I - LL880 KO-D

T/O Witchford 1645 - target Dortmund, Germany.
Is thought to have been hit by flak in the target area.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

Hit by 1/schw Flak Abt 643, 3/schw Flak Abt 366, 3 & 4/schw Flak Abt 243, 1/schw Flak Abt 424 (Eisb) and schw Flakbattr z.b.V. 10462.
Crashed at Oberhausen-Sterkrade at 20:44.

(Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1944 Part 4 - Theo Boiten)

The Pilot, Navigator, Bomb Aimer and Wireless Operator were initially buried Dusseldorf North Cemetery.

W/O Erickson - Plot 111c Grave 591.
Sgt Lee - Plot 111c Grave 589.
Sgt Tippin - Plot 111c Grave 590.
Sgt Burgess - Plot 111c Grave 587.
Reinterred 22 October 1946.

Info via John Jones

523 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes, 247 Lancasters, 28 Mosquitos - of Nos 3, 6 and 8 Groups.
No 6 Group provided 293 aircraft - 248 Halifaxes and 45 Lancasters.

The greatest effort by the Canadian group in the war.
This raid opened a phase which some works refer to as 'The Second Battle of the Ruhr'.
The Pathfinder marking and the bombing were both accurate and severe damage was caused,
particularly to the industrial and transportation areas of the city, although residential areas also suffered badly.
Casualties on the ground were reported as 191 civilians killed, 38 missing with a further 418 injured.

5 aircraft - 2 Halifaxes (of No 6 Group), 2 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito - lost,
less than 1 per cent of the force raiding this Ruhr target on a clear night.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary October 1944 - Aircrew Remebered

ORB 6th Oct. 1944.
25 aircraft (7 fom "A" Flt., 10 from "B" Flt., 8 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack DORTMUND and took off between 16.25 hours and 17.14 hours.
One aircraft failed to return from Operations - no news being received
(A/C. D.LL.880 - Captain W/C. ERICKSON, W.)
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to unserviceability of intercomminication
(L.HK.665 - Captain F/O. J. M. GASTON)
and unserviceability of C.S.U. on starboard outer engine
(S.ND.900 - Captain F/O. C. J. POTTER, over Beachy Head)
respectively and both returned to Base early.
The remainder identified the target by means of P.F. flares and visually and bombed
red & green indicator markers or fires from
heights ranging between 17,300 feet and 20,000 feet.
Bombing was well concentrated and target area was a mass of fires and explosions.
One large explosion with much smoke was seen in marshalling yards.
Photographs were attempted.

22.44. 24 aircraft had returned safely to Base.

Dickson Harry ThomsonErickson William Erickson William - Pilot

W/O - Service No 655068

Age:

RAFVR

Son of

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - grave 8. B. 1.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a Grave by Stefan..

Dickson Harry Thomson Dickson Harry Thomson - FE

Sgt - Service No 1897116

Age: 38

Joined the Metropolitan Police on 31 August 1931.
Joined the RAFVR in late 1941.*

Son of Andrew and Annie Dickson.
Husband of Mary Elizabeth Dickson, of Chiswick, Middlesex.

Runnymede Memorial - panel 228

Source: Tony Moore* - CWGC.

Lancaster LL 880Lee Jack Lee Jack - Nav

F/S - Service No 1128432

Age: 23

RAFVR

Son of Charles Herbert and Elsie Lee.
Husband of Joyce Lee, of Middleton, Manchester.

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - grave 8. A. 17.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Honour those heroes who fell - Find a Grave by Stefan..

Dickson Harry ThomsonBurgess George Frederick Burgess George Frederick - WOP

Sgt - Service No 1624834

Age: 20

RAFVR

Son of Fred and Jane Burgess, of Harrogate, Yorkshire.

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - grave 8. A. 15.

Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by Stefan..

Dickson Harry ThomsonTippin Arthur John Tippin Arthur John - BA

Sgt - Service No 1581522

Age: 24

RAFVR

Son of
Husband of Doris Felicia Tippin, of Erdington, Birmingham.

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery - grave 8. A. 18.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a Grave by Stefan..

Truby James Truby James - MUG

Sgt - Service No 1595391

Age: 20

RAFVR

Son of William and Theresa Truby, of Esh Winning, Co. Durham.

Runnymede Memorial - panel 235

Source: CWGC.

Convy Michael Convy Michael - RG

Sgt - Service No 1824996

Age: 22

RAFVR

Son of John and Margaret Convy, of Lochgelly, Fife.

Runnymede Memorial - panel 227

Source: CWGC.