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16 December 1944 Lancaster Mk I - LL944 KO-Z |
Shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Huchel, 1.5 Km W of Uckerath, 45 Km NNW of Koblenz.
115 Sqn ORB shows F/S Chatfield as the WOP but the AHB confirms that F/S Cornwell was the WOP on this operation.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
The great German offensive in the Ardennes started on this day,
with the object of capturing Brussels and the port of Antwerp and splitting the Allied armies into two parts.
The attack was launched under cover of poor weather conditions, with low cloud and mist, and it would be several days
before the RAF and American bomber forces could intervene in the battle.
108 Lancasters of No 3 Group in a G-H raid
on the railway yards at Siegen.
The bombing was accurate enough to hit Siegen and the neighbouring town of Weidenau but not to destroy the railway
yards which were hit by only a few bombs.
Many public buildings and houses were destroyed in Siegen, which had not been bombed seriously before.
1 Lancaster lost.
*"The three members of our crew who survived owe our lives to David our pilot for his courage and determination.
The plane had caught on fire and was flying on three engines with a bomb which had not been released because of ice.
He kept the plane flying long enough to enable us to parachute out."
RAF Sgt. E. D. Hutchinson.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary December 1944 - *Glebe Second World War Memorial
ORB 16th Dec. 1944.
21 aircraft were detailed to attack SEIGEN. All took off,
three abandoned mission due to bad weather and the fact that no other aircraft were seen.
One aircraft failed to return from Operations, no news having been received.
All other aircraft returned safely to Base.
Bombing was on G.H. and was carried out from heights ranging between 17800 ft. and 19000 ft.
Two aircraft were slightly damaged by Flak.
Most crews reported good attack although cloud obscured the target. Several fires were seen gaining hold.
No flak over target but some from front line. Bombing stream narrow and concentrated.
Orange explosion followed by brownish smoke. ME.109s
1743. 20 aircraft had returned safely to Base (one to RAYDON).
Robertson David Brownlee - Pilot
F/O - Service No J29156
Age: 24
RCAF
Son of George Robertson and Margaret Brownlee,
of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - joint grave 14. A. 23-24.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter Clermonts, War Cemetery and FB - Find a grave.
*Hutchinson E. D. - FE
Sgt - Service No 159455
Age: - POW No
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Trumble A. H. J. - Nav
P/O - Service No 188961
Age: POW No
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Cornwell Ross George - WOP
F/S - Service No 429928
Age: 22
RAAF
Son of
Rheinberg War Cemetery - joint grave 14. A. 23-24.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter Clermonts, War Cemetery and FB - Find a grave.
Smith C. A. - BA
F/O - Service No 154900
Age: POW No
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Roberts Robert Daniel - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1668201
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Richard and May Roberts, of Abertridwr, Glamorgan.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 14. A. 25.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter Clermonts, War Cemetery and FB - Find a Grave.
Roberts Dennis William - RG
Sgt - Service No 1626114
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of William and Sarah Roberts, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 14. A. 22.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter Clermonts, War Cemetery and FB - Find a Grave.