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5 October 1944 Lancaster Mk I - PD344 KO-M |
Collided with Lancaster ND904 (former 115 Sqn. KO-M) of 75 New Zealand Sqn.
and crashed at Wolfsfeld, Germany.
All 14 airmen were killed.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
531 Lancasters and 20 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups.
The first major RAF raid to Saarbrücken since September 1942.
The raid was made at the request of the American Third Army which was advancing
the intention was to cut the railways and block supply routes generally through the town.
The bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused in the main town area
north of the River Saar,
the area through which the main railway lines ran.
Damage was particularly severe in the Altstadt and Malstatt districts.
3 Lancasters lost.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary October 1944.
ORB. 5th Oct,. 1944.
30 aircraft (10 from "A" Flt., 10 from "B" Flight and 10 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack SAARBRUCKEN and took off between
17.00 hours and 17.30 hours.
The target was identified visually and by P.F. flares by most of the aircraft and
15 aircraft dropped their bombs
on red & green markers from heights ranging
between 11,000 feet and 15,000 feet.
One aircraft (M.PD.344 - Captain - F/S. HENDERSON, K.) failed to return from
Operations - no news being received.
The remainder reached the target area but were instructed by the Master Bomber to
abandon the mission and returned
to Base after jettisoning part of their bomb loads.
23.16. 29 aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.

F/S - Service No 1092311
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 8. G. 4.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Des Philippet

Sgt - Service No 2211444
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Frank and Emily Horridge, of York.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 8. G. 3.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Des Philippet

F/S - Service No 1582340
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of John Thomas Blockley and Doris Annie Blockley.
Husband of Hylda Dorothea Joan Elizabeth Blockley,
of Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 8. G. 6.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Des Philippet.

F/S - Service No 423485
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Dr. Stuart Seton Hammond Scougall, and Gwenyth Florence Scougall,
of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - collective grave 8. G. 10-14.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Des Philippet

F/S - Service No 424059
Age: 20
RNZAF
Son of Walter and Nora Cuthbert, of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 8. G. 2.
Source: CWGC - more info on cambridgeairforce.org - Photo via New Zealand War Graves Trust - Find a Grave.

Sgt - Service No 1263138
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of Herbert and Minnie Blake, of Maidstone, Kent.
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave 8. G. 5.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Des Philippet

Sgt - Service No 1507583
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Rheinberg War Cemetery - grave collective grave 8. G. 10-14.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, be Des Philippet