 |
 |
 |
13/14 July 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS660 KO-P |
Shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Grevillers in the Pas-de-Calais some 3km WNW of Bapaume, France.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
374 aircraft - 214 Halifaxes, 76 Wellingtons, 55 Stirlings, 18 Lancasters, 11 Mosquitos ordered to Aachen.
A strong tail wind brought the first waves of the Main Force into the target area before Zero Hour with the result that,
when the first Pathfinder markers were released, an unusually large number of aircraft bombed in the first minutes of the raid.
The visibility was good and large areas of Aachen appeared to burst into flame at once.
In the words of the report from Aachen, 'A Terrorangriff [Terrorattack] of the most severe scale was delivered.'
2 Oboe Mosquitos carried out a diversion for the Aachen raid by dropping target indicators over Cologne.
20 aircraft - 15 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost, 5.3 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary July 1943.
ORB. 13th July, 1943.
17 aircraft took off between 23.55 hours & 00.35 hours to attack target AACHEN.
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie, one (L.D.S.680 - Captain F/S. PEATE. R.) due to developing of violent shudder
& the other (B.D.S.691 - Captain Sgt. JOLL. W.) due to inability to climb & starboard outer engine overheating & losing power,
& both returned to Base early after jettisoning their 8,000 lb. H.C., safe (but seen to explode) and bringing back their incendiaries.
15 aircraft located the target by means of the tracking flares & bombed the red & green target markers from heights ranging
between 16,000 feet & 21,000 feet.
A few concentrated fires & a large explosion at 01.46 hours were seen (H.D.S.630 - Captain W/O. NOXON. E.) b
ut most of the results were unobserved due to cloud, although the glow of fires was seen through the clouds.
Leaflets were dropped & photographs attempted.
1 aircraft sustained holes in fuselage & rear turret due to flak.
(X.D.S.664 - Captain F/S. WOLFSON. F., also fires & explosions were observed from 50 miles away.)
2 aircraft failed to return from Operations. (Lancaster Mk II DS690 KO-C, 6 KIA, 1 POW)
05.00. 15 aircraft had returned safely to Base.
Photos of the 2013 remembrance ceremony at France.
at 70 ans après le crash du lancaster à Metz-en-Couture
Larson Rod B. - Pilot
F/O - Service No J5829
Age: - POW No 1778 Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria. +1988 California.
RCAF
Source: Aircrew Remembered.
Jones Mervyn - FE
Sgt - Service No 1653104
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of John and Harriet E. Jones, of Morfa, Llamlelly, Carmarthenshire.
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France - grave 18. E. 25.
Source: CWGC - photo via Francky De Rous and Honour those heroes who fell Find a Grave.
Armstrong Chester - Nav
P/O - Service No 138396
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France - grave 18. E. 26.
Source: CWGC - photo Francky De Rous and more info on Aircrew Remebered courtesy W/Cdr. Chester Armstrong, son. - Find a grave.
Williams Peter - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1077619
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Arthur and Margaret Williams, of Bolton, Lancashire.
Husband of Nellie Williams, of Bolton.
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France - joint grave 18. E. 21-22.
Source: CWGC - photo via Leslie Dipple - Find a Grave by Francky De Rous.
Yates Frederick Leonard - BA
F/O - Service No 131977
Age: 28
RAFVR
Son of Thomas Frederick and Ada Yates, of Hampstead, London.
Husband of Enid Yates, of Hampstead.
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France - grave 18. E. 24.
Source: CWGC - photo by Francky De Rous Find a Grave.
Murphy Derick - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1044231
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France -
joint grave 18. E. 21-22.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a Grave, by Military Historian
Newton John Albert - RG
Sgt - Service No 1601296
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of George James Newton and Mabel Frances Newton, of Beckenham, Kent.
Grevillers British Cemetery, Departement Pas-de-Calais, France - grave 18. E. 23.
Source: CWGC - photo via Francky De Rous Find a Grave.