115 Squadron

18/19 November 1943

Lancaster Mk II - DS 680 KO-L

T/O Little Snoring 1803 - target: Berlin, Germany.
The 'Battle of Berlin' begins. Shot down by Oblt Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin of the II/NJG1 and
crashed at Hermeé, Luik, 4 km Nw of Herstal, Belgium.

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

440 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitos were dispatched.

Few German fighters intercepted the force.
Berlin was completely cloud-covered and both marking and bombing were carried out blindly.
Bomber Command could make no assessment of the results.

9 Lancasters were lost, 2.0 per cent of the force.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary November 1943.

Lancaster DS680 ORB. 18/11/43.
11 aircraft took off between 17.50 hours and 18.05 hours to attack BERLIN.
1 (G.D.S.667 - Captain F/S. JAMES, C.) was unable to reach the target due to D.R. trouble bud
bombed BAD FREINWALDE from 21,000 feet.
The remainder identified the target by means of target indicator markers from which they dropped
their bombs from heights ranging between 20,000 feet and 22,000 feet.
The glow of concentrated fires were seen through clouds.
Photographs were attempted.
1 aircraft (C.D.S.777 - Captain S/L. R. H. ANNAN - a four engined aircraft was seen in flames
going down just before reaching the target.) landed at MANSTON due to shortage of petrol.
1 aircraft failed to return from Operations.

(A/C. Z.D.S.661 - Captain F/O. K. HARRIS -
over target area aircraft sustained damage to bomb doors due to heavy Flak)

01.51. 12 aircraft had returned safely after Operations.

2 aircraft took off at 17.43 hours and 17.55 hours respectively to attack MANNHEIM.
Both identified the target by means of red and green target indicator markers on which they dropped their bombs from 18,000 feet.
A mass of concentrated fires were seen surrounding the markers.
Photographs were attempted.

Peate Raymond Ernest Lee - Pilot

P/O - Service No 414425

Age: 20

RAAF

Son of Ernest Roy and Margaret Mary Peate,
of North Adelaide, South Australia.

Heverlee War Cemetery - collective grave 5.B.12-15

Source: CWGC - photo and digital record R S L. Virtual War Memorial -
Find a grave by Marcel Rosvelds.

Mackay Neil - 2nd Pilot

Sgt - Service No 659021

Age: 25

RAF

Son of Alexander and Adamina Stewart Mackay,
of Paisley, Renfrewshire.

Heverlee War Cemetery - grave 5.B.9

Source: CWGC - Photo via Bram Dermout - Find a grave

Bannister Hugh George - FE

Sgt - Service No 578325

Age: 19 - °1924 Romford

RAF

Son of George and May Florence Bannister;
stepson and nephew of Constance Louise Bannister, of Romford, Essex.
*Had 1 younger sister and 1 younger half brother.
His mother had died when he was only 3 and his father
then remarried his late wife's Sister.
Hugh was an apprentice at RAF Halton until he was old enough to become aircrew,
hence with his technical background became the crew's flight engineer.
Hugh was shot down on his 18th Op, he had also, as Sydney Anderson,
flown on 5 aborted missions.

Heverlee War Cemetery - grave 5.B.10.

Source: CWGC - *info by John Carpenter - photos: Memoire 1944 - Aircrew Remembered. - Find a Grave by Michel Beckers.