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2/3 August 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS685 KO-A |
Shot down by a night fighter and crashed in the North Sea off Cuxhaven, Germany.
The crew were on their 9th operation.
Route: 5420N 0700E - 5345N 0832E - 5300N 1000E - HAMBURG - 5400N 1000E - 5430N 0700E.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
740 aircraft - 329 Lancasters, 235 Halifaxes, 105 Stirlings, 66 Wellingtons, 5 Mosquitos despatched on a failed raid to Hamburg.
The bombing force encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany and many crews turned
back early or bombed alternative targets.
At least 4 aircraft, probably more, were lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning.
No Pathfinder marking was possible at Hamburg and only scattered bombing took place there.
Many other towns in a 100-mile area of Northern Germany received a few bombs.
A sizeable raid developed on the small town of Elmshorn, 12 miles from Hamburg.
It is believed that a flash of lightning set a house on fire here and bomber crews saw this through
a gap in the storm clouds and started to bomb the fire.
30 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4.1 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary August 1943.
ORB. 2th Aug., 1943.
15 aircraft took off between 23.21 hours & 23.55 hours to attack HAMBURG.
Electrical storms & severe icing was experienced & 3 aircraft failed to return from operations.
Lancaster Mk II DS673 KO-Q, 7 KIA. - Lancaster Mk II DS715 KO-Q, 7 KIA.
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie
(R.D.S.683 - Captain F/O. R. L. BARNES) - (W.D.S.620 - Captain F/L. K. EGGLESTON)
due to oxygen and intercom, failure & returned to Base early after jettisoning their bombs.
The remaining 9 aircraft were unable to reach the aircraft due to weather conditions or Flak
barrage but bombed different targets, such
BREMERHAVEN, (D.D.S.629 - Captain Sgt. TINN. F. - starboard outer engine catching fire &
sustaining 2 holes in wing due to Flak.)
WESERMUNDE, (F.D.S.661 - Captain F/L. J. T. ANDERSON - starboard outer engine became
overheated & aircraft come into a Flak barrage, bombs jettisoned to gain manoeuvrability)
WILHELMSBURG, (H.D.S.630 - Captain W/O. NOXON. E.)
10 miles West of HAMBURG (N.D.S.665 - Captain F/O. J. H. CHRISTIANSEN - heavy thunderstorm & severe icing),
CUXHAVEN, (K.D.S.658 - Captain F/S. PEATE. R. - electrical storms and icing, controls were effected)
BREMERVORDE, (M.D.S.684 - Captain F/S. BLACKWELL. F. - severe icing)
BUCHHOLZ, (U.D.S.670 - Captain F/S. BRADFORD. E.)
WENZENDORF, (Y.D.S.682 - Captain Sgt. HOWELL. A. - Port inner constant speed unit & magneto unserviceable)
from heights ranging between 8,000 feet and 28,000 feet.
Glow of fires was seen on leaving enemy coast. Photographs attempted.
05.40. 11 aircraft had returned safely to Base.
Button Cyril - Pilot
F/S - Service No 1339068
Age: 22 - °19 June 1921 - (1939, Railway Waggon Repair)
RAFVR
Son of Frederick Albert Button (°27 Feb. 1896 / +1968 4q Bath, Somerset) and (x1920 4q)
Gertrude Eliza Dunford (°9 Aug. 1896 / +1974 4q Bath, Somerset), of Chilcompton, Somerset.
Two brothers, Stanley (°31 Dec. 1923 / +2004 4q Bath & North East Somerset),
Wilfred (°23 Dec. 1925 / +2000 2q Bath & North East Somerset).
Runnymede Memorial - panel 135
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo Runnymede panel via Mark Bell.
Bell Eric James - FE
Sgt - Service No 1558567
Age: - ° March 1921, Gateshead, Durham.
RAFVR
Son of William Bell and (x1906 1q, Gateshead, Durham) Ada Potts (°1884 3q, Gateshead, Durham / +1950 4q, Gateshead, Durham) of Ravensworth, Co. Durham.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 142
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo: via Mark Bell
Pasquins Richard Leonard - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1396394
Age: 20 - °1922 4q, Lambeth, London.
RAFVR
Son of Richard S. Pasquins and (x1922 2q, Lambeth, London) Dorothy Ada Moores (°1898 2q, Lambeth, London / +1968 1q, Lambeth, London) of Brixton, London.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 161
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo Runnymede panel via Mark Bell.
Brown Charles Frederick - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1208686
Age: 31
RAFVR
Son of Walter and Kate E. Brown.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 143
Source: CWGC - photo Runnymede panel via Mark Bell.
Petts Laurence Alfred Herbert - BA
Sgt - Service No 1321179
Age: 21 - °1922 3q, Barnet, Middlesex.
RAFVR
Son of Alfred William Petts (°28 Feb. 1888 / +1978 4q, Barnet, Middlesex) and
(x1915 2q, Islington, London) Amy Sheldon (°13 May 1890, Islington, London / +1982 4q, Hendon, Middlesex) of Finchley, Middlesex.
One sister, Eileen E. (°1926 3q, Barnet).
Runnymede Memorial - panel 161
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo: thanks to Carolyn Woodruff, - Runnymede panel via Mark Bell.
Eade Lionel Walter - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1621889
Age: 21 - °1923 1q, Hammersmith, London.
RAFVR
Son of Lionel Dudley Eade (°18 June 1894 / +1967 1q, Watford, Hertfordshire) and (x1920 2q, Ipswich, Suffolk) Ethel Maria Warnes (°22 Feb. 1893 Ipswich, Suffolk / + ), of Oxhey, Hertfordshire.
One sister, Evelyn G. (°1921 4q Hammersmith, London/ +?), one brother, Harold D. (°1925 1q Hammersmith, London/ +?).
Runnymede Memorial - panel 148
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo via Roger Eade
Baily John Herbert - RG
Sgt - Service No 547782
Age: 24 - °1918 4q, West Derby, Lancashire.
RAF
Son of John Walker Baily (°1 Nov. 1882, West Derby, Lancashire / +1956 4q, Liverpool North, Lancashire) and (x1909 2q, West Derby, Lancashire) Edith Yates (°28 July 1884, West Derby, Lancashire / +).
Husband of Helen Couch (x1943 2q, Alesbury, Buckinghamshire), of Orrell, Bootle, Lancashire.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 141
Source: CWGC - Findmypast - photo: thanks to Carolyn Woodruff, - Runnymede panel via Mark Bell.