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14 January 1944 Lancaster Mk II - DS720 KO-D |
3 Group. Crashing either near Hope or South of the target area near Halchter, in the SE outskirts of Wolfenbüttel.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan - RAF Commands.com.
496 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes on the first major raid to Brunswick of the war.
The German running commentary was heard following the progress of the bomber force from a position
only 40 miles from the English coast and many German fighters entered the bomber stream soon after the
German frontier was crossed near Bremen.
The German fighters scored steadily until the Dutch coast was crossed on the return flight. 11 of the lost
aircraft were Pathfinders.
Brunswick was smaller than Bomber Command's usual targets and this raid was not a success.
The city report describes this only as a 'light' raid, with bombs in the south of the city which had only 10
houses destroyed and 14 people killed.
Most of the attack fell either in the countryside or in Wolfenbüttel and other small towns and villages well
to the south of Brunswick.
38 Lancasters lost, 7.6 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944.
ORB. 14th January, 1944
23 aircraft were detailed to attack BRUNSWICK,
but one failed to take off. (Take off between 16.55 hours and 17.15 hours).
2 aircraft failed to return from operations, no messages being received. Lancaster MK II LL673 KO-G, 8 KIA.
1 aircraft (C.D.S.777 - Captain F/S. BISHOP) was forced to abandon the sortie due to excessive
vibration & inability of aircraft to maintain height & returned to base early after jettisoning his bombs.
(K.D.S.669 - F/S. RODGER, J., was forced to abandon due to rear turret being unserviceable and returned to base early).
The remaining 19 aircraft identified the target by means of red & green markers on which they dropped their bombs
from heights ranging between 19,000 feet & 22,000 feet.
White glow on clouds indicated large fires. A large explosion followed by sheets of flame was observed at 19.26 hours.
A well concentrated attack.
In combat with an enemy fighter, one aircraft (H.D.S.629 - Captain F/S. FOGATY, T.) had its starboard inner engine
completely knocked out, various holes were received through wing & pieces of the engine were hurled through the fuselage.
On return aircraft through perfect teamwork was able to land at WOODBRIDGE.
F/S. FOGATY, T. received the D.M.F. for this trip.
Two other aircraft were hit by enemy fighters,
one of them (E.D.S.796 - Captain F/O. W. W. RYDER, a J.U.88 fired a short burst hitting aircraft in fuselage & port inner.
Rear Gunner, Sgt. NEIL, P., replied and enemy aircraft was probably destroyed.) claimed an enemy aircraft "probably destroyed".
(G.D.S.667 - Captain P/O. F. G. G. TINN. Starboard inner engine was hit by Flak over TEXEL. One enemy aircraft claimed destroyed°.
Photographs were attempted.
23.00. 20 aircraft had returned from operations.
Blackwell Frank Sylvester - Pilot
P/O - Service No 415739
Age: 22 - 25th operation
RNZAF
Son of Frederick George and Muriel Howe Blackwell,
of Tokoroa, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - NZ War graves.org - Find a Grave.
McGhee Douglas William - 2nd Pilot
Sgt - Service No 1332995
Age: 25
RAFVR
Son of William M. and Flora A. McGhee, of Streatham, London.
Husband of Barbara Vaux. x1943.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by PFO
Soulsby Thomas Walter - FE
Sgt - Service No 1675681
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Thomas Soulsby and Ellen Marley Gavin, of Hull.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by PFO
Dickins Kenneth Shirley - Nav
F/O - Service No 134058
Age: 23 - °1921
RAFVR
Son of Shirley John Dickins °1886 +1939 and Gertrude Martha Crane °1887 +1965,
of Leighon-Sea, Essex.
Two sisters Hazel Shirley Dickins and Phyllis Gertrude Dickins.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - Ancestry.com - Photo: Find a grave by PFO
Waldrom Charles Keith - Wop
P/O - Service No 42344
Age: 22 - 24th operation
RNZAF
Son of Mrs. C. J. Waldrom, of Auckland City, New Zealand.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - NZ War graves.org - Find a Grave.
Berry William Charles - BA
F/S - Service No 1600195
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - Photo: via IBCC - Find a grave by PFO
Oakes Ronald Mansfield - MUG
F/S - Service No 422246
Age: 20
RAAF
Son of Dudley Sedgwick Mansfield Oakes and Kathleen Stoney Oakes,
of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC -
Photo and family story by his brother Geoff Oakes, ANZAC Day Tribute -
Find a grave by PFO
Harris Reginald Jack - RG
Sgt - Service No 1629001
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of Walter Harris and Emily Lilla Bills, of Herne Bay, Kent.
Hanover War Cemetery - Collective grave 3.G.4-11.
Source: CWGC - Find a grave by PFO.