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26/27 November 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS793 KO-L |
Came down at Stockheim, 35 Km NE of Frankfurt.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
443 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos to Berlin and Stuttgart (diversion).
Both forces flew a common route over Northern France and on nearly to Frankfurt before diverging.
The German controllers thought that Frankfurt was the main target until a late stage and several bombers
were shot down as they flew past Frankfurt.
Only a few fighters appeared over Berlin, where flak was the main danger, but the scattered condition
of the bomber stream at Berlin meant that bombers were caught by fighters off track on the return flight
and the casualties mounted.
28 Lancasters were lost, 6.2 per cent of the force, and 14 more Lancasters crashed in England.
The weather was clear over Berlin but, after their long approach flight from the south, the Pathfinders marked
an area 6-7 miles north-west of the city centre and most aircraft bombed there.
Because of Berlin's size, however, most of the bombing still fell within the city boundaries and particularly
of Reinickendorf; smaller amounts of bombing fell in the centre and in the Siemensstadt (with many electrical factories)
and Tegel districts.
The Berlin Zoo was heavily bombed on this night. Many of the animals had been evacuated to zoo's in other
parts of Germany but the bombing
killed most of the remainder.
Several large and dangerous animals - leopards, panthers, jaguars, apes - escaped and had to be hunted and shot in the streets.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary November 1943 - last update 11/11/2018
ORB. 26/11/43.
12 aircraft took off between the hours of 17.40 and 17.46 to attack BERLIN.
1 aircraft failed to return from operations.
1 aircraft (X.D.S.664 - Capt. W/O. BOUTILIER, E. - DFC) was forced to abandon the sortie and returned to
base safely after jettisoning his bombs.
2 aircraft were unable to reach the target, 1 due to starboard engine trouble (C.D.S.777 - Capt. P/O. F. BLACKWELL -
An unidentified aircraft was seen to explode in the KOBLENZ area releasing red and green marker flares.
Aircraft landed at TANGMERE),
and the other (Q.D.S.766 - Capt. F/L. R. L. BARNES) due to a hot engagement by Flak,
and both jettisoned their bombs live on LIMBURG and BRANDENBURG respectively.
The remainder identified the target by means of target indicator markers, on which they dropped their bombs
from heights ranging between 19,500 feet and 22,000 feet.
A mass of fires with thick smoke rising to 15,000 feet was seen.
Very successful attack. Photographs were attempted.
(P.D.S.728 - Capt. F/L. J. H. CHRISTIANSEN - a/c which was damaged by Flak landed at HETHEL.)
11 aircraft had returned safely to base by 01.05 hours.
Woolhouse Edward Barrie - Pilot
F/O - Service No 50230
Age: 21
RAF
Son of Abraham Arthur Woolhouse, and of Esther Hannah Poyner Woolhouse,
of Bearwood, Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Durnbach War Cemetery, Gmund am Tegernsee,
Landkreis Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany - grave 1. A. 17.
Pallanca Joseph - FE
Sgt - Service No 1872542
Age: 34 - °1908 Holborn
RAFVR
Son of Joseph Pallanca (°Italy) and Jenny Grossman (°Germany).
Husband of Miriam Lorraine O'Gorman, of Biggin Hill, Kent. x1935.
One brother William, served also in the RAF.
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany - grave 1. A. 15.
Source: CWGC - info Ancestry.co.uk. - photo Find a grave by BobB.
Bell William - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1585877
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany - collective grave 1. A. 18-20.
Baker Arthur Vernon - WOP
Sgt - Service No 952283
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany - collective grave 1. A. 18-20.
Mitchell William Alexander - BA
F/O - Service No J23126
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of Frank Mudie Mitchell and Elizabeth Mitchell,
of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany - grave 1. A. 14.
Source: CWGC - Canadian Virtual War Memorial - photo thanks John Carpenter & Find a Grave by BobB.
William was born on 28th January 1923 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
His parents Frank & Elizabeth had both been born in Scotland but moved to Canada before he was born &
they had 2 other children, both girls who were older than him.
Standing at 6'2" William was fond of rugby & basketball; he had been a clerk in civilian life & enlisted on 16th Dec 1941.
He initially put down on his application form Pilot or Observer as his preferred choice for aircrew position; however the
Canadian authorities thought he would make a good navigator.
He didn't last long in this role as he showed no interest in it &
got his way by becoming observer & getting his badge on the 22nd Jan 1943.
He left to cross the Atlantic on 8th March disembarking in England on the 17th wherein he completed his final training at
26 OTU & 1678 conversion unit.
On the 30th October 1943 William walked through the entrance of RAF Witchford as a member of 115 Squadron,
he was only there for 4 weeks.
Info via John Carpenter, thanks.
Falls Henri Hugh - MUG
Monk Thomas Albert - RG