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29 January 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL649 A4-G |
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Berlin: 677 aircraft - 432 Lancasters, 241 Halifaxes, 4 Mosquitos.
Part of the German fighter force was drawn up by the early diversions and the bomber approach
route over Northern Denmark
proved too distant for some of the other German fighters.
The German controller was, however, able to concentrate his fighters over the target and many
aircraft were shot down there.
The cloud over Berlin was broken and some ground-marking was possible but the Bomber Command
claim that this was the most concentrated attack of this period is not quite fully confirmed by German records.
The western and southern districts were hit but so too were 77 places outside the city.
*Damage was inflicted to destroy the houses of 180.000 people.
46 aircraft - 26 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters - lost, 6.8 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944 - *3 Group Bomber Command, Book by Chris Ward.
ORB. 29th January, 1944.
15 aircraft were detailed to attack BERLIN, but 6 failed to take off.
9 aircraft took off between 00.14 hours & 00.29 hours.
2 failed to return from operations. Lancaster Mk II DS833 KO-S, 7 KIA
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie
(J.D.S.687 - Captain F/L. H. G. HICKS)
due to unserviceable of port outer engine and
(F.L.L.622 - Captain F/L. G. Y. MACKIE, DSO) due to severe icing and inability of
aircraft to climb respectively and both returned to base early one after jettisoning his
4,000 lb H.C., but bringing back his incendiaries and the other after jettisoning his load live.
The remaining 5 aircraft identified the target by means of red & green markers on which
they dropped their bombs from
heights ranging between 20,000 feet & 21,000 feet.
A good reflection on the clouds (10/10) indicated many fires.
Two explosions were observed at 03.16 hours & 04.00 hours.
Photographs were attempted. Considered a good attack.
08.50. 7 aircraft had returned safely to base after operations.
Tinn Farquhar Gray George - Pilot
P/O - Service No 156693
Age: 26 - °24 February 1917, Glasgow, Scotland. Film director.
RAFVR
Son of Farquhar Gray Tinn +6 Nov. 1916, and Ann Janet Baird Shaw.
Berlin War Cemetery - collective grave 5.G.30-34.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
The family history by Jolyon Potter.
Farquhar Snr was married to Ann Shaw, my Grandfather's first wife.
He tragically died six months after their marriage leaving Ann with young Farquhar.
Ann then married my Grandfather Claude in 1920.
He was a career soldier in the Royal Artillery and having survived WW1
we think married the widow of a brother officer as often happened after that war.
Further personal tragedy followed as Ann herself died just two months into the marriage to Claude, leaving Farquhar in his care.
We think he must have inherited from his family's iron foundry business as he was reputed to have been able to enjoy life to the full.
He attended Marlborough College, but had completed his studies there before my Father and Uncle
(by my Grandfather's second marriage to Gwen) were sent there in the 1930s.
My Uncle John used to tell of him coming down in his sports car to visit him and his older brother accompanied by his
very glamorous Russian ballet dancer wife, Nina Tarakanova.
There is a Pathe News Youtube clip, Tea with a Ballerina 1945. Nina continued to live in London after Farquhar was
killed in action returning from Berlin 29 January 1944.
We understand that he was able to keep his plane aloft long enough for his crew to bale out at the cost of his own life.
My first cousin has visited his grave.
Nina died in London in the 1980s. Sadly, we have no record of his career as a film producer.
I will next try the British Film Institute archives to see if he is included in any film credits. H
ow wonderful if he was involved in the Ealing Comedies.
Roberts Harry - FE
Sgt - Service No 1106717
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of Robert and Agnes Roberts; nephew of Lily Wilson,
of Blackpool, Lancashire.
Berlin War Cemetery - collective grave 5.G.30-34.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Uwe.
Prince Allen Leslie - Nav
P/O - Service No 31459
Age: 28
RAF
Son of Stanley Leonard and Laura Anne Prince.
Husband of Mary Pamela Prince, of Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Berlin War Cemetery - collective grave 5.G.30-34.
Source: CWGC - Photo: find a grave by .
Todd Cyril Robert Leslie - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1332783
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of George Robert and Florence Eliza Todd,
of Great Wakering, Essex.
Berlin War Cemetery - collective grave 5.G.30-34.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by
Adamson G. R. - BA
Sgt - Service No 1576387
Age: - POW No 39977 Luft 3.
RAFVR
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Copping Peter George- MUG
Sgt - Service No 1335846
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of George Douglas and Hilda Mary Copping,
of Beckenham, Kent.
Berlin War Cemetery - grave 5.G.29.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by .
Chaulk Artillus "Ted"- RG
P/O - Service No 162870
Age: - °8 November 1920*
RAFVR - Canadian
Son of Charles and Sophia Chaulk*, o
f Charlottetown, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland
Berlin War Cemetery - collective grave 5.G.30-34.
Source: CWGC and *Megan Simmonds (great great nice) -
photo: Canadian Vertual War Memorial - Find a grave by Uwe.