115 Squadron

14 January 1944

Lancaster Mk II - LL673 KO-G

T/O Witchford 1702 - target Brunswick, Germany.

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

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 DS720 KO-D, 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.

Christiansen John Horace - Pilot

F/L - Service No 413551

Age: 25

RNZAF

Son of Albert Christian and Elmina Saraphia Christiansen,
of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 9.

Source: CWGC - photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - Find a grave by Wouter van Dijken.

Vinson Ronald Anthony - 2nd Pilot

F/L - Service No 42662

Age: 30

RAF

Son of Ronald and Constance Mary Vinson.
Husband of Marion Vinson, of Crouch End, London.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 11.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Wolfgang

Rodhouse Raymond Arthur - FE

Sgt - Service No 1661997

Age: 21

RAFVR

Son of Arthur Laundon and Constance Eleanor Rodhouse of Northampton.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 12.

Source: CWGC - photo (1943) via his half - brother Philip Martin Rodhouse, Thanks. - Find a Grave.

Downer George Lionel - Nav

F/O - Service No 130207 - DFC 101 Squadron.

Age: 23

RAFVR

Son of E. Gordon Ross Downer and Ellen Downer,
of Bognor Regis, Sussex.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 7.

Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by .

F/O. George Lionel Downer DFC. had already completed tour of operations
whilst with 101 Squadron. He escaped with his life from a ditching earlier in the war. Wellington III X3649 ditched into the North Sea on the 27th August 1942
piloted by 25 year old, Fl/Sgt. George Thirlwell Brown NZ/411364 RNZAF
who was listed as missing - believed killed.

Source: Aircrew Remembered.

Braithwaite Frederick Arthur - Wop

F/O - Service No 415075

Age: 23

RNZAF

Son of Frederick Braithwaite and of Alma Ethel Edwards,
of Victoria Valley, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 10.

Source: CWGC - photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - NZ War graves - Find a Grave.

Wright Claude Henry - BA

F/O - Service No 417144

Age: 28 - °28 December 1915

RNZAF

Son of Henry Wright and of Hazel Wright May, of St. Heliers,
Auckland, New Zealand.
He was the eldest of his family. He had a brother (in the army) and a sister.

Hanover War Cemetery - grave 1. F. 8.

Source: CWGC - more info and photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - NZ War graves - Find a Grave.