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27/28 January 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL682 KO-P |
Lost without trace.
Last heard on W/T at 0055hrs transmitting a weak SOS.
The transmission was extremely weak but put the Lancaster on a bearing of 020 degrees from RAF Binbrook.
An intense ASR search was undertaken but sadly nothing was found of the young crew.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan - Royal Air Force Commands.com
515 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitos despatched to Berlin.
The German fighters were committed to action earlier than normal, some being sent out 75 miles
over the North Sea from the Dutch coast.
A number of elaborate feints and diversions had some effect; Half of the German fighters were lured
north by the Heligoland mining diversion and action in the main bomber stream was less intense than on recent nights.
The target was cloud-covered again and skymarking had to be used. Bomber Command was not able
to make any assessment of the raid except to state that the bombing appeared to have been spread well up and down wind.
33 Lancasters lost, 6.4 per cent of the heavy force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary January 1944.
ORB. 27th January, 1944.
20 aircraft (6 from "A" Flt., 7 from "B" Flt., & 7 from "C" Flt.)
took off between 17.50 hours & 18.05 hours to attack BERLIN
2 aircraft failed to return from operations. Lancaster Mk II - LL668 A4-H, 7 KIA.
An S.O.S. was picked up by BINBROOK, but Air Sea Rescue was unsuccessful.
1 aircraft (A/C. U.L.L.666 - Captain F/S. CAMPBELL, C;) was forced to abandon the sortie
due to wireless being unserviceable and returned to base early after jettisoning his bombs.
The remaining 17 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.
No results were observed due to 10/10 cloud but the glow of fires and many flashes were
reflected on cloud.
Attack appeared to be well concentrated.
Photographs were attempted.
On return, one aircraft (A/C. W.D.S.781 - Captain F/S. TREASURE, G.) landed at MANSTON
due to shortage of petrol.
(A/C. D.D.S.664 - Captain F/L. L. J. HALLEY -
Mid upper turret was made unserviceable due to fire from a Lancaster over MINDEN).
(A/C. K.L.L.716 - Captain F/S. RODGER, J. -
Unidentified aircraft was seen to explode in the air & crash in flames.)
02.15. 18 aircraft had returned safely after operations.
Morris Arthur Charles Arnold - Pilot
F/S - Service No 1168349
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of Charles Roland and Kate Reeve Morris, of Castle Church, Staffordshire.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 220
Source: CWGC.
Booth Frederick William - FE
Sgt - Service No 1588960
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of William and Bridget Booth, of Bolton, Lancashire.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 225
Source: CWGC.
Omnet William Houston Pollock - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1344854
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Runnymede Memorial - panel 235
Source: CWGC - photo via scottishwargraves
Rutherford-Browne Anthony - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1320368
Age:
RAFVR
Son of - One brother Douglas more info Newsshopper.co
Runnymede Memorial - panel 237
Source: CWGC.
Booth James Robert - BA
F/O - Service No J22097
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of James Angus Wilson Booth and Sadie Katherine Booth,
of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 245
Source: CWGC - Photo via Canadian virtual war memorial.
Stone Leonard - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1259098
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of Horace and Annie Stone, of Forest Gate, Essex.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 238
Source: CWGC.
Keel Arnold Thomas - RG
Sgt - Service No 850281
Age:
RAF Aux
Son of
Runnymede Memorial - panel 232
Source: CWGC.