 |
 |
 |
15/16 March 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL693 A4-K |
Crashed at ?.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
863 aircraft - 617 Lancasters, 230 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - ordered to attack Stuttgart.
The German fighter controller split his forces into 2 parts.
The bomber force flew over France nearly as far as the Swiss frontier before turning north-east to approach Stuttgart.
This delayed the German fighters contacting the bomber stream but, when the German fighters did arrive,
just before the target was reached, the usual fierce combats ensued.
Adverse winds delayed the opening of the attack and the same winds may have been the cause of the Pathfinder
marking falling back well short of the target, despite the clear weather conditions.
Some of the early bombing fell in the centre of Stuttgart but most of it fell in open country south-west of the city.
The Akademie was damaged in the centre of Stuttgart and some housing was destroyed in the south-western suburbs.
37 aircraft - 27 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes - were lost, 4.3 per cent of the force. 2 of the Lancasters force-landed in Switzerland.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary March 1944 - more info and photo's on lancasterll693.atwebpages.com
ORB. 15th MAR 1944
22 aircraft (7 from 'A' Flight, 8 from 'B' Flight and 7 from 'C' Flight)
took off to attack STUTTGART.
1 aircraft (A/C. M.DS.629 - Captain P/O. A. F. HOOKWAY.) returned early with
port inner engine unserviceable. 1 x 8,000 lb bomb jettisoned safe, incends brought back.
Aircraft K.LL.693 (Captain P/O. J. RODGER) failed to return from operations -
no news received since take off.
The remaining 20 aircraft identified the target by red and green target indicators and sky markers,
on which bombs were dropped from heights varying between 19,000 and 21,700 feet.
PFF was again scattered and attack seemed to be late.
Many concentrated fires were observed and from several reports target was well alight.
Aircraft E.LL667 (Captain F/S. WILLIAMS I.) was attacked by a JU. 20 miles SSE KARLSRUHR -
starboard fin and wing hit by cannon. (Monica unserviceable after attack).
Photographs were attempted.
0325. 18 aircraft returned to base. Aircraft
H.LL.704 (Captain F/S. FOGATY, T. - DFM),
U.LL.666 (Captain P/O. B. A. ROWE-EVANS) and
G.LL646 (Captain F/S. HOLDER, S.)
Landed at TANGMERE, UPWOOD and PODDINGTON respectively
Sgt Baker,
Sgt. Casey,
P/O. Rodger,
Sgt. Werrell,
Sgt. Favager,
Sgt. Jory,
Sgt. Capstick.
This photograph is believed to have been taken at
RAF Downham Market.
Just in view the Stirling's unmistakable landing gear.
Photo by Mike Casey 623 Squadron
Rodger James Menzies - Pilot
P/O - Service No 171390
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of David and Nessie Rodger, of Newmilns, Ayrshire.
Durnbach War Cemetery - grave 11.B.11
Source: CWGC - photo by Mike Casey info 623 Squadron - Find a Grave.
Capstick Nicholas Jackson - FE
Sgt - Service No 1624412
Age:
RAFVR
Son of (Mr & Mrs N.J. Capstick, 17 Bronte St, Keighley. ?)
Durnbach War Cemetery - collective grave 11.B.12-13.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Oer Em.
Baker Charles Henry - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1600504
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Jack and Margaret Florence Baker, of St. Pancras, London.
Durnbach War Cemetery - collective grave 11.B.12-13.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Dave Hansen.
Favager Reginald "Reg" - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1131906
Age: - POW No 2986 Stalag 357 Fallingbostel.
RAFVR
Son of
+1980 Manchester.
Brother Victor flying in a Lancaster, was shot down on the same raid,
he didn't survive the crash.
100 Sqdn. RAFVR - Sgt, WOP, service no 1473895, age 20 -
Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard - Sp. Mem. Row E. Grave 23.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan - photo and diary extracts
Werrett Ronald Arthur - BA
F/S - Service No 1318617
Age:
RAFVR
Son of Ernest Werrett, and of Hannah Maude Werrett, of Bristol.
Durnbach War Cemetery - collective grave 11.B.12-13.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Dave Hansen
Casey L. J. - MUG
Sgt - Service No 633446
Age: - POW NO 3422 Stalag 357 Fallingbostel.
RAF
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Jory Anthony - RG
F/S - Service No 1317098
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of Nicholas Archibald Jory, and of Matilda Jory, of Plympton, Devon.
Durnbach War Cemetery - grave 11.B.14.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave.