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12/13 August 1944 Lancaster Mk III - ND927 KO-B |
Crashed at Ordinghausen 15 km W of Hoya - 01.00 hrs.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
242 Lancasters and 137 Halifaxes.
This was an experimental raid. No Pathfinder aircraft took part and there was no marking.
The intention was to discover how successfully a force of aircraft could carry out a raid
with each crew bombing on the indications of its own H2S set.
The raid was not successful and there was no concentration of bombing.
The Brunswick report calls it a 'heavy raid' but only states that bombs fell in the central and Stadtpark areas.
Other towns, up to 20 miles distant, were mistaken for Brunswick and were also bombed.
17 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes lost, 7.1 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary August 1944 - Last update 13/11/2018
ORB 12th Aug., 1944.
14 aircraft (3 from "A" Flt., 6 from "B" Flt., & 5 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack BRUNSWICK and took off between 21.43 hours and 22.10 hours.
2 aircraft
(B.ND.927 - Captain F/O. G. B. HOCKEY and
T.PB.127 - Captain F/L. D.G. HELYEA) Lancaster Mk III - PB127 KO-T, 6 KIA, 1 POW.
failed to return from operations - no news being received.
4 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie, 2 due engine failure
(A/C. G.ME.718 - Captain F/L. S. GARSIDE - Inner & outer starboard engines & pescoe pump being unserviceable)
(A/C. S.ND.900 - Captain F/L. C. McBRIDE - starboard inner engine being unserviceable)
and the others due to
(A/C. A.ND.758 - Captain S/L. W. D. MARTIN) complete intercommunication failure and
(A/C. J.ND.805 - Captain F/O. P. FRANLAND) failure of Rear gunner's electrical heating circuit
respectively and all returned to base early after jettisoning live all part of their bomb load.
The remainder located the target either by glow of fires or by H2S and estimed time of arrival
by D.R. navigation, and bombed from heights ranging between 18,000 feet and 21,000 feet.
Bombing was rather scattered at first but became more concentrated as the raid progressed.
2 explosions, one a very large one at 00.07 hours, were seen.
Built up area was seen on fire through gap in cloud.
An aircraft was seen shot down over target area.
Photographs were attempted.
12 aircraft had returned safely to base by 02.55 hours.
F/O - Service No 422183
Age: - POW No 7476 Luft 3.
RAAF
In a later POW report F/O Hockey stated
"We were attacked from below by a night fighter when at 14,000 feet.
The aircraft burst into flames immediately.
I gave the order to abandon, and almost at the same time the aircraft
rolled over on its back and exploded.
None of the crew were able to abandon but I was blown clear and
able to use my chute (Pilot type).
The aircraft crashed roughly north-west of Hanover.
I was informed by the German police and civilians that the rest of the crew had been killed.
I was taken prisoner on 13/8/44 and released on 2/5/45."
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan
Beecroft Robert Gordon - FE
Sgt - Service No 2201738
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of George Albert and Alice Beecroft, of Holmesfield, Yorkshire
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 21. B. 4.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.
McDougall Raymond Albert James - Nav
P/O - Service No 421611
Age: 22
RAAF
Son of Albert George and Gladys Katherine McDougall,
of Banksia, New South Wales, Australia.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 21. B. 3.
Source: CWGC -
photo RAAF Headstones and Memorials WW2 by Spidge - Find a Grave.
Dott Hugh Fraser - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1682296
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Angus and Janet Dott, of Port Bannatyne, Buteshire.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 21. B. 2.
Source: CWGC - Photo via David Fraser Rostron, thanks - Find a Grave by Flipside20.
My uncle Hugh Fraser Dott was on this fight and was one of those that died in action.
I have attached a picture of my uncle taken in early 1943 in uniform.
F/O G. B. Hockey, after his release from P.O.W. Camp at the end of the war,
visited all the families of the flight crew
including my Grandparents at Port Bannatyne, on the Isle of Bute.
Grogan Kevin Francis - BA
P/O - Service No 422269
Age: 23
RAAF - He wears a brevet indicating that he is a qualified Observer.
Sgt Grogan enlisted in Sydney on 25 April 1942.
Son of Oliver Francis Grogan and Ella Grogan.
Husband of Edith Manya Grogan, of Coogee, New South Wales, Australia.
Becklingen War Cemetery - collective grave 21. B. 12-14.
Source: CWGC - photo Australian War Memorial - Find a Grave by Flipside20.
Chase Albert John - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1323849
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Albert Thomas Chase and Emily Clara Chase, of Portsmouth.
Becklingen War Cemetery - collective grave 21. B. 12-14.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave by Flipside20.
Kennedy Donald Thomson - RG
Sgt - Service No 1822421
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of Provost Donald Thomson Kennedy and Margaret Marshall Lvle Kennedy,
of Dunfermline, Fife.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 21. B. 11.
Source: CWGC -
photo RAAF Headstones and Memorials WW2 by Spidge - Find a Grave by Flipside20.