Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | KB800 |
Markings | VR-C |
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 29. A. 2.. |
Epitaph | FOR HIM, PEACE; FOR US, REMEMBRANCE |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 121 |
Service Number | 187726 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 419 (Moose) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Bowen R H (P/O) |
le Vasseur L C (P/O) |
Manwell R G (P/O) |
Sigal H (P/O) |
Therreault J N R (F/O) |
Start Date | 14-10-1944 |
End Date | 14-10-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night raid | Day |
Operation | Duisburg. 1013 aircraft on Operation Hurricane- to demonstrate to the enemy the overwhelming air superiority of both Bomber Command and the US 8th Air Force. RAF fighters provided an escort. 957 bombers dropped 3574 tons of high explosives and 820 tons of incendiaries. 14 aircraft were lost (1.4%). By comparison, the US 8th Air Force despatched 1251 and 749 fighters with more than 1000 dropping their bomb load on Köln. 5 bombers and 1 fighter lost. No enemy fighters were seen on either raid. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak over the aiming point and both starboard engines caught light. The aircraft immediately went into a spiralling descent and exploded, throwing clear the pilot, F/O A M Roy who became a PoW |