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DENBY L
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DENBY, Lawrence

Aircraft Information
Aircraft Vickers Wellington X
Serial Number HZ357
Markings SE-S
Memorial information
Burial/Memorial Country Germany
Burial/Memorial Place Rheinberg War Cemetery
Grave Reference Coll. grave 18. E. 15-18..
Epitaph
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase 2
Panel Number 154
Enlistment information
Service Number 1438344
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 6
Squadron 431 (Iroquois)
Trade Pilot
Country of origin if different United Kingdom
Last Operation information
Start Date 14-04-1943
End Date 15-04-1943
Takeoff Station Burn
Day/Night raid Night
Operation Stuttgart. 462 aircraft, 23 losses (5.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but the bombing was concentrated to the north east. This is an example of a phenomenon called 'creepback' where successive crews would release their bombs earlier and earlier on an effort to turn for home as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bombed suburbs included many industrial installations so some useful damage was caused. An air raid shelter packed with French and Russian PoWs was hit, increasing the death toll to 619, a new record.
Reason for Loss Shot down by a night-fighter on return leg at 17000' and crashed NE of Koblenz, Germany