Lancaster JA855
PM-A
103 SQN
Elsham Wolds
Mission:Essen
25/26 July 1943
Crew: S/L Carpenter RAFVR POW
Fl/Sgt. Archer RAFVR KIA
Sgt. Tate RAFVR KIA
Sgt. Newbolt RAFVR KIA
Sgt. Thornton RAFVR KIA
P/O. Cooper RAAF KIA
Sgt.Brazil RAFVR POW
Sgt. Bucklitsch RAFVR POW
“Serial Range JA672 – JB748 This aircraft was one of 550 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) late in 1941 and delivered as Mk.111s from Jun43 to Dec43 with Merlin 28 engines initially installed in early production, Merlin 28 or 38 engines in mid-production, and Merlin 38 engines only on late production. JA855 was delivered to No.103 Sqdn 8Jul43. JA855 also took part in the Key Operations againstTurin12/13Jul43 andHamburg24/25Jul43. When lost this aircraft had a total of 37 hours. JA855 was one of two No.103 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: ED884 Airborne 2157 25Jul43 from Elsham Wolds. Shot down from22,000 feetby a night-fighter (Maj Werner Streib, 1./NJG1) and crashed 0046 26Jul43 onto Cleefswit Estate at Elsendorp (Noord Brabant),14 kmSE of Uden. Those killed are buried inEindhoven(Woensel)GeneralCemetery. S/L G.R.Carpenter PoW F/S K.Archer (P2) KIA Sgt K.C.Tate KIA P/O J.A.B.Cooper RAAF KIA Sgt J.M.Bucklitsch PoW Sgt J.L.Brazil PoW Sgt J.H.Thornton KIA Sgt G.H.Newbolt KIA S/L G.R.Carpenter was interned in Camp. L3.PoW No.3439. Sgt J.L.Brazil inCamp4B. PoW No.222670, together with his crew- mate Sgt J.M.Bucklitsch. PoW No.222400. ‘AirBattleof theRuhr’, A.Cooper, records Sgt J.H.Thornton as Sgt J.H.Thorton. ”
Photo’s see link
Regards Benny