Lancaster ME846

Lancaster ME846

619 Squadron

PG-C

21/22 June 1944

Mission Wesseling

“Serial Range ME554 – ME868 This aircraft was one of 250 Lancasters ordered from Metro-Vick May42 and delivered from Nov43 to Jun44 with Merlin 22 engines initially installed up to ME639 and Merlin 24 engines from ME640 except for ME668-9 with Merlin 22 engines. ME846 was delivered to No.619 Sqdn 11 Jun 44 Lost on its first Key Operation with a total 8 recorded hours. ME846 was one of six No.619 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: LL808; LL977; ED859; ND986; NE151. Airborne 2301 21 Jun 44 from Dunholme Lodge. Cause of loss ,Nightfighter (Hptm von Bonin). 20 year old P/O Davis is commemorated on Panel 211 of the Runnymede Memorial. His two 19 year old Air Gunners are buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerpen having been brought here fromDeurne. P/O M.A.H.Davis KIA Sgt W.D.Belshaw PoW F/S L.E.J.Taylor PoW F/S P.E.Knox RAAF PoW Sgt T.A.Newberry PoW Sgt G.H.Moggridge KIA F/S J.E.R Bowering RCAF KIA Sgt W.D.Belshaw initially evaded until captured in Antwerp 10Jul44, he was then interned in Camp L7. PoW No.381 with Sgt T.A.Newberry, PoW No.317 and F/S L.E.J.Taylor, PoW No.282. ”

In 2011 we started this project together with the BAHAAT team. We made a thorough investigation of the crash site in 2013

Sadly we could not find the remains of P/O Davis, the only things we found were a parachute hook, quick release and one half of the armoured plate from the pilots seat .

The plane came down with the bombs still onboard. The brave Pilot P/O Davis stayed behind his steering wheel to let some of his crewmen jump. He will be remembered forever on the Runnymede Memorial.