LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 455 Squadron Hampden I aircraft AE430), Germany, 30 November 1941
Hampden AE430 took off from RAF Swinderby at 1652 hours on the night of 30 November 1941 to bomb the Blohm & Voss Shipbuilding Yards at Hamburg, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Five aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and two of these including AE430 failed to return. Post war it was established that all the crew had been killed and they are buried in the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew members of AE430 were:
Sergeant Charles John Harvey Blunt (1167740) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Arthur Henry Gee (1157216) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Leslie George Manning (924208) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Ernest Waller (1168701) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
No. 455 Squadron lost Hampden P1272 (Sergeant John Shannon (404264) (Pilot)) on 30 November 1941.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Bibliography:
Gordon, I. (Ian) Strike and Strike Again: 455 Squadron 1944-5, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1995
Lawson, John Horwood Wightman (251634) The Story of No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Wilke and Company, Melbourne VIC, 1951