LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 467 Squadron Lancaster aircraft LM237), North West Europe, 30 August 1944
The mining of the Stettin canal (on 16/17 August 1944) and the bombing of the city temporarily immobilised the port but it was realised that the Germans would take energetic steps to reopen this vital supply centre. Accordingly on 29th-30th August No. 460 contributed 24 to a force of 403 Lancasters with a predominantly incendiary load sent to burn out as much of Stettin as possible. Despite the loss of 23 aircraft the raid was successful and additional large areas of the town and dock area were damaged. Meanwhile No. 5 Group, which had hit the eastern sector of Konigsberg and laid mines in the port on 26th-27th August, again struck at this target on 29th-30th. As at Stettin the same night the bombing was successful but enemy defences, in particular fighters, were active, and 5 out of 39 aircraft from Nos. 463 and 467 failed to return.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Page 296
Lancaster LM237 took off from RAF Waddington at 2032 hours on the night of 29/30th August 1944 to bomb Konigsberg, Russia. The bomb load was 1 x 2000 lb (pound) (900 kg) bomb, 12 “J” clusters. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Nineteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and three of these including LM237 failed to return. The aircraft was presumed to have crashed into the sea, and six of the crew were killed and one became a Prisoner of War. The names of the six crew members killed are recorded on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
The crew members of LM237 were:
Sergeant Christopher Alexander (651372) (RAF) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Emile Hatzfield (188725) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Patrick William O’Leary (R/160321) (RCAF) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Clifford Pearson (1385830) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Sergeant Edward Clark Reid (1368361) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer John Sutcliffe (RCAF) (Navigator) PoW
Flight Lieutenant Dennis Boden Tattersall (117655) (RAF) (Pilot)
No. 463 Squadron lost Lancaster LL790 (Flying Officer Morris James Roe (425809) (Pilot)) on 30 August 1944.
No. 463 Squadron lost Lancaster aircraft PD258 (Warrant Officer Noel Charles Barrett (409364) (Navigator)) on 30 August 1944.
No. 467 Squadron lost Lancaster LM267 (Flight Sergeant Maurice John Mahar (417590) (Air Gunner)) on 30 August 1944.
No. 467 Squadron lost Lancaster LM583 (Flying Officer David John Sandell (423334) (Pilot)) on 30 August 1944.
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