LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Lionel Frederick Walter BURROW
Service No: 421636
Born: Belmore NSW, 1 November 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February 1942
Unit: No. 466 Squadron, RAF Station Driffield, Yorkshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 466 Squadron Halifax aircraft MZ368), France, 9 August 1944, Aged 20 Years
Buried: La Boissiere-St Martin Communal Cemetery, Somme, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Charles William and Gladys Lillian May Burrow, of North Bondi, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bondi NSW
Remembered: Panel 110, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Waverley Soldiers’ Memorial 1914-1918, Bondi NSW
Halifax MZ368 took off from RAF Driffield at 1129 hours on 9 August 1944 on a day mission to bomb a P-Plane site at Coquereaux, France. Eighteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and one of these MZ368 failed to return. The Operations Record Book records that “the aircraft was shot down by heavy flak over the target area. The aircraft bombed the target and then exploded in the air. Four of the crew (and possibly six) were seen to bale out five miles west of the target.”
The crew members of MZ368 were:
Pilot Officer Lionel Frederick Walter Burrow (421636) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Howard Russell Goodsell (423709) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 12 December 1945
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Miles Johnston (426421) (Navigator) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 20 October 1945
Flight Sergeant Gordon William Victor Lusk (425862) (Mid Upper Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 13 September 1945
Flight Sergeant Richard Bruce Lusted (419880) (Rear Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 12 December 1945
Sergeant Peter George Mackay (1522815) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant George Surgeoner (421414) (Bomb Aimer) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: Date unavailable
In a 1945 report the then Warrant Officer Goodsell stated “Flight Sergeant Lusk who baled out ahead of me, was hurt baling out, was captured and placed in hospital, but later released by the underground and returned to England.”
In a 1945 report the then Warrant Officer Johnston stated “the Aircraft was damaged by flak in the run up to the target and caught fire in several places 15 minutes before ETA. The Captain ordered the crew to carry on bombing run then prepare to abandon. All acknowledged. No injuries to crew from flak although believe the Mid Upper hit tail plane when baling out and badly battered. Aircraft under control and well alight, but out of control shortly after bale out. Rear /Gunner left before me. He out of the back exit and me the front exit. Rest of crew in aircraft when I left at approximately 11,000 feet. All got out except the Pilot and Engineer. Aircraft crashed about 5 miles north east of target. Released by Russians on 22 April 1945.”
RAF Driffield Operation Order No 77 laid down:
Aircraft: 18 aircraft from No. 466 Squadron
Target: Coquereaux
Route: Base – Reading – 50.20N 00.20W – 49.53N 00.48E – Target – Turn left – 50.30N 00.00 – 51.30N – 00.50E – Base.
Bomb Load: 9 x 1000 (pound) (450 kg), 4 x 500 lb (225 kg) bombs.
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
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/6/645
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line