LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Kevin Eugene MAHONEY
Service No: 416223
Born: Berri SA, 8 August 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 April 1941
Unit: No. 467 Squadron, RAF Bottesford, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 467 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ED543), Germany, 14 May 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Patrick and Amy Winifred Mahoney, of Berri, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Berri SA
Remembered: Panel 111, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Date: 13-14 May 1943
Target: Pilsen
Total Force: Dispatched – 168, Attacking – 141
RAAF Force: No. 467 Dispatched – 17, Attacking – 17
Tons of Bombs Dropped: 527
Total Aircraft Lost: 9
RAAF Aircraft Lost: No. 467 – 1
On 13th-14th May the second attempt (the first attempt was April 16/17 1943) was made by No. 5 Group with a much smaller force while a heavy attack was being made on Bochum. Pathfinder track markers were laid to lead the bombers to Pilsen and this time the target indicators appeared well placed, but they lay in fact over a mile away from the Skoda works, which again escaped with negligible damage.
Extracts from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 498
Lancaster ED543 took off from RAF Bottesford at 2137 hours on the night of 13/14th May 1943 to bomb the Skoda Works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. The bomb load was 1 x 4000 lb (pound) (1,800 kg) bomb, 10 x 500 lb (225 kg) MC bombs. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed as a result of enemy action near the village of Damme during the early hours of 14th May. The aircraft exploded on impact when it hit the ground and all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of ED543 were:
Sergeant William Glover Berry (1368760) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Henry William Cox (1586740) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer Edwin Francis Hamilton Heard (128665) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Byron Leo Haley (R/131435) (RCAF) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Bernard George Hickling (1185786) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Kevin Eugene Mahoney (416223) (Pilot)
Sergeant Maurice Brian Squires (1388828) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
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, 166/27/125