LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Raymond Murdoch McKENZIE
Service No: 40520
Born: Petersham NSW, 13 May 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 May 1941
Unit: No. 61 Squadron (RAF), RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations: (No. 61 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ME 443), Germany, 8 February 1945, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Hugh Murdoch McKenzie and Stella Grace McKenzie, of Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Lancaster ME 443 took off from RAF Skellingthorpe at 1659 hours on the night of 8/9th February 1945, detailed to bomb oil refineries at Politz, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed at Politz near Stettin, Germany. Four of the crew were killed and three became Prisoners of War.
The crew members of ME 443 were:
Flight Sergeant W F R Doobyer (1337691) (Air Bomber) PoW
Sergeant Vernon Albert Edwards (1852213) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley William Herring (1898574) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Raymond Murdoch McKenzie (40520) (Wireless Operator Air)
Sergeant T McKnight (1799464) (RAF) (Flight Engineer) PoW
Flying Officer Brian Stanley Tasker (437172) (Pilot)
Flying Officer E Walker (154359) (RAF) (Navigator) PoW
Pilot Officer Walker later reported “The aircraft was hit over the target. I saw McKenzie leave his seat and clip on his chute and think he must have attempted to get the Mid Upper or Rear Gunner out but left it too late. The aircraft was on fire and might have gone into the Baltic Sea. Doobyer and McKnight baled out before me. McKnight was not injured in the attack and he left by the rear exit. I saw Tasker preparing to bale out.”
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, 166/26/791