Operation: Leipzig, Germany
Date: 19/20 February 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)
Unit: No. 166 Squadron (Motto: "Tenacity")
Badge: A bulldog affrontée. The bulldog was chosen because of its reputation for courage and tenacity.
Authority: King George VI, September 1944.
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: DV220
Code: AS-J
Base: RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire
Location: Near Krahne, Brandenburg, Germany
Pilot: P/O. Francis Frederick George (Frank) Allan J19942 RCAF. Age 26 - Killed (1)
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Thomas Henry Lee 1157645 RAFVR. Age 27 - PoW No. 1728 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6 (2)
Nav: WO. James Joseph (Jim) Yelland R144272 RCAF. Age 22 - Missing believed killed (3)
Air/Bmr: F/Sgt. Frederick James (Fred) Hughes R165160 RCAF. Age 20 - PoW No. 1729 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6 (4)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Arthur (Bill) Dykes 1575431 RAFVR. Age 23 - Missing believed killed (5)
Air/Gnr (MU): F/Sgt. Joseph Manuel DFM 1087197 RAFVR. Age 23 - PoW No.1897 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6 (6)
Air/Gnr (R): Sgt. Alan Rose 1818912 RAFVR. Age 19 - PoW No.1613 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6 (7)
We appeal to anyone with further information and/or photographs to please contact us via our HELPDESK
INTRODUCTION
F/Sgt. David Gilbert Geach RAFVR 1394781, was an air bomber at 30 OTU on course 17 immediately preceding that of Frank Allan and crew. We are fortunate that his diary from that period is lodged at IBCC and can be read in its original handwritten form at https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collectio...
or a transcription thereof at
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/items/bro...
F/Sgt David Gilbert Geach was the air bomber in the crew of P/O. Leonard Myles McCann J/19862 RCAF when their Lancaster DS678 of 115 Squadron was shot down on 24 March 1944. F/Sgt. Geach and navigator WO Herbert Leslie Gray RCAF were the only survivors and became prisoners of war.
Much of the following account of Frank Allan and his crew's time at 30 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hixon in Staffordshire, is based on details included in David Geach's diary.
A CREW IS FORMED
Early June 1943 heralded the arrival of the latest intake of aircrew destined for 30 Operational Training Unit. Arriving at Stafford railway station they were transported by lorry the 7½ miles east to RAF Hixon. These latest arrivals were candidates for course 18 due to commence on Tuesday 8 June for a duration of 10 weeks during which they were to be trained in flying the twin engine Vickers Wellington medium bomber.
There were perhaps inevitable exceptions, but it is fair to say that the vast majority of the new arrivals were complete strangers.
Much has been written about the legendary crewing up routine at OTU whereby aircrew were herded into a hanger with a terse 'sort yourselves out' i.e. form crews prior to commencement of training. However, at RAF Hixon this was not the case. Rather than forming crews immediately after arrival the first two weeks of the course were undertaken separately according to trade thus the only meetings of the various categories were restricted to the mess or billet.
It was only on completion of the initial two weeks or so of ground training, lectures and exams that the aircrew were given a couple of days to form themselves into crews of their own choosing or instructors would do it for them thus, one way or the other, crews were duly created.
Pilot Frank Allan was 25, almost 4 years older than the others in his crew. From Montreal he had worked for Canadian Pacific originally as a Boiler Makers Apprentice but more recently as a Draughtsman before enlisting. He had a brother and three sisters. Navigator of the crew was fellow Canadian Jim Yelland from Ontario who had the reverse set up of siblings, one sister and three brothers. A former Express Manager for Canadian National Express, he was 21 years old and completing a trio of Canadians was air bomber Fred Hughes, aged 20 from Toronto, a former Clerk who had been married to Iola for almost a year.
Wireless operator Bill Dykes aged 22 hailed from Nottingham and prior to enlisting he had been a Solicitor's Clerk. He had recently married his wife Florence in Manchester.
Mid upper gunner Alex Mansfield from Brentford was 18 and had 6 brothers and 2 sisters whilst rear gunner Alan Rose, was also aged 18 and a former Sheet Metal Worker from Dudley, Worcestershire. Alan had 2 older brothers and an older sister.
Frank Allan, Jim Yelland, Fred Hughes and Alan Rose were in the same billet as David Geach and in his diary he writes of them as follows:
'Frankie [sic] Allen, pilot, Yelland, navigator, and Tom [sic] Hughes – bomb aimer, all Canucks form another crew. Hughes is very decent, I have only one pair of pyjamas and when that was at the laundry he saw me dive into bed in the altogether and asked the reason. When I told him he tossed me a Canadian Comforts pair and said “Keep it, I’ve got five other pairs”, it was good of him. Their rear gunner Rose, an English chap is here, a small comical fellow, they call him John L. after the boxer Sullivan, because he wears long pants like him.'
And regarding entertainment he writes:
'The ante room and billiards rooms are quite large and the station cinema isn’t too bad, they are improving the latter I believe. Getting in and out of Stafford is rather a snag, there is a liberty bus from the Guard Room of an evening, but we are required to book seats the previous day by dinner-time and as we rarely know that far ahead if we are going in, it is generally by taxi that we arrive there.'
When granted liberty, the RAF boys headed straight into Stafford town centre which was usually packed with thousands of servicemen stationed at RAF Stafford, RAF Hixon and RAF Seighford as well as a lot of American aircrew from the large transit camp at Stone.
The most popular entertainment venues in Stafford were The Picture House and The Odeon cinemas, The Borough Hall, the premier social hub for local dances. Servicemen packed the venue weekly to dance to swing and big-band music and meet local women. Most popular pubs with the RAF were those in the town centre such as The Swan Hotel, The Grapes Hotel, The Vine and The Bird in Hand all of which provided a lively, crowded atmosphere where they could mix with the locals.
Course 18 at 30 OTU duly concluded on 17 August and two days later Frank Allan and his crew began a welcome 12 days leave. Presumably the RAF lads went home and maybe, as RAF lads often did, invited their Canadian crew mates to accompany them for at least some of the time.
Training continued when the crew reconvened on 30 August 1943 at 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme in the West Riding of Yorkshire where they began transition training from flying twin-engine medium bombers to four-engine heavy bombers before being deployed to front-line RAF Bomber Command operational squadrons. In order to fly the heavy bombers an additional crew member was required in the shape of a Flight Engineer and to fill this position they acquired the services of a young lad from Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire by the name of Terence Rudden. The only child of a Royal Navy seaman and his wife, Terence was 19 years old.
In October the unit was transferred to satellite station RAF Faldingworth in Lincolnshire where the crew completed training on 14 November 1943 and now deemed ready for operational flying was posted to 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire.
Alan Rose apparently amusing the crew
And so to war...
Barely a week later on 22 November, Frank was detailed to fly as 2nd Dicky with F/O. Richard Edward Hicks and crew for a raid on Berlin, a trip that he and his own crew would come to know well. Aircraft and crew returned safely to base.
Richard Hicks and his entire crew however were to perish when their Lancaster, W4996, was shot down on 27 January 1944 during another raid on Berlin.
The night after his baptism of fire over Berlin, Frank was detailed for a repeat performance but this time he was to take his own crew to war with him. The target was bombed successfully and they returned safely to base. Three nights later (26/27 November) - detailed for Berlin again - 'a quiet and uneventful sortie' or so the crew reported on their return.
Frank Allan and Jim Yelland were both on leave from 1 - 6 December. Possibly some of the others were too but it seems that mid upper gunner Alex Mansfield was not. On 2 December Alex flew with F/Sgt Ronald Walker Sutton and crew on a Berlin raid and on the following day to bomb Leipzig. It is not known why but he never returned to fly with the Frank Allan crew and continued on ops with the Sutton crew on 1, 5, and 14 January 1944. Alas, the Berlin raid of 20 January was to be his last. Sutton's Lancaster, R5862, was shot down over the target. Sutton and 4 crew including Alex Mansfield were all killed with the two other crew members becoming prisoners of war. Alex Mansfield and the others killed in the crash lie in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Further details of Alex Mansfield can be found in Biographical Details (8)
Frank and Jim duly returned from leave but the Squadron was stood down from 4 to 14 December due to bad weather. The next operation undertaken by 166 squadron was on 16 December and for reasons unknown Terence Rudden replaced regular flight engineer Thomas Henry Lee in the crew of Sgt Stanley Frederick Miller for the raid on Berlin. In poor visibility, Miller's Lancaster LM385, crashed on return into high ground in the Caistor area resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. Terence Rudden was later buried at Brigg Cemetery in North Lincolnshire. Further details of Terence Rudden can be found below in Biographical Details (9)
The Squadron was again stood down for bad weather 17 to 19 December 21 and 22 December and 24 to 28 December. The Frank Allan crew were not called upon for the two raids to which the Squadron contributed on 20 and 23 December.
The Squadron's next involvement was on 29 December 1943 when 16 aircraft were detailed for yet another raid on Berlin. Frank Allan and crew were selected as one of the 16.
Following the loss of his former crew, Thomas Henry Lee joined Frank Allan's crew as replacement flight engineer Terence Rudden whilst Alex Mansfield was replaced by Sgt. Joseph Manual who was flying his first operation with 166 Squadron.
It was an inauspicious start for the new men as 'On returning to base all wireless equipment and Gee became unserviceable and a landing at Church Crawford was made due to shortage of fuel.'
[Note: No place or RAF Station named Church Crawford can be found - presumably this is a typo and should be Church Lawford in Warwickshire. Frank Allan had trained here as a pupil of 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit from 6 April to 8 June 1943]
The approach of midnight on New Years Eve 1943 found Frank and the crew at dispersal waiting for take off for Berlin again and as midnight passed they perhaps wished each other a rueful 'Happy New Year'. The first of the 14 Lancasters detailed led off at 23.57 the others following every few minutes with Frank Allan flying JB649 00.17 being 8th away. 3 Lancasters returned early due to mechanical faults but the remaining 11 including JB649, all bombed successfully and returned safely to base.
On 5 January 1944 the crew had a change of venue, a raid on Stettin which they duly completed and from which they returned safely.
With a period of leave from 12 to 17 January 1944 and 20 days when the Squadron was stood down Frank and his crew flew only one more operation that month, a raid on Berlin on the 20th. 17 aircraft were detailed and all got off in 17 minutes. Frank had been allocated Lancaster DV220 which he had flown only once before on 23 November 1943. Little more than an hour out the starboard outer engine was overheating and had to be feathered. With no viable alternative they had to abandon the mission and return to base.
For the first half of February 1944 the Squadron was stood down for the moon period but on 15 February, operations resumed with another raid on Berlin. For the Allan crew flying LM386 it was a successful operation and a safe return but 2 other Squadron aircraft were lost with 13 of the 14 aircrew killed.
Saturday 19 February 1944
As always, when a Battle Order went up, airmen quickly gathered round the board to see if they were to have a boozy night at 'The Chopper' in Kirmington or another perilous trip to Berlin? In the event it was to be neither, the target was Leipzig, the start of Operation Argument (later known as Big Week), a series of raids by RAF Bomber Command by night and the United States Air Force by day, the object being to destroy aircraft factories in central and southern Germany.
Of the 22 crews detailed for the raid Frank Allan and crew were listed 21st and Lancaster DV220, its overheating engine issue now rectified, was their allocated steed for the operation.
BATTLE ORDER 19 FEBRUARY 1944
'The Chopper'
Plan of Attack
As well as being an important railway intersection Leipzig was home to the Erla Maschinenwerk that was producing the Messerschmitt Bf109 under license at three locations in the city, namely Heiterblick, Abtnaundorf and Mockau. Diversionary attacks were made by Mosquito aircraft on Berlin, Stendal and Minden together with a minelaying operation in Kiel harbour.
Zero hour was to be 04:00 hours and at Zero-2 30 Primary Blind Markers and 55 Supporters were to commence the attack. 14 Blind Markers, 11 Special Blind Markers and 25 Visual Backers Up were to be spread throughout the main force that was to attack in 6 waves from 0400 to 0419 hours as follows:
1st wave 138 Lancs z to z+4
2nd wave 137 Lancs z+4 to z+8 Including DV220 flown by Frank Allan and crew
3rd wave 78 Lancs z+8 to z+11
4th wave 130 Hxs z+10 to z+14
5th wave 132 Hxs z+13 to z+17
6th wave 77 Lancs z+16 to z+19
The round trip was expected to be of 7½ to 8½ hours duration depending on conditions and the briefed outbound route was 54 00'N 04 40'E - 52 40'N 08 10'E - 52 37'N 11 52'E - 52 00'N 12 55'E - Leipzig.
Special equipment on board DV220 was Gee, IFF and Boozer (see abbreviations) and the bomb load was 1 x 4000lb HE (High Capacity), 56 x 30lb, 1320 x 4lb (Incendiaries) and 90 x 4lb "x" type (Exploding Incendiaries).
OVERVIEW OF THE RAID
A force of 823 aircraft comprising 561 Lancasters, 255 Halifaxes and 7 Mosquitoes was despatched on this long distance bombing raid on Leipzig.
In support of the operation 16 Oboe Mosquitoes attacked night fighter airfields in Holland but in the event this proved counter-productive. Night fighters had been assembled in the Hamburg area to wait for the mine-layers heading towards Kiel but the attacks on the Dutch airfields was probably responsible in deterring the fighter controllers from diverting the whole force to Kiel and those that had already been diverted were quickly recalled. Thus, soon after crossing the enemy coast the bombers were met by a strong force of night fighters, later augmented by those drawn south from the Hamburg area that harassed them all the way to the target and continued to pursue the bombers home with more than their usual persistency. The situation was further aggrevated due to winds not as forecast so that many aircraft reached turning points in the route too early and had to orbit which increased the risk attack and collisons as well as disrupting the concentration of the bomber stream. Aircraft arriving early over the target area and forced to circle whilst awaiting the Pathfinders were easy targets.
The target was covered in 10/10ths cloud; there was a quarter moon and visibility was described as fair. The sky-marker flares were at first well concentrated but later became more scattered and the subsequent bombing was spread over a wide area. 650 aircraft reported bombing the target and dropped a total of 2300 tons of bombs.
Active opposition from ground defences was encountered at Emden, Bremen, Hanover, Frankfurt and Rotterdam as well as over the target itself. Flak accounted for at least 20 bombers and 27 were known to have been brought down by the night fighters. Most of the other 31 losses were also thought to have been due to night fighters. The 78 aircraft lost represented an extraordinarily large 9.5% of the total force and a further 70 aircraft aborted the mission. 420 aircrew were killed and 131 captured making this the heaviest Bomber Command loss of the war to date, easily exceeding the 58 aircraft lost on 21/22 January 1944 when Magdeburg was the main target.
During the afternoon of 20 February 1944 more than 200 American Flying Fortresses attacked the aircraft factories of Leipzig with great accuracy and much of the damage revealed in the reconnaissance photographs taken later in the week must be attributed to them. A total of 970 people were killed by the two raids most of them by the British night raid.
RAF KIRMINGTON - 2300 HOURS SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 1944
Heavy rain earlier in the evening had left a lingering haze or mist over Kirmington and although F/O. Fred Taylor in Lancaster ME638 got away promptly at 2300 hours, it was 20 minutes later before the next one managed to join him and even by 2340 only 8 Lancasters were aloft including Frank Allan in DV220 who had been fourth in line at 23.21. Fortunately, by 23.30 hours conditions began to improve and between 2340 and midnight the remaining 14 got away in short order.
Crossing the coast at Mablethorpe they eventually rendezvoused with the main force some 200 miles east across the North Sea.
Heading south east the force crossed the Dutch coast about Terchelling/Ameland and onward until 70 miles south east of Groningen before flying east until 60 miles west of Berlin when the bomber stream then turned south east to a point some 60 miles east of Magdeburg before taking a course south south east for the final 50 miles to the target .
17 of the 22 aircraft from 166 Squadron duly bombed the target, 1 had engine trouble and bombed Emden, the last resort target and 1 abandoned the operation due to navigational difficulties.
By 7.25 on Sunday morning, 20 February, 19 Lancasters had made it home though not all without some difficulty: LM382 AS-Q captained by P/O. James Henry Catlin was badly shot up by night-fighters, 2 crew were severely wounded, jettisoned bomb load and returned. Crash landed at RAF Manston. All seven crew were injured.
Returning aircraft reported large numbers of enemy fighters in action and four of the squadron aircraft had been involved in combat.
Alas, of the other three there was but a stark entry in the Squadron ORB:
'Three aircraft flown by Squadron Leader Bows, Flight Sergeant Allan and Flight Sergeant Kingston and crews failed to return. Nothing heard after take-off.'
Notified of their missing loved ones their respective families could but pray for good news.
It was later learned that no trace of Lancaster ME637 AS-F or crew had been found. S/Ldr. Ronald Bows and his crew were therefore presumed killed and thus having no known grave are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
It was also learned that Lancaster ME627 AS-Z captained by F/Sgt. Roy Albert Kingston RAAF had been shot down and all seven crew killed. They lie side by side in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.
Telegrams advising the families of Frank Allan, Thomas Lee, Jim Yelland, Fred Hughes, Bill Dykes, Joseph Manuel and Alan Rose that their loved ones were missing were duly sent on 20 February with confirmation letters from the Squadron Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Francis Sidney Powley, DFC, AFC., being sent the following day. It was to be more than a month later before the families received any further news and sadly it was of a bittersweet nature.
On 24 March 1944 a telegram to the Air Ministry from the International Red Cross quoting German information states: 20/2 "Lancaster" four captured
'Sgt. T. H. Lee, Sgt. A. Rose, F/Sgt. F. J. Hughes and F/Sgt. J. Manuel (previous class [all] missing 19/20.2.44 new class [all] P/W). Two dead F/Sgt. Allan, (previous class missing 19/20.2.44 new class M.B.Kia) one unknown. The unknown cannot be identified as there were seven members in this crew.'
It is clear from later correspondence between the families of the various crew members that they had been made aware of the above information shortly after it was received by the Air Ministry, but it was to be more than a year later before anything further was forthcoming regarding Frank Allan, Jim Yelland or Bill Dykes.
REASON FOR LOSS
Nothing was heard from Lancaster DV220 or the crew after take off but shortly before 03.30 a.m. on 20 February 1944, the aircraft was attacked and shot down by a night fighter. According to German documents the Lancaster crashed at 03.30 hours 3 km south east of Krahne, Zauch-Belzig area near the church wood at Krahne.
(The crash location refers to the Kirchholz (translated literally as "Church Wood"), a small forest plot located, as stated, approximately 3km southeast of the village of Krahne, which historically belonged to the Zauch-Belzig district in Brandenburg, Germany).
On 3 January 2020 we received the following additional information from John Jones:
19-20 February 1944 - 166 Squadron Lancaster III DV220 AS-J
Claim by Oblt Albert Walter 1/NJG6 - 3km SE Krahne, South of Brandenburg: 6,200m at 03:34.
(Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1944 Part 1 - Theo Boiten)
Statements made by the four surviving crew members offer no insight into how the attack unfolded, the damage caused or anything concerning the onboard situation.
However, in August 2026 we were contacted by Tony Russell Rose, son of the rear gunner Alan Rose who informed us that:
'My father didn't talk about the experience very often, and inevitably my own recollection of what he did tell us has become rather hazy over the years. There are, however, a few things I remember which may be of interest.
One thing that stayed with me was that he was quite scathing about the organisation of the operation. As I remember it, he said they arrived over the target early and there was a considerable amount of circling before the attack. He did believe that they were subsequently attacked by a night fighter.
I don't remember him describing the damage to the aircraft in any detail. What I do remember quite clearly is his recollection of the pilot saying something along the lines of "You'll have to go", at which point my father baled out.
He also believed that the crew member whose body was never recovered had come down in the lake, which he thought explained why he was never found.
As for my father's own landing, I believe he said he came down near a railway line and buried his parachute. He subsequently gave himself up at a railway station. He always recalled that the local people there treated him very fairly and, if my memory is right, gave him something to drink. It was only when the German authorities arrived to take him away that things became less friendly. I also remember him saying that they reprimanded the local people for having treated him too generously.
I'm afraid that's about as much as I can reliably reconstruct. Some of these details are memories of conversations from many years ago, so I wouldn't want to present every detail as certain.'
The following details of what happened after the four survivors baled out, have been compiled from the responses to Red Cross enquiries regarding the fates of Frank Allan, Jim Yelland and Bill Dykes made to the survivors of the crew whilst they were prisoners of war, the General Questionnaires for British/American Ex-Prisoners of War and Questionnaires for the RCAF completed by the surviving crew members following their liberation.
After landing by parachute Thomas Lee, Fred Hughes and Alan Rose were captured and are thought to have been taken initially to Brandenburg aerodrome before being sent to the Interrogation Centre at Dulag Luft, Frankfurt. Joseph Manuel managed to evade until 24 February before being captured at Loberitz near Leipzig from where he was also sent to Dulag Luft. The four were all later transported to Stalag Luft VI, the northernmost POW camp within the German Reich located near the town of Hydekrug, Memelland (now Šilute in Lithuania). Further details of their later movements can be found in their respective biographical notes below.
On 10 October 1944, following a request by the British Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross. Central Agency for Prisoners of War, Geneva, sent enquiries regarding the fate of Frank Allan, Jim Yelland and Bill Dykes to the surviving aircrew.
Thomas Lee, the flight engineer responded as follow:
'Concerning No. R.141695 Rank: F/Sgt. Name: F.F.G. Allan
1. Statement.
Believed killed. At the Interrogation Centre I was shown a fire charred identity disc belonging to my pilot R.141695 F/Sgt. F.F.G. Allan, also I was shown 2 wristlet watches, one of which I recognised as belonging to F/Sgt. Allan. I was then told that there were 2 or 3 bodies in the wreck of the a/c. I was also informed that the remains would be buried at East Brandenburg. I personally am certain that F/Sgt. Allan was killed, as the port wing detached itself just as I had left the a/c. Three members of my crew were still in the a/c then, these were F/Sgt. Allan the pilot, the navigator R.144272 W/O 2. J.J. Yelland and the wireless operator, 1575431 Sgt. W. A Dykes.
2 Were you an eye witness? Member of crew and last surviving member of crew to leave a/c by parachute.
3.Actual date of incident. 03.40 hours 20th February 1944
Date 17 January 1945
Signature Thomas H. Lee
RAF No. 1157645 POW No. 1728
Concerning No. R.144272 rank: W/Officer 2 Name: J.J. Yelland
1. Statement.
Believed killed. At the Interrogation Centre (Dulag) I was shown a wristlet watch and mascots (St. Christopher medallions) which I recognised as the property of W/O. J.J. Yelland. I was then told that these had been removed from one of the bodies in the wrecked a/c. I am certain that the articles shewn me were the property of W/O. Yelland. I was informed that the remains were being buried at East Brandenburg. The port wing of the a/c detached itself immediately after I left the a/c by parachute.
2. Were you an eye witness? Last surviving member of crew to leave burning a/c.
3.Actual date of incident. 03.40 hours 20th February 1944
Date 17 January 1945
Signature Thomas H. Lee
RAF No. 1157645 POW No. 1728'
Joseph Manuel, Fred Hughes and Alan Rose were unable to add anything further.
POST WAR DEVELOPMENTS
Following liberation and at the request of the RCAF, the four surviving crew members completed further questionnaires about the crash of Lancaster DV220 requested by the RCAF and although the other three had nothing further to add, the statement made by Thomas Lee tended to elaborate a little on his earlier response to the Red Cross enquiry of 17 January 1945. This later statement read as follows:
'At Brandenburg aerodrome I was shown two wrist watches, one belonged to F/Sgt. Allan and also his charred identity disc and the second watch was definitely that of W/O. Yelland. The Germans said there was the remains of 2 bodies in the wreck, one of which they buried as F/Sgt. Allan and the other just as an unknown English Flyer.
I have no information as to the fate of Sgt. Dykes if his body had been in the machine, they would have found the watch he was wearing, one I had loaned him.
This is supposition only, but I landed close to a lake and I think it probable that Dykes landed in the lake.'
Although Thomas Lee's responses to the Red Cross enquiry were dated 17 January 1945 they are clearly marked 'Rec'd 2 April 1945', this presumably being by the International Committee of the Red Cross who then passed the details to the British Red Cross on 21 June 1945 who in turn passed the information to Ottawa where it was received on 3 July 1945.
It was not until 23 August 1945 that a letter was sent to Jim Yelland's wife Florence, finally notifying her of the content of Thomas Lee's statement and advising her that the RAF Missing Research and Enquiry Service was now operating in liberated territories conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of aircrew reported as casualties and continuing systematic research on a chronological basis and any further news of her husband would be immediately forwarded to her.
Another three and a half years elapsed before Florence Yelland learned anything more regarding her husband Jim.
Investigation by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service
From the Air Ministry Casualty Section to O.C. Berlin Detachment MRES
16 January 1948
Ref: P.413913/44/S.14.Cas. (C.7)
Casualty Enquiry G1910
Lancaster DV220 of 166 Squadron. Missing from operations against Leipzig on the night of 19/20 February 1944.
Crew.
Capt. J19942 (ex F/S) P/O Allan, F.F.G. Allan d/p 20.2.44
F/E 1157645 F/S Lee, T.H. Safe
A/B R156150 W/O Hughes, F.J. Safe
Nav R144272 W/O Yelland, J.J. d/p 20.2.44
WO/Air 1575431 Sgt Dykes, W.A. d/p 20.2.44
MUG 1087197 W/O Manuel, J. Safe
RG 1818912 F/S Rose A. Safe
German documents show that this aircraft crashed at 03.30 hours on 20 February 1944 three kilometres south east Krohne, Zauch-Belgiz Area [sic]. Two Death cards also held for Allan and one "unknown" but no burial details are shown.
Information from War Office A.G.13 states that Allan and one "unknown" are buried at Krahne/Zauch/Belzig (GSGS4346 N53 Z/270240)
A photostatic copy of burial shows that Allan is now buried in Heerstrasse 8.K.12. We do not receive photostats for unknowns.
At the request of F/Sgt. Lee ex Prisoner of War we are sending you the following information:-
(1) He (F/Sgt. Lee) Loaned to Dykes on the night of the raid a round stainless steel Wrist Watch.
(2) The German who took Lee into custody was:
Oswald Moosbrugger
Heidelberg
Bannho Str. 2.
Bei Mundi (?)
Moosebrugger previously lived at Krahne Bien Brandenburg (Havel), the scene of the crash.
Will you please report on this case in due course.
J. A. Sturch
And the response
From Berlin Detachment MRES to Air Ministry S14 Cas London
10 March 1948
Your C.E. No. G1910
Our Ref: G1910/BA/46
Name of Search Officer F/L B. Aptroot
Target: Leipzig
A/C type and No. Lancaster CV220 [sic] of 166 Squadron
Date reported missing 19/20 Feb 44
Place of crash with map ref: 3 kilometres South-east of Krahne (MR N53/Z22)
Place of burial with ap ref: Krahne Map Ref. N53/Z22
Crew:
Capt. J19942 (ex F/S) P/O Allan, F.F.G. Allan d/p 20.2.44
F/E 1157645 F/S Lee, T.H. Safe
A/B R156150 W/O Hughes, F.J. Safe
Nav R144272 W/O Yelland, J.J. d/p 20.2.44
WO/Air 1575431 Sgt Dykes, W.A. d/p 20.2.44
MUG 1087197 W/O Manuel, J. Safe
RG 1818912 F/S Rose A. Safe
Krahne was visited by F/L Saager on 9.1.47. He found two bodies there and reported as follows:
Krahne Cemetery
The entry in the Church Register, concerning the two bodies in this cemetery reads as follows
From a 4 engined [sic] aircraft which came in flames from Magdeburg and crashed near the church wood Krahne on 19.20.44 [Typo s/b 19.02.44] the remains of two crew members were recovered.
From another crew member, Bree [Lee], who was taken prisoner, and an identity disc, it was learned that one of the deceased was F.F.G. Allan Can Airman R141655 RCAF.
Exhumation revealed an officer's shirt on the first body (56 G.C.U Ref. JON 62) and an O.R's [other ranks] shirt on the second, so we may safely assume that the second is that of Allan.
Both bodies were badly burnt and there were few remains.
Their burial took place at 09.00 on Tuesday 22.2.44 with the local pastor, the Reverend Guenther officiating. An Air Force detachment from Werder was also present.
The cross over the tidily kept grave, decorated with fir branches read:
"Here rest in peace two English soldiers killed on 20.2.44"
The graves were decorated this and preceding Memorial Sundays.
All these bodies are now reburied in the Brit. Mil. Cem. Berlin-Heerstrasse.
Signed R A Saager F/Lt
Investigating Officer'
Undated correspondence on the reverse of the above letter
'In view of the fact that CE1910 is still open, it is requested that you review the case. No third body was found in the cemetery, nor was there anything known to any of the witnesses about a third casualty.
As this tallies with the German information forwarded by you in your P413913/44/S.14. Cas (C.7) of 16 January 1948, it seems that a third body was never recovered from the wreckage.
In addition to this, the following letter has been received from Oswald Moosbrugger confirming that only two bodies were found:-
"Referring to your letter from the 3 Feb. this month Ref. C.E. G.1910 I believe if you set yourself in connection with Mr Thomas Henry Lee, 94 Latimer Road, Exeter. Devon, you will get more information than I could give you. I can only tell you that two men were dead according to what I could see. After the plane hit the ground and exploded, the same were buried in the cemetery from Krahne. What happened to the other members of the crew I do not know. As I already wrote, you can get more information from Mr Lee, then as far as I know, he met some of his crew members at the Priest Airport in Plaue near Brandenburg.
I would gladly give you some more information if I could, and if there is anything that I can do to help you, let me know and I'll gladly do that. Now hoping that things will clear themselves, I remain as yours truly
Mr Oswald Moosbrugger
Heidleberg, Bahnofstr. 2
bei Mundi"
If P/O. Allan was commissioned prior to the date of the crash, it would seem that Body No. 1 was his, if not, there does not seem to be much chance of a positive identification. The raising of 3372 is held up pending your advice, as there seems to be no trace of a 3rd body.
(Sgd) B. Aptroot F/L'
P/O. Allan had indeed been commissioned prior to the crash. According to his service book he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 2 February 1944 and though this may not have allowed him sufficient time before the crash to order and receive his officer's uniform i.e. tunic and trousers etc., officer's shirts would have been readily available on the base. In order to use the officers' mess Frank would have needed to have had at least an appropriate officer's shirt and this would explain the fragment of officer's shirt found on exhumation of the remains.
Frank Allan's Service Book recording his commissioning
With no other officer in the crew and remains of only two bodies in the wreckage and Thomas Lee's positive identification of the two wrist watches being those of Frank Allan and Jim Yelland the two bodies buried at Krahne were thus those of Frank and Jim.
But no! On 30 August 1948 the following Post Presumption Memorandum explains that 'Nothing further has been discovered of the bodies of W.O. Yelland and Sgt. Dykes and it must be assumed that they have no known grave' 'Case Close.'
The document is stamped 12 October 1948 the date it was received by the Casualty Section.
For some reason it was to be almost 4 months later before Florence Yelland was to learn of the decision regarding her husband's fate as notified in the following letter
TRANSCRIPT OF THE LETTER
Dear Mrs Yelland,
It is with regret that I refer to the loss of your husband, Pilot Officer JamesJoseph Yelland, who lost his life on air operations against the enemy February 20th 1944, but a report has been received from our Missing Research and Enquiry Service that the grave of Pilot Officer F. G. Allan, the captain and pilot of your husband's crew, and one other (not identifiable) were located in the cemetery at Krahne, which is located in East Brandenburg, Germany, and in accordance with the agreed policy of the Nations of the British Commonwealth that all British aircrew buried in Germany would be moved to British Military Cemeteries located in Germany, Pilot Officer Allan and the 'Unknown' resting with him were moved to the permanent British Military Cemetery in Berlin, known as the Berlin (Heerstrasse) British Cemetery, situated eight miles west from the centre of the City of Berlin, Germany.
You are aware that four members of your husband's crew were Prisoners of War, the remaining members being your husband, Pilot F.G. Officer Allan (RCAF), and Sergeant W.A. Dykes (RAF), and while it is believed that the unidentified occupant of the grave beside Pilot Officer allan was a member of the same crew, due to the fact that after intensive investigations, no trace can be found of a third or remaining crew member, the grave cannot be marked for your husband or Sergeant Dykes, but must remain 'Unknown', and it must be regretfully accepted that your husband and Sergeant Dykes perished in the crash of the aircraft and do not have 'Known' graves.
Owing to the extreme hazards attending was in the air, there are, unhappily, many thousands of aircrew boys who, like your husband and Sergeant Dykes do not have a 'Known' grave, and their names will be commemorated on general memorials which will be erected at a number of locations by the Imperial War Graves Commission (of which Canada is a member). You husband and Sergeant Dykes will be commemorated on the memorial which will be erected in England, and you will, at a later date, be further advised in this regard by the Imperial War Graves Commission.
I realise that this is an extremely distressing letter, and that there is no manner in which such news can be conveyed to you that will not add to your heartaches, and I am fully aware that nothing I may say will lessen your great sorrow, but I would like to take this opportunity of expressing to you and members of your family my deepest sympathy in the loss of your gallant husband.
Your Sincerely
(W.R. Gunn)
Wing Commander
RCAF Casualties Officer
for Chief of the Air Staff
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF THE CREW
(1) P/O. Francis Frederick George (Frank) Allan was born at Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 2 July 1917 the son of William Alexander Allan (a Foreman for Canadian Pacific Railways) and Jane Allan nee Pounden. He had a brother Anthony William Allan born 1915, a Sergeant in the RCAF and three sisters Veronica Allan born 1919, Patricia Allan born 1924 and Sheila Allan born 1931. The family lived at 9954 St. Vital Blvd. Montreal
He was educated at St Michaels Public, Elementary and High Schools (1923-1933)after which he attended Technical School for 1 year and took a four year Boiler Maker's course with the Inter-Correspondence School.
He was employed by Canadian Pacific Railways as a Boilermaker's Apprentice (1936-1940) a Draughtsman (1940-1941) and a Material Tracer during 1941 until he enlisted in the RCAF on 1 December 1941 at Montreal. When he enlisted he was 5'7½" tall weighing 155 lbs with a fair complexion, grey eyes and blond hair. He stated that he enjoyed skiing, swimming and playing tennis all moderately and his hobbies were golf hunting and fishing.
From No. 1 Manning Depot RCAF Toronto he was posted to the No. 6 Initial Training School Toronto Board of Education on 14 March 1942 for three months. He was then trained at No. 3 Elementary Flying School (EFTS), RCAF London, Ontario; No. 9 EFTS, RCAF St. Catherine's, Ontario and No. 14 EFTS at RCAF Portage la Prairie, Manitoba where, on 18 December 1942 he received his Pilot's Badge and promoted to Sergeant.
He embarked for the UK on 7 January 1943 arriving on 15 January and proceeding to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. On 6 April he was posted to No. 18 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Church Lawford, Warwickshire followed by No. 30 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hixon, Staffordshire on 8 June. No. 1667 Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme, West Riding of Yorkshire on 30 August and to No. 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire on 14 November 1943.
He was promoted to Flight sergeant on 18 June 1943 and commissioned as a Pilot Officer 2 February 1944.
(2) F/Sgt. Thomas Henry Lee was born on 10 March 1916 at St. Thomas, Devon, the only child of Frederick George Lee and Edith Amy Lee née Stephens. In 1921 the family lived at 31 Cleveland Street, St Thomas at which time Frederick Lee was an Engine Fitter at Yeo and Davey Motor Engineers, Exeter. Thomas Henry Lee, then aged 5, was a whole time pupil at Gerston House School.
In 1939 Thomas Henry Lee was a Clerk at Houndstone Camp, Brympton Parish, Yeovil, Somerset.
In 1940 he married Gladys E. Ching at Exeter. They lived at 94 Latimer Road, St. Katherine's Priory, Whipton, Exeter and had a daughter Beryl A. Lee born at Exeter in 1941.
Captured on 20 February 1944 at East Brandenburg -slightly injured
Dulag Luft 21 -28 February 1944 - 'Solitary confinement 7 days for refusing to disclose more than name rank and number and the heating was turned off by day and on full at night.'
Held at: 'Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug 4 March 1944 to August 1944, Stalag 357 Thorn Poland Aust -September 1944, Stalag 357 Fallingbostel near Hanover September 1944 to 14 April 1945.
26 days march away from our forces April 14 to May 2 1945.'
He was repatriated to England where he completed his General Questionnaire for British/American Ex Prisoners of War on 5 May 1945.
Thomas Henry Lee died at Teignbridge, Devon in 2000 aged 83.
(3) P/O. James Joseph (Jim) Yelland was born on 8 November 1921 at Peterboro County, Ontario, Canada the son of Wilbert Henry Yelland and Mary Estelle Yelland nee Bailey, of Penetanguishene, Ontario. He had one sister Gloria Frances Yelland born 1924 and three brothers Gerald Franklin Yelland born 1923, Robert Henry Yelland and John Bailey Yelland both born 1927. Wilbert Yelland was an Assistant Manager for Grew Boat Works and the family lived at 102 Poyntz Street.
Jim Yelland was educated at Penetanguishene Protestant Separate School (1927 - 1934) and Penetanguishene High School (1934-1938). After leaving school he worked as a Hotel Desk Clerk until January 1940 and then as a Stock-keeper at Fern Shoe Co. until
September 1940. He was then employed by Canadian National Express as an Express Messenger until enlisting in the RCAF.
When he enlisted at Toronto on 25 November 1941 he was 5'8" and weighed 120 lbs. He liked to swim, ski, play baseball and hockey and enjoyed building model aircraft.
After training at No. 6 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Dunnville, No. 1 Initial Training School RCAF Toronto and No 1 Air Observer School, RCAF Malton (all Ontario stations) he was awarded his Air Observers Badge and promoted to
Sergeant 23 October 1942. The following day he married Florence Violet Doyle at Midland, Ontario. She lived at 367 Queen Street, Midland.
On 23 November he embarked for the UK and on arrival was posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on 1 December 1942. Promoted to Flight Sergeant on 23 April 1943 he was later posted to No. 1 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Wigtownshire, Scotland on 10 May, No. 30 Operational Training Unit at RAF Hixon, Staffordshire on 8 June. No. 1667 Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme, West Riding of Yorkshire on 30 August and to No. 166 Squadron at RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire on 14 November 1943.
He was promoted to Warrant Officer second class on 23 October 1943 and commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 18 February 1944
(4) W/O. Frederick James Hughes was born in 1923 probably in Toronto, Canada
Prior to enlisting on 29 April 1942 he was employed as a Clerk
On 27 July 1942 he married Iola Catherine Grieve at Toronto. they went on to have 3 children: Robert Hughes (1949-2017) and 2 other sons details unknown.
At some time they lived at 1836 Queen Street Toronto.
In his General Questionnaire for British/American Ex Prisoners of war completed on 29 April 1945 he stated his private address as: Apt8 76 Eglinton Street East [Toronto]
Captured uninjured at SE Leipzig he was sent to Dulag Luft and later to Stalag Luft 6 Hydekruge where he was held from 4 March 1944 to July 1944. He was then transferred to Stalag 357 Thorn where he remained from July 1944 to August 1944 and then at Stalag 357 Fallingbostel from August 1944 to April 1945. He was liberated on 22 April 1945 NE of Soltau Germany and repatriated to England shortly afterwards
Frederick James Hughes died c1995 at Mississauga Ontario
If you have any further information please contact our helpdesk
(5) Sgt. William Arthur (Bill) Dykes was born on 15 January 1921 at Nottingham the only child of Maurice A Dykes and Mabel C. Dykes nee Stanley
In 1939 the family lived at 777 western Boulevard, Nottingham. Bill's father was a Twisthand in Lace Manufacturing and his mother worked as a Brass Bobbin Winder and Bill Dykes was a Junior Clerk at a Solicitors
Bill Dykes married Florence Bowden at Manchester in 1943 and lived at 99 Kenyon Lane, Moston Manchester. There are no known children of the marriage.
Details kindly provided by Mancel Wood
(6) W/O. Joseph Manuel DFM was born on 25 December 1920 at Stanley, Co. Durham the son of Miner, Joseph Manuel and Harriet Manuel née Storey. He had 4 siblings: John W. S. Manuel born 1913, Robert M. Manuel born 1916, Elizabeth Manuel born 1918 and twin brother Thomas Manuel born and died 1920.
In 1921 the family lived at 3 Dawson's Yard, High Job's Hill, Crook. In 1939 the family lived at 22 Mount Pleasant, Stanley nr Crook Co Durham at which time Joseph Manuel junior was employed as a Colliery Putter aka a Hurrier.
Prior to enlisted in the RAFVR on 21 January 1941 he worked as a Miner.
Joseph Manuel was posted to 142 Squadron on 2 October 1942. He was a member in the crew of Sergeant Cook posted to North Africa on 26 December 1942.
No. 166 Squadron was re-formed 27 January 1943, at Kirmington, Lincolnshire from detachments of No.142 and No.150 squadrons as an operational night bomber squadron. Whilst with 166 Squadron Joseph Manuel took part in 7 operations against Berlin prior to the Leipzig raid, flying with 2 different crews. His DFM was promulgated in the London Gazette of 9 July 1943 for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.
Captured uninjured at Loberitz near Leipzig on 24 February 1944 he spent 7 days at Dulag Luft before being transferred to
Stalag Luft 6 at Hyderkruge where he was held from 6 March 1944 to 17 July 1944. He was then held at Stalag 357 Thorn 17 July 1944 to 7 August 1944 and Stalag 357 Fallingbostel from 7 August 1944 to 6 April 1945, when he was one of 12000 evacuated from the camp by the Germans. He eventually reached the Allied lines in early May and was later repatriated to England.
In 1946 he married Phyllis Brown at Durham West.
Joseph Manuel died at Lichfield in 1987
(7) F/Sgt. Alan Rose was born on 26 June 1924 at Dudley, Worcestershire, the son of Benjamin Rose and Hannah Rose née Siviter (married Dudley 1910). He had 3 siblings: Harry Anthony Rose (1911-1983), David Laurence Rose (1914-1994) a Olive Rose (1916-2001).
In 1921 the family lived at 21 Dudley Road, Springfield, Dudley at which time Benjamin Rose was a Bricklayer (Kilns and Furnaces) at Doultons Ltd Pottery Manufacturers.
By 1939 the family lived at 2 Elm Drive, Blackheath near Birmingham at which time Benjamin Rose was a Builder's Clerk of Works and Alan Rose was a Sheet Metal Worker (Heating and Ventilation).
Family included in 1939 Register: Benjamin Rose, Hannah Rose, David L Rose, Olive Rose and Alan Rose.
Alan Rose enlisted on 4 January 1943 (service number 1818912)
He was at 30 Operational Training Unit (OTU) prior to joining 166 Sqn.
He was captured uninjured at Brandenburg on 19 February 1944
Held at Dulag Luft 19-24 February 1944 in solitary confinement he was later incarcerated at the following prisoner of war camps:
Stalag Luft 6 near Heydekrug in East Prussia (now Šilutė, Lithuania) from 1 March 1944 to 6 July 1944,
Stalag 357 at Thorn (now Toruń) in north Poland from 9 July 1944 to 9 August 1944 and Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel located just to the east of the town of Fallingbostel in Lower Saxony, in north-western Germany, from 12 August 1944 to 12 April 1945
Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel was liberated by British Troops on 16 April 1945.
Following his liberation and on return to England Alan completed his General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-Prisoners of War on 6 May 1945. When liberated he held the rank of Flight Sergeant.
In 1952 he married Bridget O'Malley at Birmingham. They went on to have four children: Amanda F. Rose born 1957 Adrian P. Rose born 1960, Antony G. Rose born 1962 and Nicola Frances M. Rose born 1969.
Alan Rose died on 7 July 2020 aged 96.
(8) Sgt. Alexander Andrew Mansfield was born on 20 October 1924 at Brentford, Middlesex the son of Henry Charles Mansfield and Elizabeth Ann Mansfield née Wetherall. He had eight siblings: Charles Henry George Mansfield born 1917, Robert Ernest Mansfield born 1919, Frank Mansfield (1920-1920), Gladys L Mansfield (1923-1924), Winifred E Mansfield born 1926, Reginald P Mansfield (1927-1927), Christopher A Mansfield born 1932 and Henry J Mansfield (1934-1934)
In 1921 the family lived at 36 Gloucester Road, Acton, London at which time Henry Charles Mansfield was employed in the Mechanical Department of the London Electric Railway.
In 1939 the family were living at 152 Northfield Avenue, Ealing. Henry Charles Mansfield was at that time a Depot Foreman Carriage Examiner and Alexander Mansfield was a schoolboy.
Alex Mansfield's service number 1876425 is from batch 1869809 to 1884438 issued at Cardington from May 1943
As stated earlier Alexander Andrew Mansfield was killed on 20 January 1944 when Lancaster R5862 was shot down over Berlin. He was originally buried at Gollin Cemetery and reinterred on 4 October 1947 at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery in Grave ref: 9.C.21.
His epitaph reads:
In proud, loving memory
Of our dear son Alex.
Always remembered
By mum, dad and family
(9) Sgt. Terrence Rudden was born on 31 May 1924 at Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire the only child of Royal Navy Able Seaman John Rudden and Emily Rudden née Cuddy. In 1921 they lived at 40 Arthington Street Bradford.
In 1939 the family lived at 67 Northside Terrace, Bradford at which time John Rudden was a Hospital Steam Engineman.
Terrence Rudden's service number, 1676327, is from batch 1670001 to 1692488 issued at Padgate from November 1941 to June 1942.
As stated earlier in the text, Terrence Rudden was killed on 16 December 1943 when Lancaster LM385, crashed in the Caistor area. Terence Rudden was later buried at Brigg Cemetery in North Lincolnshire. Plot C. R.C. Grave 50.
BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS
(1) P/O. Francis Frederick George Allan was originally buried at Krahne Cemetery, Germany and re-interred on 11 January 1947 at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave ref: 8.K.12
No epitaph
(3) W/O. James Joseph Yelland - Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel No. 253
(5) Sgt. William Arthur Dykes - Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel No. 228
Researched by Aircrew Remembered Senior Research Editor, Roy Wilcock, for all the relatives and friends of the members of this crew - May 2017
With thanks to the sources quoted below.
