Operation: Ranger (note)

Date: 22nd July 1944 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 29 Squadron

Type: Mosquito NF.XIII

Serial: HK515

Base: RAF Hunsdon

Location: Plantlunne Airfield, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. George Edmund Allison 110791 RAFVR Age 32. Killed (1)

Nav: Sub/Lt. Christopher Waltham Porter RNVR Age 22. Killed (2)

Any further information on this loss we would be pleased to advise the Sherborne School archivist.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on the squadrons first daytime ranger patrol during the afternoon of the 22nd July.

Mosquito HK515 was shot down, probably by anti-aircraft fire over the German airfield at Plantlunne.

Above area of loss, with right: Fl/Lt. Allison (courtesy Sherborne School Archives)

The pilot had a narrow escape when just weeks earlier, on the 5th/6th July 1944, flying Mosquito NF.XIII MM553 with Fl/Lt. Stainton as navigator, the aircraft was hit by flak over Melun and Bretigny airfield - flew back on a single engine. On landing the aircraft somersaulted and written off, Fl/Lt. Allison was unhurt but the navigator was injured.

(1) Fl/Lt. Allison Had been a former student with Sherborne School in Dorset. Page placed for the school archive.
(2) Sub/Lt. Porter was serving with HMS. Daedalus (Lee-On-Solent) and attached for experience on this type of aircraft.
Note: Ranger - Freelance flights over enemy territory, to occupy the Luftwaffe.

Memorial at RAF Hunsdon

Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them. 

Fl/Lt. George Edmund Allison. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 16.E.12. Further details - supplied by Sherborne School Archives): Son of Gordon Allison, and of Hilda Allison (née Alderson), of Westminster, London, England. Born on the 10th July 1912. Attended Sherbonre Preparatory School, Sherborne School (Lyon House) September 1925-July 1929; member of the shooting VIII team (1929). Lloyds Bank, 1929-1931. Balliol College, Oxford, 1931. Banking, 1932. Contested (unsuccessfully) Pembrokshire as Unionist candidate, 1935.

Sub/Lt. Christopher Waltham Porter. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 16.E.13. Son of Robert Waltham Porter and of Monica La Fontaine Porter (nee McAnally), husband of Rosnia Mary Joyce Porter (nee Pinney), of Great Easton, Essex, England. B.A. (Oxon.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Sherborne School Archives, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries’ (Updated 2014 version) Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Aircrew Remembered own Archives. Abbreviations.