Operation: Hamburg, Germany

Date: 2nd/3rd August 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit No: 75 Squadron (NZ), C Flight, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Stirling III

Serial: BF577

Code: JN:M

Base: RAF Mepal, Cambridgeshire

Location: Kronprinzenkoog, Germany

Pilot: Flt Sgt. James Arthur Couper 417027 RNZAF Age 31. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. James Wilson Sneddon 1342219 RAFVR Age 31. KiA

Nav: Sgt. George Albert Walker 1332840 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Geoffrey Scott Corlett 42289 RNZAF Age 20. KiA (1)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Sydney Cecil Oliver Reeves 42339 RNZAF Age 21. KiA (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Thomas Edward Wadeson 1489406 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Alan Ashworth 1529817 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Mepal in Cambridgeshire at 23:31 hrs - 740 aircraft from various squadrons with seventeen (17) from 75 Squadron to bomb Hamburg in Germany.

The entire Gruppen of NJG3 were sent to search for the bomber stream, claiming nineteen (19) shot down both during and on their homebound legs. The formations encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany enroute to the target. Many crews turned back or bombed alternative targets. Eleven (11) were lost to Flak with at least four (4) probably more lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning.

Two aircraft from the Sqn failed to return:

BF577 was claimed by Fw. Krauter, his 1st Abschuss, from 5./NJG3 flying a Do217 N-1, near Wiemerstedt north of Heide at 1600 m. at 01:42. Hrs. The aircraft was also claimed by Flak of 1. & 2./Marine Flak Abt. 254, in cooperation with fighter 7 km north of Heide at 01:40 hrs. The victory for Fw. Krauter was confirmed on the 21st December 1944. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Fw. Krauter was reported to have collided with a 75 Sqn Stirling due to the storm with his Do217 coming down at Hägen near Wiemerstedt. The loss of both Stirlings from 75 Sqn were accounted for so he must have collided with another aircraft. Additionally the implication was that he was killed, which was not correct, because he survived the war with one confirmed Abschuss with a second pending confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten).

The second aircraft was Stirling III EH928 AA:A flown by Plt Off. Cyril Philip Bailie 155786 RAFVR who KiA along with his crew. EH928 was claimed by Hptm. Hans-Joachim Jabs, his 34th Abschuss, from Stab IV./NJG1 over the sea 25 km NW of Terschelling at 21000 m. at 03:52 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

(1) Flt Sgt. Corlett’s younger brother Sgt. John Norman Collett 2209824 RAFVR was killed on the 24th October 1944. He was the WOp/Air Gnr aboard Wellington I LP844 from No.18 Operational Training Unit (OTU). During a weather test the aircraft stalled and crashed at 19:01 hrs.

The pilot, 27 year old Plt Off. William Henry Wright DFC, J86486 RCAF was killed along with his co-pilot 20 year old, Plt Off. Denis Nigel Phillips 186745 RAFVR. Two other crew members survived, injured.

(2) Below: Flt Sgt. Sydney Cecil Oliver Reeve with his nephew, Rodney. Sydney had the uniform especially made for him (courtesy Lyn Collins)

Burial details:

The crew were initially buried at Kronprinzenkoog and were finally laid to rest at the Hamburg Cemetery on the 14th October 1946.

Flt Sgt. James Arthur Couper. Hamburg Cemetery, Collective grave 4A.D.10-12. Born on the 19th February 1912 in Manawatu, New Zealand. Son of Duncan Thomas and Catherine Jane (née Cockburn) Couper of Rangiwahia, Wellington, New Zealand.

A total of 435 flying hours logged and on his 7th operation.

Sgt. James Wilson Sneddon. Hamburg Cemetery, Collective grave 4A.D.10-12. Grave Inscription: “HIS MEMORY IS EVERGREEN”. Son of the late James Gorman and Elizabeth Wilson Sneddon of Kilmaurs, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Sgt. George Albert Walker. Hamburg Cemetery, Grave 4A.D.13. Grave Inscription: “GONE FROM US BUT ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS”. Born on the 31st August 1921 in Acton, London. Son of George A. and Rose Florence (née Keen) Walker of Acton, Middlesex, England.

Flt Sgt. Geoffrey Scott Corlett. Hamburg Cemetery, Grave 4A.D.9. Born in the 1st Qtr of 1923 in Liverpool, Merseyside. Son of Thomas William and of Isabella Scott (née Abraham) Corlett of Liverpool, England.

Flt Sgt. Sydney Cecil Oliver Reeves. Hamburg Cemetery, Collective grave 4A.D.10-12. Son of John Henry and Olive (née Groves) Reeves of Balclutha, Otago, New Zealand.

A total of 212 flying hours logged and on his 4th operation.

Sgt. Thomas Edward Wadeson. Hamburg Cemetery, Collective grave 4A.D.10-12. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1921 in Cumberland. Son of John R. and Georgina (née Baillie) Wadeson of Appleby, Westmorland, England.

Also commemorated on the war memorial at Murton-Cum-Hilton, Westmorland.

Sgt. Alan Ashworth. Hamburg Cemetery, Collective grave 4A.D.10-12. Grave Inscription: “MEMORIES LINGER DEEP IN THE HEARTS THAT NEVER FORGET”. Grandson of Sarah E. Ashworth of Spotland, Rochdale, Lancashire, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for Lyn Collins and family, relative of Flt Sgt. Reeves and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Jul 2017). Reviewed, corrected and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2026).

Other sources listed below:

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