Operation: Berlin

Date: 29/30th March 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 76 Squadron (Rhodesian)

Type: Halifax II

Serial: DT563

Code: MF-O

Base: Linton-on-Ouse

Location: North Sea - precise location not known

Pilot: P/O. Leslie Jack Cursley 51291 RAF Age 23. Missing

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Frederick James Platt 969970 RAFVR Age ? Missing

Nav: W/O.II James Taylor R/98145 RCAF Age ? Missing

Air/Bmr: P/O. Thomas Edwards 142008 RAFVR Age 33. Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Bartram Boyd RAFV Age 29. Missing

Air/Gnr: P/O. Robert Graham Wright 142491 RAF Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Rodney Warren Macneill R/103992 RCAF Age 23. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 21.54hrs from Linton-on-Ouse to bomb the heart of Germany, Berlin, along with 328 other bombers. The flight out was hampered by heavy icing and electrical storms over the North Sea which forced 120 aircraft to return.

The remainder continued and met heavy night fighter resistance in the calmer weather conditions over the continent. Night fighter squadrons engaged from their bases at Twenthe and Deelen claiming 9 from the Berlin attackers.

Nothing was heard from Halifax DT563 and it is thought that it was either hit by flak or succumbed to the weather. (No records claiming this kill from the night-fighter units) Accuracy regarding the damage caused by the allied bombers is disputed but it is claimed from German reports that 148 people were killed on the ground and the same number of buildings totally destroyed. The allied attack cost the allies dear with 21 aircraft lost.

7 Squadron lost another Halifax on this same raid DT744 MP-K flown by Fl/Lt. Jack Wetherly DFC MiD killed with 7 other crew members (1 injured but died shortly afterwards) This aircraft being shot down by Oblt. Gerhard Raht of 4./NJG3 at 00.50hrs.(see Kracker Archive on this site)

Vlieland General Cemetery with insert, grave of P/O. Robert Graham Wright

P/O. Leslie Jack Cursley. Runnymede Memorial Panel 131. Son of Thomas William and Ethel Maud Cursley; husband of Kathleen Dorothy Cursley, of Crouch End, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Frederick James Platt. Runnymede Memorial Panel 161. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

W/O.II James Taylor. Runnymede Memorial Panel 180. From Windsor, Ontario, Canada. N.o.K details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

(left) P/O. Thomas Edwards. Runnymede Memorial Panel 131. Born during 1913. Remembered on the family memorial in the Allerton Cemetery in Liverpool, England. Son of John E. And Christina Edwards.

Sgt. Albert Bartram Boyd. Runnymede Memorial Panel 143. Son of Albert and Beatrice Annie Boyd; husband of Eveline G. P. Boyd, of South Norwood, Surrey, England.

P/O. Robert Graham Wright. Vlieland General Cemetery. Grave 58. Son of Robert and Harriet Wright, of Pontlliw, Glamorgan, Wales.

Fl/Sgt. Rodney Warren Macneill. Runnymede Memorial Panel 184. Son of Sidney Warren MacNeill and Josephine Mary MacNeill, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Researched by Ted Sumner (Historian). For relatives of the crew. With thanks to Patricia Benson - other sources as quoted below. Thank to Richard Daglish for the NoK details for P/O Edwards.

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