Operation: Hamburg, Germany

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

Unit No: 158 Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax II

Serial: HR751

Code: NP:J

Base: RAF Lissett, Yorkshire

Location: Hamburg-Schnelsen, Germany

Pilot: Sgt. Charles Kenneth ‘Ken’ Davie 1001169 RAFVR Age 23. PoW No: 222439 * (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Arthur Kevern ‘Lofty’ Snell 921658 RAFVR Age 21. PoW No: 222441 * (2)

Nav: Sgt. Gwyn Rusbatch 415424 RNZAF Age 25. PoW No: 222424 * (3)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Henry Patrick Jarman 1338157 RAFVR Age 19. PoW No: 222437 * (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Raymond Brown Farmery 1482428 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. James Mark Lally R143209 RCAF Age 19. PoW No: 222436 * (5)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Clement Robert Buckland 1102306 RAFVR Age 23. PoW No: 222440 * (6)

* Stalag 4B Mühlberg, Sachsen, Germany.

Above left to right: Sgt. Charles K. ‘Ken’ Davie (Courtesy of Paul Markham), Sgt. Arthur K. ‘Lofty’ Snell, Sgt. Raymond B. Farmery (courtesy of Clive Smith)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 23.41 hrs from RAF Lissett, Yorkshire to bomb the port of Hamburg. Of the seven-hundred and forty (740) aircraft taking part, nineteen (19) were claimed by night-fighters during the bombing operation. Some were intercepted and shot down over Heligoland, some over Schleswig-Holstein with others over the target area. The bomber stream were scattered in encountering a fierce thunderstorm once they reached the target.

At least four (4) allied aircraft were lost over the target due to the weather, icing, turbulence or struck by the lightning. Several turned back. As the bomber stream was scattered so was the bombing with many other towns over a 161 km (100 ml) radius receiving hits.

A large portion of the raid was directed by a house fire in Elmshorn, some 19 km (12 mls) from the target, which was thought to have been struck by the lightning, resulting in the bombers thinking this was the target, released their bombs. Some 57 people were killed in the town with 254 houses destroyed.

HR751 was hit by Flak from 4./schw. Flak Abt. 267, 2./schw. Flak Abt.267 and 1. & 3./schw. Flak Abt. 267 (Grossbattr. Wendlohe). The aircraft crashed at Hamburg-Schnelsen at 02:25 hrs (Ref 1, p51).

Sgt. Arthur ‘Lofty’ Snell, the Flight Engineer, takes up the story:

"We were flying over Hamburg during a storm and were hit by flak. The plane started to spiral downwards. It was my job to stay and help the pilot on with his parachute, which I did, and then I made my way to the hatch. This was not easy as the plane was spiralling fast and we were held to the floor by centrifugal force.

When I got out of the plane I put both hands to my chest to release the parachute but found nothing there. After a moment's panic I realised that the parachute was not strapped round me but was hanging above my head. I reached up and managed to pull the cord and so the parachute opened. I landed in a cornfield in torrential rain and stayed there all the next day in the blazing heat of an August summer.

The next night I began to make my way as we had been instructed, going through hedges and across fields. I went through one hedge and came face to face with a young German soldier, who looked as shocked as I was. I was taken for interrogation and ended up as a PoW".

All the other crew had baled out successfully, but Sgt. Farmery's parachute failed to open and was killed.

(1) Sgt. Davie was captured the next morning. He was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 4th August. After the statutory period of solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Stalag 4B at Mühlberg in Sachsen, Germany on the 12th August arriving there two (2) days later.

The camp was liberated by the Soviet Army arrived on the 23rd April 1945. The camp held some 30,000 and of these 7,250 were British. The Soviet’s held the British and American prisoners in the camp for over a month. Individual soldiers "escaped" from the camp and made their way on foot to the American lines.

The now Warrant Officer (WO) Davie was interviewed on the 16th May 1945.

Charles Kenneth Davie was born on the 13th May 1920 in Runcorn, Cheshire. He was employed as a Local Government Accountancy Clerk in County Durham prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on or about the 27th May 1940. Charles passed away on the 27th October 1994 in Croydon, Greater London.

Courtesy of The Daily Telegraph, dated 29th October 1994

(2) Sgt. ‘Lofty’ Snell’s PoW story was the same as that for Sgt. Davie (Ser 1 above).

Whilst at Stalag 4B Mühlberg he was involved in forging papers and constructing official stamps from wax impressions for the escape committee. The escape tunnel being constructed was discovered by the Germans the day before its estimated completion.

Flt Sgt. Snell was interviewed on the 16th May 1945.

Arthur Kevern Snell was born on the 30th March 1922 in Devonport, Devon. He was employed as a Motor Salesman in Plymouth prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 3rd April 1940. Arthur passed away on the 11th June 2014 in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

(3) Sgt. Rusbatch evaded capture for the next six (6) days. On the night of the 8th August whilst walking towards Lübeck he was apprehended near Neumünster by members of the Landwacht (Rural Guards).

He was then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel and after the statutory period of solitary confinement and interrogation his PoW story was the same as that for Sgt. Davie (Ser 1 above).

The now Warrant Officer (WO) Rusbatch was interviewed on the 16th May 1945.

Gwyn Rusbatch was born on the 28th September 1917 in East Taieri, Otago, New Zealand. He was employed as a Stock Clerk prior to enlisting in the RNZAF on the 27th September 1941. Gwyn passed away on the 20th November 1990 in Hastings, New Zealand.

(4) Sgt. Jarman evaded capture for the next three (3) days before being apprehended.

He was then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel and after the statutory period of solitary confinement and interrogation his PoW story was the same as that for Sgt. Davie (Ser 1 above).

Flt Sgt. Jarman was interviewed on the 27th May 1945.

Henry Patrick Jarman was born on the 12th October 1923 in Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales. He was a student prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 12th May 1941. Henry passed away aged just 49, on the 27th March 1973 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

(5) Sgt. Lally’s PoW story was the same as that for Sgt. Davie (Ser 1 above).

Whilst at Stalag 4B Mühlberg he attempted an escape during April 1944. He joined a nArbeitskommando (Working party) and managed to hid just outside of the camp until darkness fell. He then proceeded across country for the next three (3) days by was captured by German guards whilst attempting to cross a bridge over the Elbe at Torgau, some 20 km (12½ mls) to the NE of the camp.

The now Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Lally was interviewed on the 2nd May 1945.

James Mark Lally was born on the 14th November 1923 in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, England. He was employed as a Landscape Gardener prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 26th November 1941. James passed away on the 21st September 2006 in Revelstoke, District of Columbia, Canada.

Veteran James Lally left behind a book of remarkable memories. (Courtesy of the Revelstoke Review, dated 8th November 2006)

(6) Flt Sgt. Buckland’s PoW story was the same as that for Sgt. Davie (Ser 1 above).

Whilst at Stalag 4B Mühlberg during December 1944 he exchanged identities with an unnamed British Army Paratrooper and joined an Arbeitskommando (Working party) going to Chemnitz, some 68 km (42 mls) to south of the camp. During the time he was at large he sabotaged railway trucks by adding sand to the oil boxes. His identity was discovered in January 1945 and he was returned to the camp.

The now Warrant Officer (WO) Buckland was interviewed on the 17th May 1945.

Clement Robert Buckland was born on the 15th April 1920 in Manchester, Lancashire. He was employed as a Heating Engineer prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 26th June 1940. Clement passed away during July 1995 in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The wonderful award winning memorial at RAF Lissett village. Unveiled in 2009 and made from metal - it is inscribed with the names of the 851 personnel who lost their lives at or departing from the airfield during WW2.

Burial details:

Above Hamburg Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Grave Commission)

Sgt. Raymond Brown Farmery. Hamburg Cemetery, Grave 9A.B.15. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Chorlton, Lancashire. Son of Clement George and Marion (née Brown) Farmery of Cleveleys, Lancashire, England.

Courtesy of the Manchester Evening News, dated 4th February 1944

Researched By Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the crew and their families with our thanks to Clive Smith, researcher and author of “Lancaster Bale Out” (See below). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with new information and images with thanks to Paul Markham for the image of Sgt. Davie (Oct 2026)

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten.

“Lancaster Bale Out” written by Clive Smith ISBN No: 978-1-907516-26-9 Published by Tucann Ltd 2013. The story about the uncle of Clive Smith and his RAF service during WW2 with 106 Squadron can be read here: Lancaster III ED720 ZN:R.

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