Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Further data available at Allied Losses & Incidents database
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10/11.09.1942 61 Squadron Lancaster W4111 Sgt. Malcolm C. Davies

Operation: Düsseldorf, Germany

Date: 10/11th September 1942 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: 61 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: W4111

Code: QR-?

Base: RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire

Location: Not known

Pilot: Sgt. Malcolm Charles Davies 1238468 RAFVR Age 19 Killed

Flt.Eng: Sgt. Peter Alec Lashly 1208560 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Obs: Flt.Sgt. John Lawrence Blair R/85445 RCAF Age 32. Killed (1)

Bomb Aimer: Plt.Off. Louis Poch J/8611 RCAF Age 28. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Frank Wilfred Kidson R/92307 RCAF Age 19. Killed

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. James Harold Boston Woolgar R/59555 RCAF Age 21. Killed (2)

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Albert Benjamin McLellan R/64893 RCAF Age 27. Killed

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We would like to ask for relatives of Sgt. Peter Alec Lashly to contact us - a relative who's father knew him would like to send them the photographs he has.

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REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Syerston at 20:20 hrs to bomb Düsseldorf. A large force taking off from various bases - a total of 479 aircraft made up with 242 Wellingtons, 89 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 47 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens and 14 Whitleys.

The pathfinders marked the target area successfully using the 'Pink Pansies' *in converted 4,000 lb. bomb casings. The city was hit in all areas apart from the north, also hit was the neighbouring town of Neuss.

* 'Pink Pansies' a 2800 lb incendiary bomb used as a target marker made up from Benzol, rubber and phosphorous.

Reports are that 39 industrial firms in Düsseldorf and a further 13 in Neuss were damaged to the extent that no production could take place for various periods, 8 public buildings were destroyed and 67 damaged. 911 houses were also destroyed, 1,506 seriously damaged and another 8,340 lightly damaged.

Above: Some of Terry’s RAF friends - guests at his wedding - George, Frank Farr, Peter Williams (Cousin and best man) Terry and Pete Lashly (courtesy Chris Hazell)

On the ground 132 people were killed, made up of 120 in Düsseldorf and 12 in Neuss. A further 11 people were classed as "missing" 2 days after the raid. 19,427 people were made homeless.

The raid took it's toll on the RAF though with 33 aircraft lost. (20 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters. 4 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes and 1 Hampden) 60 crewmen were killed, 1 injured and 13 made PoW.

Above: The photograph depicts a Lancaster II which was powered by Bristol Hercules engines. 61 Sqn was the first to use the Lancaster II operationally but was never fully equipped with the type. Most Lancaster II’s were later converted to Lancaster I's (Merlin Engines)

The aircraft and crew failed to return from mission. The aircraft was reported to have crashed SE of Zundorf near Köln. There are no nightfighter claims for this aircraft, so it is likely that they were probably hit by Anti-aircraft fire.

The Squadron also lost another crew this night: Lancaster I R5888 Flown by 22 year old, Flt.Sgt. Frank Hobson 912096 RAFVR from Liverpool, England. Killed with all of his crew.

(1) Blair Lake, West of Brabant Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada was named after Flt.Sgt. John Lawrence Blair.

(2) Woolgar Island in Thachuk Lake, Manitoba, Canada was named after Flt.Sgt. James Harold Boston Woolgar in 1995. Sadly the family also lost his brother, 20 year old Fg.Off. William Francis Woolgar J/26712 RCAF - Woolgar Lake west of Tadoule Lake was named after him in 1975. Fg.Off. Woolgar was flying with 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit on Halifax V DK133 on a night circuit training exercise when the aircraft crashed at Crowle in Lincolnshire. All 7 crew lost their lives in yet another training accident.

Burial details:

The crew were initially buried in Köln South Cemetery. Post war they were reinterred in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

Sgt. Malcolm Charles Davies. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Coll. grave 4.B.3-19. Son of John and Georginia Davies, of High Grosvenor, Shropshire, England.

Sgt. Peter Alec Lashly. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.12. Son of Charles Frederick Harry and Nellie May Lashly, of Emsworth, Hampshire, England.

Flt.Sgt. John Lawrence Blair. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Coll. grave 4.B.3-19. Son of George Frederick and Eleanor Blair (née Walker), of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

(Left: Courtesy John Jones) Plt.Off. Louis Poch. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.11. Born on the 16th October 1914, the son of Anna (née Miller) and Alois Poch (deceased) From Frank, Alberta, Canada. Plt.Off. Poch was of Austrian descent. His father became a naturalised Canadian on 31st August 1911.

Flt.Sgt. Frank Wilfred Kidson. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Coll. grave 4.B.3-19. Born on the 16th August 1921 at Pentagon, BC. Canada, the son of Ernest Jack and Dorothy Millicent (née Gray) Kidson of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada.

Flt.Sgt. James Harold Boston Woolgar. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.13. Born on the 16th August 1920, the son of Norman H. Woolgar and Mary E. Woolgar, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(Left) Flt.Sgt. Albert Benjamin McLellan. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.14. Born on the 18th January 1916, the son of Albert Richard McLellan and Lillian Edna McLellan, of River Philip, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Canada. His family also suffered the loss of another son, 25 year old, WO2. Cyril Cobb Mclellan R/11549 RCAF. Whilst serving with 405 Squadron died on the 2nd August 1943 after being hit by shrapnel during an operation to Essen on the 25/26th July 1943. Treated at Addenbrook hospital in Cambridgeshire, but succumbed to injuries received.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Chris Hazell for photo shown and also to sources as quoted below. Also to John Jones for additional details - June 2018 and August 2019. The father of Chris Hazell, Terry, also served, as one of the valuable ground crew - working on aircraft engines. In January 2018 he supplied details for an obituary to his father.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

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