Archive Report: Allied Forces

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01/02.03.1943 No. 35 Squadron Halifax II W7877 TL-O Sq/Ldr. Peter C. Elliot D.F.C.

Operation: Berlin

Date: 01/02nd March 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 35 Squadron

Type: Halifax II

Serial: W7877

Code: TL-O

Base: R.A.F. Graveley, Cambridgeshire.

Location: Ooost- Stokkum, Overijssel, Holland.

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Peter Campbell Elliot D.F.C. 42401 R.A.F. Age ? Killed (1) 

Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. Stanley Langford Conway Watt A.F.M. 216038 R.A.F. Age 44. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. G.C.H. Chandler R.A.F.V.R. P.o.W. No: 892 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus (357)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Roy Victor Ledger 1330439 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. George Sarsfield Sloman AUS/403036 R.A.A.F. Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Denis Kelly 1384311 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Thomas Neville Sankey D.F.M. 612042 R.A.F. Age ? Killed (2) 

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18.24 hrs from R.A.F. Graveley, Cambridgeshire, a bomber operation to Berlin with a total of 302 aircraft taking part. 

Halifax W7877 was intercepted on its home run at 00.37 hrs. by Lt. August Geiger (3) of 7./NJG1. 

Left: Air Gunner for HalifaxW7877 Fl/Sgt. George Sarsfield Sloman R.A.A.F.

It was unfortunate for Bomber Command in that the H2S set was recovered almost intact by the Germans who sent it to the Telefunken Works in Berlin for research and evaluation. This played an enormous part in assisting the Luftwaffe to develop the Naxos system, vital for defending Berlin later this year.

(1) Sq/Ldr. Elliot D.F.C. London Gazette 12th January 1943

(2) Fl/Sgt. Sankey D.F.M. London Gazette 13th March 1942

(3) This was the 14th claim by the nightfighter ace Oblt. August Geiger (a total of 49 kills) was later shot down and killed by W/Cmr. Bob Braham from 141 Beaufighter squadron after a fierce dogfight on September 29th 1943. (shown above)

                    

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Peter Campbell Elliot D.F.C. Markelo Cemetery. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 5. N.o.K details currently not available – are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Fl/Sgt. Stanley Langford Conway Watt A.F.M. Markelo Cemetery. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 2. Son of Isaiah and Adeline Jane Watt

Sgt. Roy Victor Ledger. Runnymede Memorial Panel 156. Son of Albert Mark and Edith Olive Ledger, of Mitcham, Surrey, England.

Fl/Sgt. George Sarsfield Sloman. Markelo Cemetery. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 4. Son of Alexander and Ellen Sloman, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia.

Sgt. Denis Kelly. Markelo Cemetery. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 1. N.o.K details currently not available – are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Fl/Sgt. Thomas Neville Sankey D.F.M. Markelo Cemetery. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 3. N.o.K details currently not available – are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Researched for the relatives of this crew who, we would like to contact regarding the adoption of the graves by residents of Markelo, Holland. With thanks to the following: Darryl Robertson for information, Bill Chorley – ‘Bomber Command Losses Vol’s. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions’, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie – ‘Nightfighter War Diaries Vol’s. 1 and  2’, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt – ‘Bomber Command War Diaries’, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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