Operation: Dessau, Germany

Date: 7th/8th March 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 192 (Special) Squadron, 100 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ932

Code: DT:Z

Base: RAF Foulsham, Norfolk

Location: Force landed at Toul-Rosières airfield, Rosières-en-Haye, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France

Pilot: Flt Lt. Bernard Ford DFC, 144787 RAFVR Age? Safe (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. J.J. Carter RAFVR Age? Safe

Nav: Plt Off. Frank Wallace Lovick DFC, 56324 RAF Age 28. Safe (2)

Air Gnr (Front): Flt Sgt. Leslie Robson RAFVR Age? PoW

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Donald Joseph Coates DFC, 169608 RAFVR Age 20 Safe (1)

Special WOp: Flt Sgt. Henry Joseph Carley 195101 RAFVR Age 28. Murdered (3)

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Flt Sgt. Geoffrey Grundy 1675341 RAFVR Age? Safe (4)

Air Gnr (Rear): Fg Off. Gallagher RAFVR Age? PoW

Above: Flt Sgt. Henry Joseph Carley aboard an Avro Anson during training (Courtesy of John Rees)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 17:25 hrs from RAF Foulsham in Norfolk - another large operation consisting of 526 aircraft from 4, 6 and 8 Groups. A devastating raid on this new target in Eastern Germany.

During the homebound leg MZ932 was attacked by a night fighter at about 20:30 hrs hitting the port inner engine. The nose of the Halifax was also badly damaged making the navigation instrument and oxygen system unserviceable. It also proved impossible for the pilot to feather the engine causing them to lose speed and height. Flt Sgt's. Carley and Robson and Fg Off. Gallagher baled and landed safely in the area of Külte. Flt Sgt. and Robson and Fg Off. Gallagher became PoWs, details not recorded.

The reduction in weight enabled the pilot to keep the aircraft level and succeeded in landing at Toul-Rosières airfield.

Plt Off. Lovick and Fg Off. Coates were admitted to hospital with Shrapnel wounds.

(1) For Flt Lt. Ford’s actions together with the assistance of the seriously wounded, Fg Off. Coates, both were awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). (London Gazette, 24th April 1945).

Citation reads:

'These officers were pilot and wireless operator respectively in an aircraft detailed to attack Dessau. During the operation the aircraft was badly hit when attacked by an enemy fighter. The nose of the bomber was severely damaged. The port inner engine was put out of action. The inter-communication and the oxygen systems were rendered unserviceable and some important equipment was destroyed. Flying Officer Coates was wounded in both legs and about the face, the navigator also was wounded. The aircraft dived out of control. Coolly and skilfully, Flight Lieutenant Ford succeeded in levelling out and headed for allied territory. Although deprived of the services of the navigator, he flew the badly damaged aircraft to an airfield and effected a safe landing. This officer displayed exceptional skill, coolness and courage in most trying circumstances. Flying Officer Coates also proved himself to be a courageous and resourceful crew member. In spite of much physical distress he remained at his post to co-operate splendidly with his pilot throughout the return flight. His example was worthy of high praise".

Donald Joseph Coates was born on the 4th June 1924 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Donal passed away on the 20th November 2002 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

(2) His appointment to Plt Off. was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. effective 8th May 1945 (London Gazette 1st June 1945).

Fg Off. Lovick was subsequently awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on the 25th September 1945, for his efforts in assisting the pilot in navigating back to a safe forced landing in France, despite his injuries. (London Gazette 21st September 1945)

That was his 31st sortie and marked the end of his first tour.

Frank Wallace Lovick was born on the 22 January 1917 in Norwich, Norfolk. Frank passed away in March 1999 in Petersfield, Hampshire, England.

(3) Otfried Hellwig an SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lt Col), Walter Kellermann and Karl Henkel both SS-Oberscharführers (Sgts) picked up Flt Sgt. Carley despite protests that he should be a prisoner of the Luftwaffe and took him back to the camp at Arolsen.

Later, after their arrest for war crimes at a trial in Hamburg, they made statements (independent of each other) that Flt Sgt. Carley had tried to escape which is why he was shot. All three were acquitted and released. A Dr. Louis Erich August Baatz was also charged and it is understood and was acquitted despite falsifying the death certificate.

(4) Flt Sgt. Grundy was appointed to a Commission and promoted to 193061 Plt Off. effective 6th January 1945, which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 27th February 1945.

His appointment to Plt Off. was confirmed and was promoted to Fg Off. on the 6th July 1945 (London Gazette 27th July 1945).

On the 14th October 1948 he was appointed to a commission as a Plt Off. in RAFVR Training Branch. (London Gazette 4th January 1945). He resigned his commission as a Fg Off on the 21st April 1950 (London Gazette 28th November 1950).

Burial Details:

Flt Sgt. Carley was initially buried in the Arolsen New Cemetery, Section 6, Row 2, Plot 17. He was finally laid to rest in the Hanover War cemetery on the 16th May 1947.

Flt Sgt. Henry Joseph Carley. Hanover War Cemetery, Grave 5.K.18. Grave inscription: "THE DEAREST HUSBAND, THE NICEST DADDY. ALWAYS REMEMBERED. MARY, PETER AND ANNE". Born on the 3rd May 1916 in Stepney, London. Son of Henry and Ellen Susan (née Herbert) Carley. Husband of Mary May (née Brooks) Carley of Whetstone, Middlesex, England

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Traugott Vitz for information (Feb 2018). Also to 'Plodd In The Square Mile' for some details on Henry Carley - Henry, prior to service, was a serving policeman. Thanks to John Lovick, the son of Plt Off. Frank Wallace Lovick for information regarding the award of the DFC (Apr 2019). Corrections by Traugott Vitz (Jan 2021). Thanks to John Rees, coauthor of “Espionage in the Ether”, a history of 192 Squadron, for the photograph of Flt Sgt. Carley (Jul 2026).

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