Operation: Kiel
Date: 15th/16th September 1944 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 78 Squadron
Type: Halifax III
Serial: LV869
Code: EY-G
Base: RAF Breighton, Yorkshire
Location: No details - lost without trace
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Nelson Maxwell Harding 39519 RAF Age ? Killed.
Fl/Eng: F/O. Martin Malcolm Maguire 148856 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Guglielmo Pesticcio 1654156 RAFVR Age 21. Killed.
Nav: F/O. Kenneth John Nethercott 153298 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
WOp/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Charles Sydney Quelch 1600345 RAFVR Age 22 Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Joseph Coburn 1797997 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Gnr. Sgt. George Alexander Milne Simpson 1824321 RAFVR Age ? Killed
The relative of Sgt. Charles Quelch (1) would very much like to trace his daughter - if anyone can assist please contact us in the first instance and we will forward details.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22.25hrs from RAF Breighton to attack Kiel. Part of a force made up of 490 aircraft - 310 Lancasters, 173 Halifaxes, and 7 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Halifaxes and 2 Lancasters lost.
The evidence of returning crews and of photographs caused Bomber Command to record this as 'a highly concentrated raid' with 'the old town and modern shopping centre devastated'.
No claims for heavies on this raid and it is thought that LV689 fell foul of flak over the target area although one was shot down by flak at Sylt.
This aircraft previously served with RAF 76 Squadron.
Left: Strike photo taken over kiel (courtesy rcaf 6 group).
Halifax LV869 EY-G. Former 78 Squadron pilot Fl/Lt. Len Broadhurst DFC shown at the rear of the cockpit of LV869 EY G-George of No. 78 Squadron, Breighton July 1944.
The nose section including the 'crest' which represents four local pubs, the Bowman, the Swan, the New Inn and the Seven Sisters. The 37 beer glasses signify night operations, the six glasses of milk daylight sorties and the bottle of whisky the 21st operation. After 53 operations LV869 was lost over Kiel 15th September 1944. (from the publication ‘Nobody Unprepared’ The history of No.78 Squadron, by Vernon Holland)
Fl/Lt. Nelson Maxwell Harding. Runnymede Memorial Panel 202. Son of Victor and Florence Harding, husband of Barbara G. Harding, of Edinburgh, Scotland. (pictured left)
Sgt. Pesticcio Guglielmo. Runnymede Memorial Panel 236. Son of Italian parents, Raphael and Maria Pesticcio (née D’Amato), of Cardiff, Wales. Born in Cardiff, 1923.
F/O. Kenneth John Nethercott. Runnymede Memorial Panel 208. Son of Walter John and Edith Ada Nethercott, of East Molesey, Surrey, England.
F/O. Malcolm Martin Maguire. Runnymede Runnymede Memorial Panel 207. Son of James Malcolm and Jeannie Maguire, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
(1) Sgt. Charles Sydney Quelch. Runnymede Runnymede Memorial Panel 221. Son of Albert William Quelch and Ethel May Quelch (née Jenvey) of Ryde, Isle Of Wight, England. Charles was married, but we have no details of this. They also had a baby girl at the time of his loss. It seems that his wife later married a Canadian and emigrated at a later date. His father was a staff/Sgt, serving in the first World War. Ethel Quelch died on the 1st December 1932. In 1939 Albert married her sister in law (Nellie Dorothy Quelch. Nellie was his brothers wife who was widowed in the 1st World War.
Sgt. Albert Joseph Coburn. Runnymede Runnymede Memorial Panel 227. Son of Christopher and J. Coburn, of Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Sgt. George Alexander Milne Simpson. Runnymede Memorial Panel 237. Son of George and Jeannie Ann Smith Bell Simpson, of Brechin, Scotland.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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