Operation: Stuttgart

Date: 28/29th July 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 630 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND797

Code: LE-W

Base: RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire

Location: Between Magstadt and Sindelfingen, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. George Russell Joblin DFC. NZ/424982 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. William Albert Butcher 901752 RAFVR Age23. Killed

Nav: F/O. Donald Bell Lambton 145594 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. W.C.L. Beeson 144332 RAFVR Age ? Baled out - PoW

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. George Edward Stenner 1323628 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Frederick Cousin 1866747 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Harold Raymond Spendelow 2209224 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 21:53 hours from RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire , joining 494 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes to bomb the German city of Stuttgart - the third of a series of bombing operations on the city.

The Luftwaffe night fighters numbering over 200, aided by a bright moon intercepted the bomber stream on the outward flight over France.

Left: Fl/Lt. George Russell Joblin DFC (courtesy Dion Joblin)

A possible claim by Oblt. Hans-Heinz Augenstein (1) of 12.NJG1 matches the area of this loss with ND797 crashing between at 01:52 hrs on the outbound part of the operation. 3 of the crew managed to bale out of the aircraft, only the Air Bombers parachute deployed - the remainder were killed.

The city was devastated with these raids. Over 1,100 people killed on the ground, 1,600 injured with most of the cites buildings destroyed.

40 Lancasters were lost during the raid and 203 aircrew killed with a further 50 made PoW, some 24 other aircrew evaded capture.

(1) Lt. Hans-Heinz Augenstein: After a total of 46 air victories he was shot down and killed on the 6/7th December 1944 by Fl/Lt. Hedgecoe DFC in a Mosquito. His radio operator, Feldwebel Günther Steins also died in the attack, however rear gunner Unteroffizier Kurt Schmidt, survived, wounded, baling out of the Bf110 G-4. Further information on Fl/Lt. Hedgecoe and his navigator can be found on another page within our website. The navigator on that Mosquito 25 year old, F/O. Norman Bamford is a relative of one of our Canadian researchers. The Mosquito crew flying NF253 whilst with 151 Squadron were both killed on the 01st January 1945.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. George Russell Joblin DFC. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 8.D. 24-25. Son of Robert Guy and Eleanor Joblin, of Kakaramea, Taranaki, New Zealand. 647 Flying hours logged and on his 30th operational sortie.

Left: Fl/Sgt. Butcher (courtesy Shirley Moulsley)

F/O. Donald Bell Lambton. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 8.D. 24-25. Son of Charles Elmo Lambton and Linda Lambton and husband of Dorothy Lambton, of Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham, England.

Fl/Sgt. George Edward Stenner. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 8.D. 24-25. Son of Harry Colston Stenner and Minnie Isabel Stenner and husband of Clarice May Stenner, of Bristol, England.

Above: as described, courtesy Robert Cousins.

Sgt. Robert Frederick Cousin. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 8.D. 23. Son of Frederick G. E. Cousin and Muriel Cousin, of Upminster, Essex, England.

Sgt. Harold Raymond Spendelow. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 8.D. 23. Son of Harold and Mollie Spendelow of Hunts Cross, Liverpool, England.

Researched for Robert Cousins (nephew of Sgt. Cousin) who is trying to find any photograph of the aircraft and hopefully the crew. Also for Shirley Moulsley (née Butcher) daughter of Fl/Sgt. Butcher. Also to Dion Joblin for photo of the pilot. Page dedicated to all the relatives with thanks to sources as shown.