Operation: Tirpitz

Date: 27th April 1942 (Monday)

Unit No: 97 Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: L7572

Code: OF:L

Base: RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland

Location: Kaldadammen, Norway

Pilot: Flt Lt. John Goodsir Mackid DFC, 41042 RAF Age 28. KiA (1)

Pilot 2: Plt Off. Ronald Benjamin Underwood 104507 RAFVR Age 31. KiA

Nav: Plt Off. Thomas Neville Tree 104537 RAFVR Age 28. KiA

Air Gnr (Front): Sgt. Eric McDermott 990443 RAFVR Age 25. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. William Keay Falconer Marshall 1375102 RAFVR Age 26. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Frederick Bennett 615915 RAF Age 22. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Raymond Day 628069 RAF Age 20. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from Lossiemouth. Hit by flak and crashed in the vicinity of Kaldadammen-Austvannet-Skjellstadmark-Trondeleg, Norway. Flt Lt Mackid was a Canadian serving in the RAF and was a pre-war graduate from the University of Washington.

No further details are known of this loss and we would be very interested in hearing from any relatives / friends who are able to assist with this research.

Seated (left to right) Sgt Henley, Fg Off. Mackid, Fg Off. Hallows, Plt Off. Pickering, Fg Off. Rodley, Unknown. Standing (left to right): 1st: Sgt Cutting, 4th: Sgt. Cummings, 5th: tentatively identified as Sgt. Marshall, others unknown.

Sgt. Frederick Bennett rear row, 2nd from right

Sgt. Frederick Bennett on extreme left - can you name the others?

(1) Details of Flt Lt. John Goodsir Mackid DFC. Awarded London Gazette dated 23 January 1942. Born in Calgary, 1914, educated in Victoria, University of Alberta and University of Washington, specialising in aeronautical engineering. Appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation, RAF, 20 August 1938, served as flying instructor. RAF Quarterly (June 1942) has citation (with Sqn Ldr. John Seymour Sherwood, awarded Bar to DFC): Name John Goodsir Mackid, Missing in action, 27 April 1942. Air Ministry Bulletin 6124 refers.

In December 1941, Squadron Leader Sherwood and Flight Lieutenant Mackid participated as leaders of formations of aircraft in a daylight attack on the battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst at Brest. Extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and opposition from enemy fighters was encountered, but although Squadron Leader Sherwood's aircraft was hit several times by shell fire he skilfully kept his formatioon together and finally an accurate run was made over the target.

Flight Lieutenant Mackid admirably supported Squadron Leader Sherwood and pressed home a successful attack with great determination. Throughout the operation, which demanded a high degree of skill and courage, both these officers played a conspicuous part and contributed materially to the success obtained.

Michael Harrison has also contributed to this loss article in that it is known that the aircraft reached the target area during the first phase of the attack. Eyewitnesses watched as the aircraft was totally engulfed in flames and crashed. A memorial stone (shown above) stands close to where the aircraft crashed and has all the names of the crew carved on it as well as the crew of a Halifax W1020 TL:K from 35 squadron which also crashed near the same spot on the same night.

Burial Details:

Flt Lt. John Goodsir Mackid DFC. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.3. Grave inscription: "CONSTANT - TRUE; DEATH DOES NOT ROB MEMORY OF A LOVING SON AND A TRUE FRIEND". Born in 1914 in Alberta, Canada. Son to Ludwig Stewart and Ada Eugina (née Hammond) Mackid of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Plt Off. Ronald Benjamin Underwood. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery Joint grave, A IV. British. H.2. Grave inscription: "CROWNED FOR VALOUR OUR BRAVEST AND BEST IN HIGH VALHALLA HAVE FOUND REST". Son of Thomas William and Lavinia Underwood, husband of Alvey Marjorie Winford Underwood, of Old Coulsdon, Surrey, England.

Plt Off. Thomas Neville Tree. (shown above) Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.1. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1913 in Bucklow, Cheshire. Son of Charles and Mrs. Tree of Kendrick Court, Reading, Berkshire and husband of Margaret Tree (née Clarke) of Fiddlers Furze, Virginia Water, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Eric McDermott. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery Joint grave, A IV. British. J.3. Grave inscription: "HIS HANDS ARE SET TO HIGHER TASKS MIDST FAIR AND LOVELIER SCENES". Son of George and Charlotte McDermott, of Blackpool, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. William Keay Falconer Marshall. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. H.1. Grave inscription: "YOUNGER SON OF JOHN ALBERT MARSHALL, KINROSS, SCOTLAND". Born on the 5th September 1915. Son of John Albert and Maud Barbara Bryce Marshall, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Brother of Margaret Maud Marshall and Robert Hugh Campbell Osborne Marshall.

Sgt. Frederick Bennett. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. H.3. Born in 1919. Son of Rebecca and Frederick Bennett of St. Pancras, London, England.

Above: Air Gunner Sgt. Raymond Day

Sgt. Raymond Day. Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.6. Grave inscription: "JUST A TOKEN TRUE AND TENDER JUST TO SHOW WE STILL REMEMBER". Son of William and Mary Day, of Beswick, Yorkshire, England.

With thanks to David Blackburn, nephew of Sgt. Bennett who contacted us in November 2015 with additional information. Also to John Snowdon who contributed information and photograph of Plt Off. Neville Tree (May 2018). Thanks to Angela O'Sullivan, whose father was the 2nd Cousin of Sgt. Marshall, for updated details (Apr 2020). Updates and corrections by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2025).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 14 July 2025, 08:06