Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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12/13.08.1944 No. 578 Squadron Halifax III NA604 LK-T F/O. Pearson

Operation: Russelsheim

Date: 12/13th August 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 578 Squadron

Type: Halifax III

Serial: NA604

Code: LK-T

Base: RAF Burn, Yorkshire

Location: Mönchbruch

Pilot: F/O. John Joseph Pearson J/89814 RCAF Age 30. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Leonard Henry James Borley 1864945 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Nav: Sgt. William Henry Scott 1486629 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Sidney William Higgins 1319732 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Donald Leslie James Rolfe 1601823 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Anthony Stewart 1825643 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Patrick Birmingham J/89900 RCAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 21:37 hrs from RAF Burn in Yorkshire - joining some 296 other aircraft flying deep into southern Germany to bomb the Opel works at Russelsheim (The factory was thought to be manufacturing the wings for the V1 flying bombs).

The bomber stream encountered night fighters from Brussels all the way to the target and also on their homeward bound flights. The allies lost some 20 aircraft in the onslaught.

The target was only slightly damaged, most of the bombs landed in open countryside. However the tyre and dispatch departments and powerhouse were hit - some 9 people killed on the ground with a further 31 injured.

No details regarding how Halifax NA604 was brought down but probable to anti-aircraft fire.

The Squadron lost another crew on this operation:

Halifax III LW383 LK-K Bar Flown by 21 year old, F/O. Owen Scott MacPhillamy AUS/423850 RAAF from New South Wales, Australia - killed with 3 other crew, 2 evaded capture with 1 taken PoW.

Burial details:

F/O. John Joseph Pearson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Grave G7.F 12-17. Son of John Henry and Mary Elizabeth Pearson. Grave inscription: "Three Winged, Proud Sons Sailed Across The Sea, One Returned, God Reward".

Sgt. Leonard Henry James Borley. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Grave G7.F 7-11. Son of Percy James and Ada Eleanor and brother of Percy James Borley of Chiswick, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. William Henry Scott. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 7.F 1. Son of Henry T. and Catherine Scott of Amble, Northumberland, England. Grave inscription: "Gods Greatest Gift, Remembrance, Peace Be Thine, My Beloved".

Sgt. Sidney William Higgins. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 7.F 5. Son of Samuel and Alice Isabel Higgins of Fulham, London, England. Grave inscription: "Gone From Us, But Not Forgotten, Never Shall The Memory Fade, Rip".

Sgt. Donald Leslie James Rolfe. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Grave G7.F 12-17. Next of kin details not available, are you able to contribute?

Sgt. Anthony Stewart. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Grave G7.F 18-22. Ward of Mr. J.G.Tollerton of Arbroath, Angus, Scotland. Grave inscription: "The God life Bliss, To Give, Alone Excels".

Sgt. Joseph Patrick Birmingham. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Grave G7.F 7-11. Understood to be from Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Next of kin details not available, are you able to contribute?

Researched by Linda Ibrom for Aircrew Remembered - June 2017 and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Leonard Borley, (nephew of Sergeant Borley, named after his uncle) for Sergeant Borleys photograph. Other sources as quoted.

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