Operation: Swinemunde

Date: 16th April 1945 (Monday)

Unit: 617 squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NG228

Code: KC:V

Base: RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire.

Location: Karsibor woods, Swinoujscie, Poland

Pilot: Sqn.Ldr. John Leonard Powell DFC, MiD. 103039 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Flt.Eng: Flt.Sgt. Henry “Will” William Felton DFM. 1809630 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Flt.Lt. Michael Terence Clarke DFC. 151151 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air Bmr: Fg Off. Alfred Laurence Heath 148768 RAFVR Age ? Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt.Off. Kenneth Arthur John Hewitt 188618 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. William Knight 195713 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air Gnr: Fg.Off. James Watson 174282 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 13:49 hrs. from Woodhall Spa carrying 12 x1,000 lb. bombs on a mission to attack the pocket battleship Lützow which was moored in the Kiel Canal, using it’s guns to attack the advancing Red Army. The first raids were aborted due to bad weather. On the final raid there was heavy flak over the target from the ship and shore batteries. The Lutzhow had a large hole blown in her below the water line and sank. The Lancaster was hit by flak and the port wing fell off causing the aircraft to spin, in flames, and crash into Karsibor woods near the target area.

Note: The Lützow was the former Deutschland, the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers also referred to "Pocket Battleships".

One parachute was seen to open at 2,000 feet and Flt.Sgt. Felton’s family were led to believe that some of the crew, including Will Knight had escaped, but apparently there were no survivors, although there had been a rumour that some had been shot. All the crew were buried on the 18th April in the Caseburg, Friedhof at Swinemunde. On 2nd March 1949, they were exhumed and re-interred in Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery.

This Lancaster was the last operational loss for 617 Squadron. Wojciech Krajewski of Archelogia Lotnicza, Warsaw created a memorial to the crew with part of the Lancasters tail-unit. This was refurbished and re-dedicated in 1998.

Memorial Karsibor woods, Swinoujscie, Poland (courtesy J.P. Tomas)

Fl/Sgt. Henry “Will” William Felton - insert and Poznan Garrison Cemetery (courtesy David Felton)

Burial details:

Sqn.Ldr. John Leonard Powell DFC, MiD. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Born on the 30th April 1915, Single , living in accommodation in Kensington. Son of David Albert and Elizabeth Powell of Rhos, Glamorgan, Wales.

Prior to WW2 John Leonard Powell was employed as a member of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Police Staff as a Clerical Officer. He is mentioned in the list of Police Civil Staff in the "The Metropolitan Police at War a booklet published by HMSO in 1947 page 88. (H.M.Howgrove-Graham (Secretary of Metropolitan Police 1927-1946)).

Acting Sqn.Ldr. Powell was awarded a DFC with effect 15th April 1945 (Since deceased), Gazetted 26th March 1946. Flt.Lt. J. L. Powell was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) with effect 6th August 1943, gazetted 7th September 1943.

Flt.Sgt. Henry “Will” William Felton DFM. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Born 28th August 1923. No further information.

Had completed his operational tour with 227 Squadron and was only posted to 617 Squadron on his promotion to Pilot Officer. On ground duties but volunteered for this final mission. Also served with 50 Squadron.

The DFM was awarded to Sgt. H.W. Felton whilst with 50 Squadron, Gazetted 7th December 1943.

Flt.Lt. Michael Terence Clarke DFC. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Son of James Kiliam and Evelyn Muriel Clarke of Farnham, Surrey, England.

Flt.Lt. Clarke was awarded a DFC whilst with 37 Squadron, Gazetted 16th January 1945.

Fg.Off. Alfred Laurence Heath. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. No additional information available as yet - are you able to assist?

Plt.Off. Kenneth Arthur John Hewitt. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Born April 1922 in Kingston, Cambridgeshire. Son of John Arthur and Ena Victoria (née Wade) Hewitt of West Ham, Essex, England. His mother predeceased him in April 1935.

Flt.Sgt. William Knight. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Son of Thomas and Edith Knight and husband of Phyllis Mabel Knight of Croydon, Surrey, England.

Fg.Off. James Watson. Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. Collective grave. 5.B.1-5. Son of James and Rebecca Watson of West Linton, Peebleshire, Scotland.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered volunteer, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Photo credits to David Felton (brother). Special thanks to Graham Griffiths. Also to Elvira Powell who contacted us in 2013. Thanks to Barry Nicholson, researcher for the Metropolitan Police Service, for Next of Kin, Date of Birth details for Sqn.Ldr. Powell (Jun 2020). Thanks to Juan Carlos Salgado Rodríguez for the correction to the name of the Lützow (Nov 2020). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Nov 2020).