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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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No. 103 Squadron
21/22.12.1942 No.103 Squadron Avro Lancaster I W4787 PM-? F/Lt. John Colin McIntosh Rose DFC

Operation: Munchen, Germany

Date: 21/22nd December 1942 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No 103 Squadron

Type: Avro Lancaster I

Serial: W4787

Code: PM-?

Base: RAF Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire

Location: Nr. Maubeuge, Nord, France

Pilot: F/Lt. John Colin McIntosh Rose DFC 401249 RAAF Age 21 Killed (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Frank John Fisher 577301 RAF Age? Killed (2)

Nav: Sgt. Gordon Thomas Hawkins 655684 RAF Age 27 Killed

Nav: Sgt. Peter Laird Donald 1219684 RAFVR Age 20 Killed (3)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Edward Ryan 985591 RAFVR Age 24 Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Jack Smith 1213633 RAFVR Age? Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick Trimmer 1393247 RAFVR Age 20 Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster W4787 took of at 17.28pm from RAF Elsham Wolds for an operation on Munchen. One of 137 aircraft that took off on this operation to Munich. Most of the bombs fell outside the target area in open ground. Lancaster W4787 was claimed by Lt Rudolf Rehdanz 1/NJG4 - 15km South East of Maubeuge: 2,300m at 2316 hours (Nachtjagd Combat Archives The Early Years Part 3 - Theo Boiten) The aircraft crashed near Maubeuge

RAF Elsham Wolds (Aircrew Remembered archive) Avro Lancaster I



Maubeuge Sous le Bois Cemetery (Photo courtesy nzwargraves.org.nz)

F/Lt. John Colin McIntosh Rose DFC (Aircrew Remembered archive) Sgt Fisher, Sgt. Hawkins and Sgt. Donald (courtesy of Bernard and Claudine Feutry, France)


Sgt. Ryan, Sgt. Smith and Sgt. Trimmer. (courtesy of Bernard and Claudine Feutry, France)

Burial details:

F/Lt. John Colin McIntosh Rose DFC. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Row B. Grave 32. Son of Charles William and Thirza Mary Rose of East Malvern, Victoria, Australia (1) Born in Hawthorn, Victoria on November 28, 1921. John enlisted on the 5 January 1941 in Melbourne, Victoria.

Awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) as per London Gazette 13 November 1942 - The King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. "Flying Officer John Colin McIntosh Rose (401249) Royal Australian Air Force, No. 103 Squadron. This captain of aircraft has taken part in many operational sorties and has shown courage and determination to press home his attacks regardless of the difficulties and opposition encountered. On one occasion, when over enemy territory, his aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88. By skilful manoeuvring his aircraft to enable his gunners to fire and severely damage the enemy aircraft. On two other occasions he has flown his aircraft back to home base and successfully landed with 1 engine out of action. Flying Officer Rose's fine fighting spirit and personal example have been a constant source of inspiration to all his Squadron"

Sgt. Frank John Fisher. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Sp. Mem. Row B. Grave. 34. No further information about next of kin. Are you able to help? (2) Frank completed part of his training at RAF Cranwell

Sgt. Gordon Thomas Hawkins. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Sp. Mem. Row B. Grave 33. Son of Thomas Gordon and Winifred Ann Hawkins of Wembley, Middlesex

Sgt. Peter Laird Donald. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Row B. Grave 35. Son of Laird Alexander Donald and Ida Emma Donald of Coventry (3) Peter is remembered in St. Marys Magdalen, Chapelfields, Coventry

Fl/Sgt. William Edward Ryan. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Row B. Grave 31. Son of William Rose Ryan and Louisa Ryan of Leeds, Yorkshire. Architect

Sgt. Edward Jack Smith. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Sp. Mem. Row B. Grave 30. No further information about next of kin. Are you able to help?

Sgt. Frederick Trimmer. Maubeuge Centre Cemetery. Grave Ref: Row B. Grave 36. Son of Ethel Trimmer of Finchley, Middlesex

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to Claudine and Bernard Feurty, France. Thanks to John Jones for the Theo Boiten reference.


RS 08.10.2019 - Night fighter claim added

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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