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03/04.03.1945 No. 44 Squadron Lancaster III ME442 KM-V F/O. Ryan
Operation: Ladbergen
Date: 3/4th March 1945 (Saturday/Sunday)
Unit: No 44 Squadron
Type: Lancaster lll
Serial: ME442
Code: KM-V
Base: RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Location: Brocklesby Estate, Lincolnshire
Pilot: F/O. John Joseph Francis Ryan AUS/428364 RAAF Age 33. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Thomas Handley Jarman 3010499 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Richard Raven Russell 1801287 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Hubert Joseph Terry 1580082 RAFVR Age 21. Killed (1)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Harry Birtch 1575035 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Herbert Payne 1589407 RAFVR Age 29. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Henry Rogan 2218611 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 18:42 hrs from RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire to join 212 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 5 Group to attack the Ladbergen aqueduct, which was breached in two places and put completely out of action.
44 Squadron Lancasters (courtesy I.W.M.)
Homebound and nearly over the airfield Lancaster ME442 was picked up by an enemy intruder aircraft and shot down at 01.00 to crash amongst trees in Grannington Park on the Brocklesby Estate near Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Walkers pay respect at the place where the crew of seven were killed (courtesy Sharon Coates )
It is very important to adhere to the rules whilst walking through this area please. The Earl of Yarborough is allowing visitors to the memorial and the other fine walks in the area - but this is restricted from April to the end of August
A brass plaque is now fixed to a tree in the area erected by the Earl of Yarborough in memory of the seven aircrew killed that morning. Many walkers pass this spot, in August 2013 a Mrs Sharon Coates did the same - looked up for information on this - found our website and sent us further photographs.
(1) Fl/Sgt. Hubert Joseph Terry was a former pupil of Moseley Grammar school (Now secondary/grammar school). We are working very closely with the school's historians to remember all the ex pupils who died whilst serving with the RAF and recorded on the school memorial.
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', 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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