Operation: Meerbeck-Homberg oil plant, Germany

Date: 1st November 1944 (Saturday)

Unit No: 619 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB540

Code: PG:X (some publications list it as being GI:Z)

Base: RAF Strubby, Lincolnshire

Location: RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, England

Pilot: Flt Lt. Llewellyn Elvet Tanner 123867 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert James Ward 957279 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Marshall Gow Gibson 1565824 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Arthur Parvin Goddard 1339439 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. J.R. Fletcher RAFVR Age? Injured

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. J.F. Barton RAFVR Age? Injured

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Robert Ralston 1365597 RAFVR Age? Injured (1)

In October 2017 we were contacted by relatives of the pilot, Flt Lt. Tanner. They would be very interested to hear from the relatives of Betty shown in the photographs below. Betty was a Canadian and it is assumed that they met during his training in Canada.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 14:07hrs from RAF Strubby to attack the Meerbeck Oil plant at Homberg. Lancaster PB540 was hit by flak, but managed to return to England and was attempting to land at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk where it crashed.

RAF Strubby Airfield, Lincolnshire

Flt Lt. Llewellyn Elvet Tanner with his fiancée, Betty Christapherson from Regina in Saskatchewan, taken at the Slipper Club, Manitoba, Canada. (courtesy Sandra Culham)

Lancaster PB540 was the only aircraft lost on this mission. 226 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes of No. 5 Group and 14 Mosquitoes of No. 8 Group were involved in this attach with only 159 Lancasters attempting to bomb the oil plant.

RAF Woodbridge was constructed to assist damaged aircraft to land after raids on Germany.

(1) Sgt Ralston suffered burns to face and hands and was admitted to RAF Hospital Ely on the 2nd November 1944. On the 18th January 1945 transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital.

Burial details:

Flt Lt. Llewellyn Elvet Tanner. Barry (Merthyr Dyfan) Burial Ground, Glamorganshire. Sec. R. Grave 938. Grave inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS".Son of John and Elizabeth Tanner of Barry. At the time of his death Llewellyn's address was 91 Porthycastell. Barry, Wales

Sgt. Robert James Ward. New Southgate Cemetery, Hertfordshire. Sec. R. Grave 285. Grave inscription: "MANY A LONELY HEARTACHE OFTEN A SILENT TEAR ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF THE ONE I LOVED SO DEAR".Son of Robert James Ward and Annie Ward. Husband of Ivy May Ward of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At the time of his death Robert's address was 30 Cornwall Avenue, Woodgreen, Middlesex, England

Above as described (courtesy Gary Lennie)

Sgt. Robert James Ward. New Southgate Cemetery, Hertfordshire. Sec. R. Grave 285. Grave inscription: "MANY A LONELY HEARTACHE OFTEN A SILENT TEAR ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF THE ONE I LOVED SO DEAR".Son of Robert James Ward and Annie Ward. Husband of Ivy May Ward of Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At the time of his death Robert's address was 30 Cornwall Avenue, Woodgreen, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Marshall Gow Gibson. Dundee Eastern Necropolis, Angus. Sec. X. D. Grave 109. Grave inscription: "TRULY REMEMBERED". Son of David and Mary McGregor Gibson. Husband of Maggie Gibson of Dundee. Marshall is remembered in Victoria Street Church. His address at the time of his death was 13 Harriet Street, Dundee, Scotland.

Sgt. Arthur Parvin Goddard. Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery. Hampshire. Plot C. C. Row 10. Grave 28. Grave inscription: "I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH". Son of George Arthur and Dora Emma Goddard of Copnor, Portsmouth, England. At the time of his death Arthur's address was 138 Hayling Avenue, Copnor, Portsmouth, England. Arthur is also remembered on the Mayfield School War Memorial (old Northern Grammar School).

Sgt. Tanner Mayfield School War Memorial

Researched by Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives of the crew. City of Dundee Roll of Honour. With thanks to David Young for the correction of aircraft code (Feb 2017). Also to Gary Lennie for photograph of the grave for Sgt. Marshall Gibson - his mother the daughter of Sgt. Gibson (Aug 2017). Also to Sandra Culham who contacted us in Oct 2017 with photographs of the pilot and his fiancée. Gary Lennie who contacted us in Mar 2018 with photo of Sgt. Gibson (his mother was the daughter of Marshall Gibson). Thanks to Dr Jonathan Hicks, military historian from Barry, for additional detail for Betty Christapherson. (Jan 2020). Thanks to John Jones for the additional information for Sgt. Ralston (Aug 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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