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.

---

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the AddInfo button, or send us email from the Helpdesk.

---

01.11.1944 No. 619 Squadron Lancaster III PB540 PG-X F/Lt. Tanner

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: Fl/Lt. Llewellyn Elvet Tanner 123867 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

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

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

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Arthur Parvin Goddard 1339439 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. J.R. Fletcher RAFVR Injured

Air/Gnr: Sgt. J.F. Barton RAFVR. Injured

Air/Gnr: Sgt. R. Ralston RAFVR Injured

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.

Of the three survivors Sgt. Ralston was seriously injured. 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

RAF Strubby Airfield, Lincolnshire Sgt. Tanner Mayfield School War Memorial

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Llewellyn Elvet Tanner. Barry (Merthyr Dyfan) Burial Ground, Glamorganshire. Sec. R. Grave 938. 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. 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. 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.

Right: Sgt. Gibson grave (courtesy Gary Lennie)

Sgt. Arthur Parvin Goddard. Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery. Hampshire. Plot C. C. Row 10. Grave 28. 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)

Researched by: Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives of the crew. Acknowledgements: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Bomber Command 60th Anniversary, Bomber Command Losses 1944 W. R. Chorley, City of Dundee Roll of Honour. With thanks to David Young for the correction of aircraft code - February 2017) Also to Gary Lennie for photograph of the grave for Sgt. Marshall Gibson - his mother the daughter of Sgt. Gibson - August 2017.

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor