Operation: St-Leu
Date: 04/05th July 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: No. 44 Squadron (Rhodesia)
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: ME699 (1)
Code: KM-T
Base: RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire
Location: Laversines, East of Beauvais, France
Pilot: F/O. William Archibald Young AUS/417145 RAAF Age 21. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Robinson RAFVR Evaded capture
Nav: F/O. Frank Edward Wareham 134370 RAFVR Age 23. Killed
Nav 2: F/O. Harold Braathen J/27500 RCAF Age 23. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. John ‘Jack’ E. Wainwright RAFVR Age 20. Evaded capture
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Thomas Leslie Jackson 1681086 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Wilson Rennie R/166835 RCAF Age 28. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Houseman 1591726 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 23:00 to bomb the flying bomb sites at St. Leu in France.
L-R: Sgt. Robinson, Sgt. Jackson, Fl/Sgt. Wainwright, P/O.Young, Sgt. Routledge, Sgt. Rennie and F/O. Wareham (courtesy Mike Wainwright - see credits)
The usual Rear gunner was a Sgt. Routledge who, shortly before the flight was taken ill and was replaced by Sgt. Ronald Houseman for this his first and sadly final operation. F/O. Harold Braathen was also on his first operation, flying as an extra navigator to gain experience.The two who survived managed to evade capture. A more comprehensive account of this loss can be read on Mike Wainwrights website.
L-R: Pilot, F/O. Young, F/O. Wareham and Sgt Routledge who missed the operation. (courtesy Mike Wainwright - see credits)
(1) Lancaster BI by Metropolitan-Vickers 250 Lancaster M1's ordered from Metropolitan-Vickers in May 1942 and delivered from November 1943 to January 1944 with Merlin 22 engines initially installed up to ME639 and Merlin 24 engines from ME640 except for ME668-9 with Merlin 22 engines.
(2) This was the 2nd of 3 abschüsse for Uffz. Günther S. Schlomberg was later killed during a practice flight on the 11th August 3.5 KM. North of Ottendorf near Cuxhaven.
Burial details:
F/O. William Archibald Young. Marissel French National Cemetery. Coll. Grave 284. Son of Arthur Bromwell Young and Ellen May Young, of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
F/O. Frank Edward Wareham. Marissel French National Cemetery. Coll. Grave 284. Son of Bertie and Beatrice Wareham, husband of Violet Lilian Wareham (née Paul) of Luton, Bedfordshire, England.
F/O. Harold Braathen. Marissel French National Cemetery. Coll. Grave 284. Harold Braathen was born in Medelpad, Sweden on 3 August 1916. He was the son of Harold Einar and Ingrid (née Jensen) Braathen of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. At the time of enlistment on 1 July 1942 he was employed as a teacher by the Peace River School Board in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia,
Canada.
Left; F/O. Harold Braathen (courtesy Dave Champion)Fl/Sgt. William Wilson Rennie. Marissel French National Cemetery. Coll. Grave 284. Son of Peter Miles and Elsie Gertrude (née Taylor) Rennie of Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada.
Sgt. Ronald Houseman. Marissel French National Cemetery. Coll. Grave 284. NoK details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information? We are advised by Mike Wainwright that he was from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
Right: Fl/Sgt. William Wilson Rennie (courtesy Dave Champion
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Mike Wainwright for detailed information and photographs, also to Dave Champion for crew details and photograph - May 2019.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 27 March 2021, 10:52