Operation: Wintershall

Date: 14/15th March 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 227 Squadron 5 Group

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: PA214 (1)

Code: 9J-P ('Polly Pepperpot')

Base: RAF Balderton, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire

Location: Illesheim. Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Matthew William Bell 143283 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Pilot 2: Fl/Lt. Stanley Thomas Rouse 134762 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Leonard Sidney Smith 160198 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Nav: P/O. Peter Thomas Edwards 190988 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Gerald Francis Orry 153497 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. Henry Albert Thomas 161024 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Raymond Cecil Stanley Wells 1805639 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. George Forster Constable Stephenson. 1802383 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 06/07th March 1945 Fl/Lt. Mathew Bell was the pilot of Lancaster III PA610 (1) 9J-O. The target was Sassnitz - three versions of what the happened - A; crash landing on return, B; Tyre burst on landing, C; collapsed, the Lancaster being. (we beeline it was a combination of B and C) on return from operation to Sassnitz at 03:45hrs all seven crew serviced. Some websites describe the aircraft was destroyed by fire - the images clearly show that is incorrect.

The navigator on this operation was F/O. Edward Foster DFC. (we have been unable to confirm why he was changed with P/O. Peter Edwards), one possibility is that he was posted out of the squadron as we could find him on ant other operations with 227 squadron. All of this other crew were as listed on PA214.

Above original are of 'Polly Pepperpot' with navigator P/O. Peter Edwards

As an all 5 Group bomber force, the raid was comprised of 244 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes.

PA214 took off from RAF Balderton at 17:05 hrs with fourteen others from the squadron to bomb the Wintershall Synthetic Oil Plant.

Hptm Martin Becker (2) flying night fighter Ju88G-6 2Z+MF who also shot down a record seven other Lancaster’s on this operation.

Left: Fl/Lt. Stanley Thomas Rouse - second pilot of PA214 ('Polly Pepperpot')

Lancaster RA546 also from 227 squadron and also claimed by the same German pilot at 23:00 hrs. F/O. Maurice Hunt NZ/421372 RNZAF died of his injuries (see note) as did one other both died some days later (see note) one was killed with four others injured and taken PoW. The aircraft is thought to have crashed in the Bad Windsheim area near Illesheim,Bavaria, Germany.

Becker's radar operator Karl Ludwig Johanssen used his single MG 131 13mm mg to bring the lancaster down. The pilot could not get the forward firing 2cm weapons to function due to jamming so ordered Karl to use the single rearward firing defence arm. Lanc was hit between the wing root and the inboard engine which set the whole wing and then fuselage on fire as it banked away and crashed.

18 Lancasters lost on the raid (with approx 126 crew).

Burial and further details:

Fl/Lt. Matthew William Bell. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 9. F. 4. Also remembered on family grave in Holy Cross Churchyard, Ryton, Gateshead. Born on the 31st May 1921 in Gateshead. Son of Thomas Henderson Bell (died 25th May 1952, age 65), and Ann Whitfield Bell (died 20th August 1967, age 78 husband of Isabel Bell (died 20th Aug. 1967), of Dean Bank, of Dean Bank Co. Durham. His older brother, 39 year old Sgt. John Clydesdale Bell 580239 RAF (born on the 15th February 1911) also lost his life earlier in the war serving with 29 squadron. On the 13th March 1941 involved in a mid-air collision piloting Anson I N9652. The other Anson I N9595

Fl/Lt. Stanley Thomas Rouse. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 9. F. 6-7. Born on the 4th November 1916 on Gravesend, Kent. Worked at for Stook and Sparks Ltd., Builder’s Merchants. Son of Thomas Charles and Ada Louisa Rouse (née Hicks) Brother of Geoffrey Walter Rouse DFC. 441205 (132337), also served as a Fl/LT. (born 23rd August 1920 - August 1997, age 76). Husband of Doris Marjorie Rouse(née Tingey), of 52 Earl Road, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent. Epitaph: 'A Smile For All, A Heart Of Gold, One Of The Best This World Did Hold'.

Fl/Sgt. Raymond Cecil Stanley Wells. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 9. F. 2. Son of Frank and Adelaide Wells, of Marden, Kent, England. Epitaph: 'He Has Gone To God's Beautiful Garden In The Sunshine Of Perfect Peace'.

Sgt. Leonard Sidney Smith. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 9. F. 1. Son of George and Amy Smith; husband of Gracie Gwendoline Smith, of Parkstone. Dorsetshire, Englan. Son of George and Amy Smith; husband of Gracie Gwendoline Smith, of Parkstone. Dorsetshire. Epitaph: 'Greater Love Hath No Man'.

P/O. Peter Thomas Edwards. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 9. F. 6-7. No further details, are you able to assist?

F/O. Gerald Francis Orry. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective Collective grave 9. F. 5-7. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Orry, of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Epitaph: 'Sadly Missed By Father, Mother And Brother. R.I.P'.

F/O. Henry Albert Thomas. Durnbach War Cemetery. CollectiveCollective grave 9. F. 5-7. Born on the 13th October 1910 in Tottenham. Employed as a Sanitary Inspector’s Assistant. Later an Ambulance Depo. Son of Samuel Walter Thomas and Catherine Margaret (née Connelly) of 92 St Ann’s road, Tottenham, England. Brother of Walter, William and Catherine. Husband of Ade Mary Thomas (née Taylor) of 108 Edenfield Gardens, Worcester Park, London, England.

Fl/Sgt. George Forster Constable Stephenson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 9. F. 3. Son of Fl/Lt. George Stephenson, RAF, and Margaret Fleming Stephenson.

Lancaster I RA546 Crew (RA546 was delivered to227 squadron on 05th March 1945 was lost on its first operation, with a total of only 5 recorded hours).

Fl/Lt. Maurice Leonard Hunt NZ/421372 RNZAF Age 24. Pilot/ Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2. C. 26. Born on the 07th November 1920, Educated at Masterton Technical College, Son of Rowlan Brown Hunt, (died 06th October 1958, age75) and of Edith Lena Hunt (nee Foreman - died 18th December 1944, age 57), of Mount Bruce, Masterton, New Zealand.

(note) A relative of the pilot wrote on a forum state that he managed to bale out hen he was then picked up by members of the Hitler Youth and was given a severe beating. He died without receiving Medical attention in the jail at Nuremberg on the 18th of March 1945. This story has been confirmed to me by another member of 227 Squadron Pilot Fl/Lt. Mervyn Croker. Fl/Lt Hunts navigator another New Zealander was with him when he died and relayed the story to Merv Croker.
(Fl/Lt. Mervyn Richard Croker NZ/426913 DFC. - died 05th October 2009, age 90, the navigator; P/O. Alfred Trevor Harvey)

W/O.1 William Andrew Johnson, R/121883 RCAF Age 26. Pilot. Durnbach War Cemetery. Joint grave 2. C. 27-28. 26. Born on the 13 May 1919 in Alsask. Saskatchewan, Canada. hought injured by the initial attack and unable to leave the aircraft when ordered to jump. Son of James Lewis Johnson (died 14th March 1966, age 79) and Margaret Myrtle Johnson (née Edwards - died 22nd February 1992, age 96), of Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Of One Who Gave His All For Us'.

FllSgt. Robert Nesbit 1564192 1564192 RAFVR Age 22. W/Op/Air/Gnr. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2. C. 25. Son of Robert and Mary Ann Nesbit, of Red Row, Northumberland. Survived the incident and reported that he dropped out of the march between Nuremberg and Munich and died. According to the report by Fl/Sgt. Albert Bell. (note; he survived baling out but died on the 'Long March' on the 08th April)

F/O. William Frank Possee DFC. 53824 RAF Age 21.Fl/Eng. Durnbach War Cemetery. Joint grave 2. C.27-28. Also commemorated on the Ashford, Kent civic war memorial. Educated at the Ashford North County Modern (Boys) School. Commission on th 25th November 1943. Alsoserved with 9 Squadron He had completed 36 operational sorties. Thought injured by the initial attack and unable to leave the aircraft when ordered to jump. Son of Frank and Annie Elizabeth Possee, of Green, Hinxhill, Ashford, Kent, England. Epitaph: 'Son of Frank and Annie Elizabeth Possee.'

Survived;

Fl/Sgt. Albert Thomas Bell Aus/434440 RAAF. Air/Bmr. Born on the 31st March 1918 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. PoW Injured. In his post PoW statement he left the aircraft first leaving the aircraft by the way of the front escape hatch and that he saw no other parachutes. Discharged from the RAAF on the 01st October 1945.

Fl/Sgt. John William Harrison 1594949 RAFVR. Air/Gnr. PoW Injured and hospitalised until VE day..

P/O. Alfred Trevor Harvey NZ/4210083 RNZAF. Nav. Born on the BIRTH16 October 1916 in Auckland, New Zealand. PoW Injured.

Fl/Sgt. Stanley Herbert Jobson 1807155 RAFVR Air/Gnr. PoW seriously injured and hospitalised in Holland until VE day.

(1) Lancaster PA601 history: Built by A.V Roe and Co Ltd at Woodford to contract Acft/1807 - 01-10-1944; Issued to 207 Squadron RAF, Spilsby, Lincolnshire as 'EM-O' - 08-10-1944: Transferred to 227 Squadron, RAF Baldertonm, Nottignhamshire as '9J-O' - 07-03-1945: Cat, B(FA) damaged in flying accident on operational service - 18-03-1945: Re-cat E(FA) (FACE - Flying Accident Cat. E) and stuck off charge.

(2) Martin Becker was born in Wiesbaden on the 12th April 1916. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1940. Early in 1943 he joined the 11./NJG 4. On August 1st 1943, the unit was re-designated as 2./NJG 6. With this unit he scored his first victory on the night of September 22nd/23rd 1943. He was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./NJG 6 on October 17th 1943. On October 20th 1944 he was appointed Gruppenkoruarymmandeur of IV./NJG 6. In 83 night missions, Martin Becker shot down 57 allied planes. Passed away February 2006, age 89. His radar operator, Karl-Ludwig Johanssen, who passed away August 2009.

Researched and d Roger Morgan edicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archive. Kew AIR -27-1410-25/26, Roger Morgan for details on Henry Thomas, Callum Andrew McGhee for crew photo. Kracker Luftwaffe Archives. Government of Australia WW2 Archives, Government of Canada WW2 Archives. E-Goat :: The Unofficial Royal Air Force, Network, New Zealand Cenotaph. Paradie RCAF Archives

Other research sources shown at foot of this page.

A County Durham Flag presented at the headstone of the Bell family in the grounds of Holy Cross Church, Ryton which is a village close to Gateshead in historic County Durham.

The headstone names 5 family members namely
Thomas Bell, his sons John Bell and Matthew Bell, Wife Ann Bell and daughter Ann Joyce Richardson. (courtesy Paul Strophair)

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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