AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

76 Squadron Crest
21/22.01.1944 No. 76 Squadron Halifax V LK922 MP-L Fl/Sgt. Henry Boyes

Operation: Magdeburg

Date: 21/22nd January 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 76 Squadron

Type: Halifax V

Serial: LK922

Code: MP-L

Base: RAF Holme-On-Spalding-Moor, Yorkshire

Location: Erxleben, Helmstedt, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Henry Boyes 1078689 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Reginald Sydney Western 1642409 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Sgt. T. Fraser 1498683 RAFVR Injured (1) PoW No: 929 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus

Air/Bmr: F/O. D.H. McVie AUS/414420 RAAF Injured (2) PoW No: 3376 Camp:Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. C.M. Bennett 1493594 RAFVR Injured (3) PoW No: ? Camp:Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Rudolph Angel Antonio Forte 1565064 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. James McCurry 1301467 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Holme-On-Spalding-Moor, Yorkshire at 20.06 hrs. to make the first major attack of the war on the Magdeburg/Rothensee plant that produced synthetic oil from lignite coal. Part of a force of 648 aircraft, made up from 421 Lancaster's 224 Halifax's and 3 Mosquitoes.

Bomb load: 1 x 2000 HCM Inst, 2 x 500lb. Clusters, 32 x 30 Inc, 480 x 4 Inc, 60 x 4” K Type Inc.

Left: Sgt. Rudolph Forte (courtesy of the archives of Olga Risi - Macari, Rudolph's first cousin)

The German night fighters were ready as the bomber stream had been followed by the German controllers. They were very slow though to identify the target but anyway the night fighters were in the area with the bomber stream. During the raid a huge amount of losses were experienced by the attacking group with 35 Halifax's and 22 Lancaster's lost which were mainly due to the attacking night fighters.

This huge loss was not even rewarded with a successful attack as the strong winds brought some of the force into the target area before the pathfinders and as a result 27 bombers bombed before the pathfinders had marked the area. Most of the bombing fell outside the city.

It is reported that Halifax LK922 was shot down by a German night fighter and exploded in the air. The records of the Nachtjagd do not have any confirmed claims against this aircraft although a total of 19 Halifax's lost were not possible to be placed against a German pilot such was the fury of the combat and confusion this night.

Report from Air Bomber, F/O. Mcvie:
Rear Gunner reported night fighter attack, evasive action, both our gunners opened fire, e/a (moving away?) Rear guns (u/s?) Nav.gave pilot new course and as he turned (another) gunner reported e/a’s approach, evasive action, night fighter broke away mid upper gunner’s guns (u/s?) All uninjured. Several ineffective attacks but eventually starboard outer engine on fire - (feathered?). Starboard wing then reported on fire - bale out ordered but again attacked. Bomb aimer hit by cannon shell above … (word illegible) W/op, Nav and BA thrown (to floor?) as explosion (probably s/board wing). BA unconscious came to falling and pulled rip cord. Saw another member of crew (perhaps Flight Engineer) falling without chute. W/op sprained ankle baling out. Germans said 3 dead in a/c and one in field near village without parachute. BA (one word illegible) the survivors must have gone through perspex nose.

Report from Navigator, Sgt. T. Fraser:

Navigator lost boots during descent. Captured at 04.00hrs - “real danger came on two occasion - first quite avoided and during second gunners performed gallantly despite the hardships (illegible) displayed equal skill” Nav’s right arm out of place and left thigh bruised. 4 killed instantly.
Fraser: Most of our journey was without incident but it was the later stages that two occasions of danger approached and during the first it was Jim’s expert directions and our Captain’s skilful ability by which it was overcome completely. On the next Jim performed gallantly for some time to repeat the achievement and it is partly due to them that David, Charlie and I owe our lives.
(1) Sgt. Fraser suffered his right arm out of place (dislocated?) and bruising.
(2) F/O. McVie - Unconscious from explosion - recovered during fall from aircraft.
(3) Sgt. Bennett suffered a sprained ankle. We are not convinced that we have his service number correct - it is as far as the loss card is concerned which is the best evidence we have, but not as far as other sources are concerned.

Graves of Sgt. Forte and Sgt. McCurry Berlin War Cemetery (courtesy of Paul Forte via Mike Harrison)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Henry Boyes. Berlin War Cemetery Collective grave 6.A. 13-16. Next of kin details not known as yet, can you assist? This was his 2nd operational sortie.

Sgt. Reginald Sydney Western. Berlin War Cemetery Collective grave 6.A. 13-16. Son of Stanley and Rose Sarah Western, of Stanmore, Middlesex.

Sgt. James McCurry. Berlin War Cemetery Collective grave 6.A. 13-16. Next of kin details not known as yet, can you assist?

Sgt. Rudolph Angel Antonio Forte. Berlin War Cemetery Collective grave 6.A. 13-16. Son of Masimino and Maria Pace Forte, of Galashiels. Selkirkshire. Correct name was Rodolfo, but known as Rudolph.

Article researched for a relative of Air Gunner Sgt. Rudolph Forte, Paul Forte. If anyone has further information on the crew or the aircraft we would like to hear from you and will pass on the information to the relatives.

With thanks to the following: Mike Harrison and Paul Forte, Roy Wilcock for information supplied via the loss card. Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vol's. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', ‘Bomber Command Database’, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vol's. 1 and 2', 'Kracker Luftwaffe Archives'. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries (Updated 2014 version).

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. 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.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025
Last Modified: 26 February 2016, 21:49

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