Operation: Scholven-Buer, Germany

Date: 6th October 1944 (Friday)

Unit No: 78 Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LW511

Code: EY:Z

Base: RAF Breighton, Yorkshire.

Location: Gahlen, Germany

Pilot: WO. John Henry Bradburn 1343450 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. David Menzies 3020036 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Nav: Flt Sgt. Richard John Holland 1396475 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Daniel Crerar 1561150 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Charles West 1811334 RAFVR Age? KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Edward Borkofsky R189482 RCAF Age 22. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Alexander Crew Lachie Todd 1554137 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Above: Flt Sgt. Edward Borkofsky from his Service Record

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Breighton, Yorkshire at 14.17 hrs on a daylight operation to bomb the synthetic oil plant at Scholven-Buer. Another operation was being carried out at the same time on the plant at Sterkrade.

The weather was very clear and reports state that the bombing proved accurate although we have no details of the damage/losses on the ground. Ten (10) aircraft were lost on these two raids.

It was established that LW511 was hit by Flak and exploded in mid-air. The main part of the wreckage fell in a farmer’s meadow at Gahlen-Bruck. The remainder of the aircraft was spread over a distance of ½ mile.

Two other aircraft and crews were also lost on this operation:

Halifax III LL588 EY:O - Flown by Fg Off. Raymond L. Stanley 176376 RAFVR KiA along with his crew;

Halifax III MZ310 EY:U - Flown by Fg Off. Charles W. Crawford 183801 RAFVR KiA along with his crew.

Burial details:

The crew were initially buried in the Kirchhellen cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 13th May 1947.

WO. John Henry Bradburn. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.11. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER YOU”. Born in 3rd Qtr of 1922. Son of Stuart and Anne Stuart Wallace (née Armour) Bradburn of Barrhead, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Sgt. David Menzies. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.8. Grave Inscription: “EVER REMEMBERED BY HIS FATHER, MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS”.Son of John Carson and Grace Blacklock Menzies of Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

Flt Sgt. Richard John Holland. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.9. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1923 in Hammersmith, London. Son of Edward William and Eliza Dorothy (née Robinson) Holland of Bromley, Kent, England.

His brother was Cpl. Jeffrey Edward Holland MiD 6343993, 2 Special Air Service (2 SAS) Airborne Division (Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment). He was captured during 'Operation Accolade' the ill-fated amphibious operation in the Aegean Sea in 1943. PoW No.130153, Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria.

He was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette, 13th September 1945.

Flt Sgt. Daniel Crerar. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.12. Grave Inscription: "STILL ALL MY SONG SHALL BE, NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE, NEARER TO THEE". Son of Daniel and Agnes Crerar of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Sgt. Ronald Charles West. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.10. No biographical information found.

Flt Sgt. Edward Borkofsky. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.G.1. Grave Inscription: “SON OF MR. AND MRS. LOUIS BORKOFSKY. HE DIED FOR THE LOVE OF HIS COUNTRY - CANADA”. Born on the 21st April 1922 in Manitoba. Son of Louis and Mary (née Ziprick) Borkofsky of Russell, Manitoba, Canada.

Sgt. Alexander Crew Lachie Todd. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 20.F.13. Grave Inscription: “REMEMBERED BY ALL WHO LOVED HIM BEST”. Son of Walter and Jean Todd of Sighthill, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Researched for Tony Holland, brother of the navigator, Flt Sgt. Richard Holland. Thanks to Piet Truren from Holland for pointing out incorrect location detail. Thanks to Paul Markham for the update to the next of kin details for Flt Sgt. Holland. Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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