Archive Report: Allied Forces

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97 Squadron Lancaster III JB211 Fl/Lt. Carlos Manuel Brown Croix de Guerre

Operation: Frankfurt

Date: 25/26th November 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 97 Squadron (motto: Achieve your aim)

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JB221

Code: OF-W

Base: RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire

Location: Near Brandau, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Carlos Manuel Brown Croix de Guerre J/20377 RCAF Age 28. Missing - believed killed

Fl/Eng: P/O. George Smith 53583 RAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed (1)

Nav: P/O. Thomas Watson 161042 RAFVR Age 23. Missing - believed killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Harry Charles Aley J/21609 RCAF Age 26. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Bernard Frederick Tutt 1384140 RAFVR Age 29. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Henry William Little 1398493 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Robert William Sinden Aus/421133 RAAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 00:30 hrs with15 others from the squadron to bomb Frankfurt. Weather was described as 10/10 clouds with poor visibility. Leading the squadron was Group Captain Noel Holroyde Fresson DFC. 24091 RAF the target bombed from between 18,000 and 21,500 feet.

Lancaster JB221 failed to return to its base, later reported to have crashed 1 mile east of the village of Brandau, 25 miles south-east of Frankfurt. Three casualties were recovered at that time, laid to rest in the Brandau cemetery, they were later reinterred in the Durnbach War Cemetery. The other four members of the crew could not be found so were commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England.

By 06:00 hrs the remainder from the squadron returned safely to RAF Bourn.

Hptm. Hubertus Von-Bonin of Stab II./NJG1intercepted JB211 at 18.000 ft over Brandau at 02:45 hrs, the Lancaster crashed 1 mile east of the village of Brandau - killing all seven crew..

Above L-R: P/O. George Smith, Fl/Sgt. Robert Sinden, F/O. Harry Aley, Fl/Lt. Carlos Brown, P/O. Thomas Watson, Sgt. Bernard Tutt and Sgt. David Little.

(1) George Smith - In 2009/2010 an excavation at the crash site by a team of civilian military researchers led by Felix Klingenbeck discovered some human remains, following intense research, in 2015 it was officially confirmed that these were the remains of one of the JB221 (P/O George Smith) and his family members were located and informed. The body was recovered by German historians led by Uwe Benkel with Felix Klingenbeck who finally identified the crash location. The remains were laid to rest on the 21st October 2015 with the other identified crew members at Durnbach War Cemetery,

(2) Noel Holroyde Fresson, born on the 02nd January 1909 in Putney, Surrey. He married Barbara Elizabeth Holdrich in 1941, in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, England. Retired as Air Commodore. He died in 1993, in Somerset, England, United Kingdom, at the age of 84. DFC Citation. 22nd October 1943: 'One night in October,1943, this officer captained an aircraft detailed for an operation against Hagen. Before reaching the target, the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground defences. Two engines were damaged, one of them becoming completely unserviceable, the rear turret was damaged, while the lighting system failed. In spite of this. Group Captain Fresson continued to the target and bombed it. This officer has completed many sorties and has displayed inspiring leadership, great skill and determination'.
MiD: 'This officer has commanded three different operational stations since March 1943. His great ability and energy were recognized in February 1945 by his appointment to command No.42 Base. he has carried out his duties in this post in a highly efficient and satisfactory manner'.

Burial and other details:

Fl/Lt. Carlos Manuel Brown. Croix de Guerre. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 172. Born on the 16th June 1914 in Connecticut, USA. Enlisted on the 02nd September 1941 in Montreal, Quebec. Son of Col. Wilbur Charles (died 10th June 1941, age 78) and Rita Rodriguez Brown. of 480 Woodmere road, Beach Park, USA.

When William McKinley was elected governor of Ohio in 1891, he sent a handwritten note from his home in Canton to Brown in Fostoria, inviting him to become aid de camp. Brown accepted and served in the position during McKinley’s full term 1892-1896. On the 06th September 1901 Leon Czolgosz armed with a .32 caliber Iver Johnson 'Safety Automatic' revolver[shot McKinley twice in the abdomen at close range. Colonel Brown, an intimate friend of President McKinley, had the sad privilege of standing at his bedside when McKinley died on the 14th September1901. Czolgosz was electrocuted by three jolts, each of 1,800 volts, in Auburn Prison on the 29th October1901.

P/O. George Smith. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 8.G.30. Son of James (died 13th August 1951, age 66) and Jeannie Smith (died 27th April 1946, age 59) of Buckie, Banffshire, Scotland, husband of Dorothy Vivien Smith (née Hamilton). Epitaph: 'A Brave Son Of Scotland Killed With His Crew In Action Over Brandau Aye Remembered'.

P/O. Thomas Watson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 133. Son of Charles and Alice Watson, of Hawes, Yorkshire, England.

F/O. Harry Charles Aley. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2.H.10. Born on the 22nd August 1917 in Ontario, England. Son of Harry (died 07th February 1951, age 65) and Mary (née Robertson - died 13th August 1963, age 67) Aley of Alma Road, Vancouver, Canada, brother of George Frederick and Alec, husband of Isabella Mabel Brown (née Glenn) Aley Seaver (the couple married on the 14th September 1943 in Glasgow, Scotlan, his widow married Johnathan Seaver in 1945 in England)

Sgt. Bernard Frederick Tutt. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 167. Son of George Earl Tutt and Agnes Tutt, husband of Hilda Joan Tutt, of Tenterden, Kent, England.

Sgt. David Henry William Little. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2.H.9. Son of Henry and Susan Little, husband of Winifred Hilda Little, of Shepperton, Middlesex, England. Epitaph: 'Most Dearly Loved And For Ever In Our Thoughts'.

Fl/Sgt. Robert William Sinden Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2.H.8. Born on the 20th April 1923 in New South Wales, Australia. Son of William Norman and Ruby Isabelle Elsie Sinden, of The Grange, Renwick Street, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. Epitaph: 'His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archives Kew, AIR-27-767-22/23. National Archives Australia, Paradie RCAF Archives, Canadian Government Service Files. Theo Boiten 'Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 3', Kracker Luftwaffe Archives.

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