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Operation: Zeitz
Date: 16th/17th January 1945 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit No: 166 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ME296
Code: AS:V
Base: RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire
Location: Target area
Pilot: Flt Lt. Ernest Patrick Burke 426303 RAAF Age 33. KiA
Flt Eng: Sgt. Thomas Edward Carr 1590301 RAFVR Age 20. KiA
Nav: Flt Sgt. Gwilyn Kenneth Eden John 1651466 RAFVR Age 22. PoW
Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. John Mansfield Meggitt 424599 RAAF Age 26. PoW
WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. George William Kirk 652058 RAFVR Age? PoW
Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. George Anson 1595433 RAFVR Age? PoW
Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Thomas Richard Wood 975880 RAFVR Age 25. PoW
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 17:25 hrs from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire to bomb the Braunkohle-Benzin synthetic oil plant - night fighter claims for this period of the war were mostly destroyed. Also PoW records for the same period were not updated.
It is thought probable that they came down in the target area.
Some of this crew, in Halifax V DG403 of 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) flown by Flt Lt. Ernest Burke were injured when a forced landing took place in a field. Flt Sgt. John, Plt Off. Meggitt, Flt Sgt. Wood all survived with various degrees of injuries.
Sgt. Thomas Edward Carr also escaped injured from 1667 HCU Halifax V DG414 - further details can be read here.
Burial details:
Grave photographs courtesy Des Philippet.
Flt Lt. Ernest Patrick Burke. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 11.D.20. Grave inscription reads: "HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED". Born on the 30th September 1911 at Brisbane, the son of John Ernest and Florence Burke; husband of Bessie Margaret Burke, of Kew, Victoria, Australia.
Sgt. Thomas Edward Carr. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 11.D.21. Grave inscription reads: "ONLY THOSE WHO LOVED AND LOST KNOW THE PRICE THIS GREAT WAR COST". Next of kin details not known, are you able to assist?
Researched by Rob Davis and provided to us in December 2018. Page dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks to David Swallow for the update to the names for the crew (Jun 2023)
Other sources listed below:
RS 30.06.2023 - Update to crew names.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 02 July 2024, 07:20