Operation: Zeitz, Germany

Date: 16th/17th January 1945 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 166 Squadron, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ME296

Code: AS:V

Base: RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire

Location: Glane, 20 km (12½ mls) north of Münster, Germany

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. Gwilym Kenneth Eden John 1651466 RAFVR Age 22. PoW * (1)

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. John Mansfield Meggitt 424599 RAAF Age 26. PoW * (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. George William Kirk 652058 RAFVR Age 23. PoW * (3)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. George Anson 1595433 RAFVR Age 20. PoW * (4)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Thomas Richard Wood 975880 RAFVR Age 25. PoW * (5)

* Stalag 13D, Nuremberg, (Nürnberg Langwasser), Germany

Above left to right: Flt Lt. Ernest P. Burke, Plt Off. John M. Meggitt (From their Service Records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 17:25 hrs from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire to bomb the Braunkohle-Benzin synthetic oil plant in Zeitz, Germany.

There are two (2) instances of Lancasters being claimed by German night-fighters during the Zeitz raid. The first was not related to ME296. The second was claimed by Fw. Hans Sieben from 3./NJG1, his 1st Abschuss, although there is no location, time or attribution. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten)

The aircraft crashed in a field near Glane, 20 km (12½ mls) north of Münster, Germany.Operation: Zeitz

Plt Off. Meggitt confirmed that they were attacked by a German night-fighter. However, the No. 4 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit (MREU) investigator reported that the local residents of Glane thought that the aircraft that crashed near their village was a Mosquito and that it had been shot down by Flak batteries stationed at Osnabrück. However, there was not enough remaining of the wreckage to confirm the type of aircraft.

Two (2) airmen were recovered from the wreckage and were buried in the Glane Civil Cemetery with a cross bearing the words “Two Canadian Flyers”. The unit recovered and identified the remains as those of Flt Lt. Burke and Sgt. Carr.

(1) Flt Sgt. John was captured that day at Lengerich near Münster and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg on the 1st February.

In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of prisoners evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3. On the 14th March 1945 he was amongst large numbers of PoWs who were marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria.

The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. He was interviewed on the 12th May 1945.

Gwilym Kenneth Eden John was born on the 16th November 1922 in Haverfordwest, Dyfed, Wales. He was employed as a clerk prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 6th July 1942. Gwilym passed away on the 31st January 2016 in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

(2) Plt Off. Meggitt was captured by the German Police that day near Münster and transported to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on the 21st January. After the statutory interrogation he was transferred to the transit camp at Dulag Luft, Wetzlar on the 28th January.

On the 5th February he was he transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg arriving there the next day. In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of prisoners evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3. On the 15th March 1945 he was amongst large numbers of PoWs who were marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria arriving there on the 20th April.

The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. He was interviewed on the 12th May 1945.

John Mansfield Meggitt was born on the 11th February 1919 in Bulli, New South Wales. He was employed as a Bank Officer prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 15th September 1942. John passed away on the 15th September 1991 in Aspley, Queensland, Australia.

(3) Flt Sgt. Kirk managed to evade until the 22nd January when he was captured near Rheine and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg on the 4th February.

In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of prisoners evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3. On the 4th April 1945 he was amongst large numbers of PoWs who were marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria arriving there on the 19th April.

The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. He was interviewed on the 9th May 1945.

George William Kirk was born on the 10th October 1921 in East Retford, Nottinghamshire. He was employed in the farming in Retford, Nottinghamshire prior to enlisting in the RAFVR in July 1939. George passed away in August 1987 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

(4) Flt Sgt. Anson that day near Lengerich near Münster and after the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg on the 1st February.

In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of prisoners evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3. On the 11th March 1945 he was amongst large numbers of PoWs who were marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria.

The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. He was interviewed on the 12th May 1945.

George Anson was born on the 3rd December 1924 in Staffordshire. He was a Plumber’s Apprentice in Walsall, Staffordshire prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 27th July 1943. George passed away on the 5th August 2004 in Staffordshire.

(5) Flt Sgt. Wood was captured that day Lengerich near Münster and transported to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. After the statutory interrogation he was transferred to the transit camp at Dulag Luft, Wetzlar.

In early February he was transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg, (Nürnberg Langwasser), Germany, arriving there the next day.

In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of prisoners evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3. Between the 2nd and 12th April 1945 large numbers were marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria.

On the 17th April 1945 he escaped from the marching column at Fürht near Nuremburg along with Flt Sgt. J. Bax, Flt Sgt. Shirley and Sgt. Boydell.

Flt Sgt. John Horace David Bax 1802755 RAFVR. He was the Flight Engineer from 102 Sqn, Halifax III LL597 DY:X which was shot down by a night-fighter on the night of the 5th/6th January 1945 on an operation to Hannover (5 KiA, 3 PoWs);

Flt Sgt. Roy Kenneth Shirley 1391257 RAFVR. He was the Mid-Upper Gunner from 582 Sqn, Lancaster III PB141 6O:F which was shot down by a German night-fighter on the 23rd December 1944 on an operation to Cologne (Köln), Germany(1 Murdered, 6 PoW);

Sgt. Richard Alan Boydell 2211803 RAFVR. He was the Mid-Upper Gunner from 51 Sqn, Halifax III LW461 MH:Y which was lost on the night of the 16th/17th January 1945 on an operation to Magdeburg (6 KiA, 1 PoW).

Sgt. Boydell was captured after twelve (12) hours whilst Flt Sgt. Wood and the others were captured after three (3) days by two (2) SS men in woods west of Nuremburg. The city was liberated shortly thereafter and he was interviewed on the 21st April 1945.

Thomas Richard Wood was born on the 22nd November 1919 in Lancashire. He was a labourer prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 19th December 1939. Thomas passed away on the 28th May 1997 in Liverpool, Merseyside.

Flt Lt. Burke, Flt Sgt. John, Plt Off. Meggitt, and Flt Sgt. Wood of this crew survived with various degrees of injuries when their 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) Halifax V DG403 forced-landed in a field.

Additionally, Sgt. Carr also escaped but was injured from 1667 HCU Halifax V DG414 .

Burial details:

Flt Lt. Burke and Sgt. Carr were initially buried in the Glane Civil Cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Rheinberg War Cemetery on the 20th December 1947.

Grave photographs courtesy Des Philippet-FindAGrave.

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. 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.

Researched by Rob Davis and provided to us in December 2018. Page dedicated by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) to the relatives of this crew (Dec 2018). Thanks to David Swallow for the update to the names for the crew (Jun 2023). Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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