Operation: Harborg, Germany

Date: 11th/12th November 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: LM648

Code: KM:K

Base: RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire

Location: North of airfield at Scremby

Pilot: Fg Off. Paul Arthur Charles Caryer 161398 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert Douglas Driscoll 1815438 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fg Off. Chesley Reginald Grassie J39373 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Dennis Sullivan Arnett 154683 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Donald Lamont Mitchell 422619 RAAF Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Derrick Keen 2206220 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. John Routledge 1591457 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Above: Flt Sgt. Donald Lamont Mitchell from his Service Record

REASON FOR LOSS

Taking off at 16:.33 hrs from RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire to bomb the Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery that the USAAF had previously attacked in daylight operations, but was still operating. 237 Lancasters with 8 Mosquitoes bombing the area with reports that the residential and some industrial ares were hit but the reports did no mention the actual factory. 119 people were killed on the ground with 5,205 bombed out of their homes.

Lancaster LM648 collided with Lancaster III PB428 on return to base from operations that night. The aircraft called in to flying control in the usual manner and 2 minutes later collided with PB428 outside of the outer circuit opposite funnel landmark. At this time LM648 should have been approaching the crosswind position. Neither of the Lancasters were visible from the Control Tower.

All 14 crew from both aircraft perished in this tragic accident

A Court of Inquiry was convened, however, the outcome and recommendations are not known at this time.

Burial details:

Fg Off. Paul Arthur Charles Caryer. Newmarket Cemetery, Plot H. Grave 1158A. Grave Inscription: ‘ALSO HIS PARENTS CECIL A.O. CARYER 1877-1948 FRANCES M. CARYER 1883-1965 BELOVED’. Born in the 4th Qtr 1921 in Easthampstead, Berkshire. Son of Cecil A. O. and Frances M. (née Foster) Caryer of Newmarket, England. Husband of Daphne Iris Caryer.

Sgt. Robert Douglas Driscoll. Shrewsbury General Cemetery. Ext. Plot 9. Grave 116. Born on the 26th July 1924 in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales. Son of Frederick and Sarah Jane (née Rees) Driscoll of Shrewsbury, England.

Fg Off. Chesley Reginald Grassie. Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery. Sec G. Row C. Grave 18. Born on the 3rd March 1922 in Neepawa, Manitoba. Son of Reginald Piett and Peary Mary (née Willoughby) Grassie of Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada.

Fg Off. Dennis Sullivan Arnett. Cheadle and Gatley Cemetery. Sec. K. Grave 132. Born in 3rd Qtr 1921 in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Son of Percy and May (née Sullivan) Arnett of Gatley, Cheadle, England.

Flt Sgt. Donald Lamont Mitchell. Cambridge City Cemetery, Grave 15153. Grave Inscription: ‘TIME CAN NEVER DIM TREASURED MEMORIES’. Born on the 29th March 1923 in London, England. Son of Thomas and Frances Mitchell of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.

Also remembered in the Roll of Honour at Smithfield, New South Wales, Australia

Sgt. Derrick Keen. New Hey (St. Thomas) Churchyard. North Plot. Row O. Grave 13. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1925 in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Son of George and Ruth (née Sunderland) Keen of New Hey, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. John Routledge. Penrith Cemetery. Sec. Green. Row KKK. Grave 9. Born on the 30th March 1925 in Penrith, Cumbria. Son of John and Elizabeth (née Hall) Routledge of Penrith, Cumberland, England.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2024)

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