Operation: Homberg
Date: 14th March 1945 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 51 Squadron
Type: Halifax MK lll
Serial: NP932
Code: MH-J
Base: RAF Snaith, Yorkshire
Location: Nr. Pollington, Yorkshire
Pilot: F/O. Stanley George Chopping. 188188 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Pilot: P/O. David Johnston Hovell. 184910 RAFVR Age 31. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Griffith Williams. 3010661 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. George Henry Elliott. 1607037 RAFVR Age 33. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Mowbray Samuel George Mumford. 1389826 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Samuel Davies. 1514786 RAFVR Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Victor Henry Andrews. 3005078 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Lambert Bird. 2225274 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF Snaith at 17:21hrs on a raid to Homberg to bomb the communication lines. On returning to base and after making three attempts to land the aircraft crashed at 23:30hrs at the WAAF site near Pollington village.
161 aircraft - 127 Halifaxes, 23 Lancasters, 11 Mosquitos - of 4 and 8 Groups on a mission to Homburg. This attack was directed on to the town area to block the passage through it of German troops and stores to the nearby front line. No local report is available but it is believed that this attack was equally successful. 2 Halifaxes lost.
Burial details:
F/O. Stanley George Chopping. Kinson (St Andrew) Churchyard, Hampshire. S.W. Part. Grave 994.Son of Willie Goff Chopping and Eliza Amelia Chopping of Northbourne, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England. At the time of Stanley's death his parents were living at 28 Ferncroft Road, Northbourne, Bournemouth and his father was a retired police pensioner.
P/O. David Johnston Hovell. Dundee Eastern Necropolis. Scotland. Sec. E. Grave 374. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hovell of Dundee, Scotland. Husband of Annie Burns Hovell.
Sgt. Griffith Williams. Penrhyndeudraeth (Minffordd) Cemetery. Sec. D. Grave 28. Son of John Robert and May Williams of Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, Wales.
Fl/Sgt. George Henry Elliott. Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Plot Z. 2. Row 14. Grave 6. Son of William M Elliott and Clara Elliott of Portsmouth. Husband of Adeline Thurza Marjorie Elliott of Milton, Southsea, Portsmouth, England. At the time of George's death his wife was living at 157 Essex Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, England.
Fl/Sgt. Mowbray Samuel George Mumford. Cowes (Northwood) Cemetery, Isle of Wight. Uncons. Sec. Grave 7849. Son of Mrs M. E. Mumford of Cowes, England. Born in 1922 on the Isle of Wight. Mowbray was a postman in Cowes in 1939.
Fl/Sgt. John Samuel Davies. Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire. Sec. A. Grave 105. Son of Thomas and Eleanor Davies of Blackley, Manchester, England.
Fl/Sgt. Victor Henry Andrews. Alderton (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Suffolk, England. Son of Frederick Henry and Bessie Ellen Andrews of Alderton, England. Victor was born in 1925.
Sgt. John Lambert Bird. Newbrough (St. Peter) Churchyard, Northumberland. Grave 11. Extreme left corner from entrance gate. Son of Robert and Margaret Dodd Bird of Kielder, England.
Researched by Kate Tame volunteer for the Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives of the crew. Acknowledgements: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Geoff Allan Memorials and Monuments, Isle of Wight, Find a Grave.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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