Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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467 Squadron Lancaster III PB306 Fl/Lt. Noel Caesar Colley

Operation: Karlsruhe

Date: 02/03rd February 1945 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 467 Squadron. 5 Group

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB306

Code: PO-J

Base: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire

Location: Near Karlsdoff

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Noel Caesar Sidney Colley 130650 RAF Age 25. Killed

Pilot: F/O. James Magnus Inkster Aus/432191 RAAF Are 22. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Dennis George Howdle 1866651 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: W/O. Bertram Forbes Weber Aus/434068 RAAF Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: P/O. Allan Harry Pearce Aus/428480 RAAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Frank Edgar Everatt Aus/427311 RAAF Are 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Frederick Jack Bean Aus/430920 RAAF Are 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Phillip John Carter Aus/435334 RAAF Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The force of 261 aircraft were detailed to bomb Karlsruhe with the bombing taking place between 23:03 and 23:30 hrs. 19 aircraft from the squadron were on this operation PB306 taking off at 19:51 hrs.

The weather that night over much of northern Europe was appalling and there was widespread heavy cloud. Over the approaches to Karlshure and over the town itself the cloud cover is reported to have been very heavy, to the point where it was not possible to see the target.

Lancaster I LM100 PD-D Flown by 22 year old F/O. Alton Neil Goulburn Robinson Aus/422885 RAAF from Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. He was killed with five other members of the crew. The captain had ordered the crew to bale out of the aircraft which had suffered multiple engine failure. The air bomber Fl/Sgt. John Christie Jarrett Aus/433551 RAAF is reported to have jumped from just 700 feet. The remainder of the crew were all killed. 25 year old John Jarrett survived the jump and the war - he passed away on the 15th of June 2006, age 86.

It is thought that PB306 were shot down by Hptm. Helmuth Schulte (shown right) of Stab II/NJG6 at 23:40. The nightfigter was hit by return fire and the crew baled out near Heilbronn. Further details on Kracker Archive.

Note: On this day the 03rd February 1945 Berlin suffered its worst air raid of the war when 1,500 USAAF bombers led by Lt/Co. Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal (B-17 44-8379) that was in flames from a direct hit, he continued to the target to drop his payload; then stayed with the aircraft until after the rest of the crew had bailed out, just before it exploded at an altitude of only about 1,000 feet. He was recovered by the Soviet Army and again returned to duty. This raid killed Roland Freisler, the notorious Nazi 'hanging judge' of the Third Reich's Volksgerichtshof. Between 1942 and 1945, more than 5,000 death sentences were decreed by him,

Burial details and other information:

Crew buried on the 04th of February, 1945.

Fl/Lt. Noel Caesar Sidney Colley. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.F.10. Son of Robert Sidney and Daisy Mildred Colley. Husband of Frances Joan Colley, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Epitaph: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him'.

F/O. James Magnus Inkster. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.F.11. Born on the 08th June 1922 in Queenscliffe, New South Wales. Son of Laurence and Catherine Inkster, of 173 Pacific Parade, Dee Why, New South Wales, Australia. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Of Our Gallant Son And Brother'.

Sgt. Dennis George Howdle. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.F.8. Born on the 04th August 1925 in Aldridge, Staffordshire. Son of George Emmanuel (died 08th April 1952, age 57) and Agnes Howdle (née Burgess - died 25th June 1992), of Brooklyn Farm, Triangle, Staffordshire. Epitaph: 'Resting Where No Shadows Fall, In Perfect Peace Awaiting Us All'.

W/O. Bertram Forbes Weber. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.F.7. Born on the 17th November 1921 in Stanthorpe, Queensland. Son of Bertram George (died 09th October 1958, age 63), and Jean Christina Weber (née Schwenke - died 02nd May 1941, age 41), of 22 Penross Street, Texas, Queensland, Australia. Epitaph: 'His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered'.

P/O. Allan Harry Pearce. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 1.F.12-15. Born on the 15th May 1922 in Adelaide, South Australia. Son of Harry (died 03rd August 1953, age 51) and Iris Evelyn Pearce (died 06th February 1955, age 52) of 70 Magill Road, Norwood, South Australia. Husband of Thelma Jane Pearce, of Woodville Gardens, South Australia. Epitaph: 'We Who Loved Him Will Never Forget. Ever Remembered By All'.

Fl/Sgt. Frank Edgar Everatt. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 1.F.12-15. Born on the 04th May 1924 in Narrogin, Western Australia. Son of Edgar (died 21st June 1932, age 47) and Jane Hobbs Everatt (née Graham - died 22nd August 1964, age 75), of 37 Maidos Street, Ashfield, Bassendean, Western Australia. Epitaph: 'Loved, Remembered, Longed For Always'.

Fl/Sgt. Frederick Jack Bean. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.F.9. Born on the 17th September 1924 in Coburg, Victoria. Son of Vere Jack (died 04th July 1975, age 83) and Helen Edith Bean (née Leach - died 12th February 1983, age 85), of 39 Macdonald Street, Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory'.

Fl/Sgt. Phillip John Carter. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 1.F.12-15. Born on the 21st February 1925 in Howard, Queensland. Son of Phillip Charles (died 1967, the 81) and Rebecca Carter (died 1969, age 76) of New Farm, Howard, Queensland, Australia. Epitaph: 'At Rest. Greater Love Hath No Man. He Gave His Life For His Friends'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Air-27-1931-27/28 National Archives, National Archives of Australia NAA, Schulze on the Kracker Archive, Burntwood Family History Group.

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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