Operation: Dortmund, Germany

Date: 23rd/24th May 1943 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit No: 408 (Goose) Sqn, RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax II

Serial: JB841

Code: EQ:K

Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire

Location: Bergkamen, Germany

Pilot: Fg Off. James Mackenzie Colvin J7430 RCAF Age 22. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John Hooper R70806 RCAF Age 23. MiA

Nav: Plt Off. Texas Roy Livermore J17974 RCAF Age 30. MiA (1)

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Harry Uretzky J14818 RCAF Age 24. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Frederick Thompson 1242384 RAFVR Age 23. MiA

Air/Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. David Slabotsky R94489 RCAF Age 20. MiA

Air/Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Ernest Henry Alderson R123174 RCAF Age 29. KiA

Above: Fg Off. James Colvin, Fg Off. Harry Uretzky, Plt Off. Texas Livermore (See credits below)

Above: Flt Sgt. David Slabotsky, Flt Sgt. Ernest H. Alderson from their service records

We would very much like other relatives to contact us with any additional information/photographs. A relative of one of the crew would also like to make contact.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Another huge operation directed against Dortmund, the fourth of the war. 826 aircraft taking part with 343 Lancasters, 199 Halifaxes, 151 Wellingtons, 120 Stirlings with 13 Mosquitoes taking part. The pathinders marked the target with great accuracy in almost perfect weather conditions - the complete operation was classed as a successful raid with bombing taking place between 01:03 and 02:10 hrs.

Large areas of the city to the north and east were devastated - 2000 buildings destroyed with major damage caused to many industrial buildings. In particular the Hoesch steelworks which had its production ceased. 599 people killed on the ground with 1,275 injured - some 25 others missing!

Some 38 aircraft from the allies did not return, many others arrived home with battle damage.

JB841 was hit by Flak from 1./schw. Flak Abt. 429 (Eisb.), 2./schw. Flak Abt 524 and 1., 3. & 4./lei Flak Abt. 839. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January - 22 June) 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten).

The aircraft crashed and exploded at 01:21 hrs in the heart of a dense wood just north of Bergkamen and burned fiercely for some time.

(1) Fg Off. Livermore also lost his younger brother.

Plt Off. Carl Herman Livermore J95258 RCAF and his crew were KiA on the 25th April 1945, whilst on an operation to Wangerooge, when his Halifax VI RG553 MP:T was involved in a midair collision with 76 Sqn Halifax VI RG553 MP:T (6 KiA, 1 PoW).

Above: Plt Off. Carl Herman Livermore from his Service Record

Burial details:

Above: The Runnymede Memorial (Aircrew Remembered)

Two of the crew who had been buried at the Dortmund Main Cemetery were positively identified. The bodies in Dortmund Main Cemetery, Plot 1, Graves 289, 290, 295, 296 and 298 where thought to be the other 5 crew members for this aircraft. However, the exhumation report could not confirm that this was the case and therefore they are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Above: Initial grave marker for Fg Off. James Mackenzie Colvin (from his Service Record)

Fg Off. James Mackenzie Colvin. Initially buried in the Dortmund Main Cemetery, Plot 1, Grave 287. Recovered and laid to rest on the 5th December 1946 at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 3.C.17. Born on the 30th September 1914 in Alberta. Son of Frederick James (deceased) and Mary Jack (née MacKenzie) Colvin of Calgary, Alberta. Husband to Mildred Joan (née Senden) Colvin of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Hooper Lake Saskatchewan has been renamed after him. For further details see the Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial website.

Sgt. John Hooper. Runnymede Memorial Panel 186. Born on the 20th January 1920 in Khedive, Saskatchewan. Son of James and Helen Irene (née Osbaldston) Hooper of Ceylon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Plt Off. Texas Roy Livermore. Runnymede Memorial Panel 176. Born on the 13th April 1913 in Dundalk, Ontario. Son of William Texas and Hannah Jane (née Mills) Livermore of Dundalk, Ontario, Canada.

Fg Off. Harry Uretzky. Runnymede Memorial Panel 175. Born on the 19th October 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. Son of Alexander and Sara (née Pinksky) Uretzky of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. Frederick Thompson. Runnymede Memorial Panel 167. Son of Edward and Ellen Thompson. Husband of Barbara Thompson of Purbrook, Hampshire, England.

Flt Sgt. David Slabotsky. Runnymede Memorial Panel 185. Born on the 10th December 1920 in Montreal, Canada. Son of Charles and Sarah (née Grefsky) Slabotsky of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Ernest Henry Alderson. Initially buried in the Dortmund Main Cemetery, Plot 1, Grave 289. Recovered and laid to rest on the 5th December 1946 at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 3.D.6. Grave inscription: ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS‘. Born on the 18th May 1914 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. Son of Thomas William (deceased) and Elizabeth (née Goldsbrough) Alderson of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England. Husband of Myrtle Jennie (née Cooney) Alderson of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Page placed for Karen Hering - relative of Fg Off. Uretzky. Crew photos via Michel Beckers: James Camble, George Wishart, Eric Rowlands and Karen Hering. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with thanks to Caroline Cook (Jul 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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