Operation: Aachen

Date: 13th/14th July 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 90 Squadron

Type: Stirling III

Serial: EE873

Code: WP:D

Base: RAF West Wickham, Cambridgeshire.

Location: Rotem, Limburg, Belgium

Pilot: Flt Lt. Cyril Ernest Coombs 144181 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Pilot 2: Plt Off. Ernest Candy 149523 RAFVR Age 32. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John Olav Bradshaw 1474536 RAFVR Age 23. KiA

Nav: Fg Off. Paul Douglas Swallow 127306 RAFVR Age 23. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. William Gordon Dawson 1501161 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Charles Alexander Long 1332091 RAFVR Age? KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Robert Clarke 1002829 RAFVR Age 25. Evader (1)

Air Gnr (Rear) Sgt. Eric Bradley Potter 1585887 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

The owner of the land 83 year old Mr. Sylvester Colson, who placed this fine memorial would like relatives to contact and visit him.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23:46hrs from RAF West Wickham, Cambridgeshire. Those who were killed were originally buried at St. Truiden but after the war ended were exhumed and taken to Heverlee War Cemetery.

EE873 was claimed by Hptm. Heinrich Wohlers, his 17th Abschuss, from Stab IV./NJG4 detached to 3./NJG1, 2 km NE of Rothem, SSW of Maeseyck at 4000m at 01:48.

The aircraft was also claimed by Flak of 2. & 3./gem. Flak Abt. 665(v) - Stirling 1km east of Rothem at 01:49 hrs. No confirmation date of Hptm. Wohlers claim is known. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

Above left: Sgt. William G. Dawson (Courtesy of Gordon Johnstone); right: Sgt. 'Charlie' Long (Courtesy of Charlie Dixon)

(1) Sgt. Clarke escaped after being found in a field by a Belgian and taken to his home where he rested and recovered for several days. False papers were arranged and he moved from "safe" house to "safe" house for a couple more weeks. Eventually he started his amazing trip back home with the assistance of many of the brave resistance fighters. His trip took him into Paris, onto Bordeaux Dax where he joined up with a Russian tank officer and two others who had escaped the Germans earlier. Eventually he made it to Gibraltar and finally to the UK on September 12th 1943. (PRO Kew record No: 3314. File:1401).

(Escape information from "The Comet Line" Belgium - we hope to be working more with the website describing this and many other escapes)

Robert (2nd from right) with Anne Brusselmans

Mr. S.J. Clark informed us in January 2017 that Bob Clarke was reunited with Anne Brusselmans (of the Elgin Resistance Group) who assisted in his evasion, on the live 'This is Your Life' programme on Monday 27th November 1957. The relatives of Bob Clarke lost contact with him and his family when they moved to Belmont, Western Australia - perhaps you know them and inform them that other relatives including his niece, Jennifer, would very much like to hear from them? (January 2017)

Flt Lt. Cyril Ernest Coombs on left with friends

Plt Off. Ernest Candy and below in happier times.

Above Charles A. Long with his family, Charlie is front, right and his brother George is in the front, left. (Courtesy: Charlie Dixon)

Above: Aircraftman (AC) Charles "Charlie" Long (Courtesy: Charlie Dixon)

AC Charles "Charlie" Long (Back row, 2nd from left) (Courtesy: Charlie Dixon)

This photograph appears to depict a section of airmen as recruits shortly after reporting for initial training. The airman in the second row, 2nd from the left is still awaiting his uniform issue and some of the recruits are missing the RAF shoulder flashes. Standing in the centre is Cpl. Scott who was undoubtably the section Drill Instructor (DI)

90 Squadron history:

Soon after the outbreak of war 90 Sqn ceased to be a first-line unit and assumed the role of a Group pool squadron or, in other words, became a training squadron. In April 1940, it was absorbed into 17 Operational Training Unit (OTU) but in May 1941, it re-formed, having been selected as the RAF squadron to receive the first Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft from America. Its role was now high-altitude day bombing and it flew its first operational mission with Fortresses on 8th July 1941, when Wilhelmshaven was attacked from 30,000 feet. It continued to operate its Fortresses over Europe - albeit with little success - until September 1941, and, later, had a detachment operating in the Middle East.

The squadron was again disbanded in February 1942, but re-formed in November 1942, as a heavy-bomber squadron equipped with Stirlings, and subsequently made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Ruhr, the devastation of Hamburg and the famous raid on Peenemunde. It also did a great deal of minelaying. In May/June 1944, No. 90 exchanged its Stirlings for Lancasters and with these continued to play a prominent part in Bomber Command's offensive until late April 1945.

Between 8th/9th January 1943 (when it began operations with Stirlings) and 22nd April 1945, members of No. 90 Squadron earned 6 DSO’s 123 DFC’s, one bar to a DFC, 1 CGM, 1 AFC and 33 DFM’s.

Burial details:

(Crew grave photographs as shown - available at higher resolution to relatives/friends)

Flt Lt. Cyril Ernest Coombs. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.8. Inscription reads: "AS WE LOVED HIM SO WE MISS HIM IN OUR MEMORY HE IS DEAR. MOTHER, FATHER AND FAMILY". Born in 4th Qtr 1920 in Petersfield, Hampshire. Son of Arthur Frederick and Florence Mary (née Cowie) Coombs of Loss, Hampshire, England.

Plt Off. Ernest Candy. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.9. Inscription reads: "TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE. BELOVED WIFE AND FAMILY". Born 2nd Qtr 1912 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Son of Edgar and Julia (née Hill) Candy of Holloway, Bath, Somerset, England.

Sgt. John Olav Bradshaw. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.14. Born on the 21 June 1919, the son of John Archibald, a schoolmaster, and Catrine (née Halvorsen) Bradshaw of Camberwell. Younger brother, Peter, arrived in 1924. In 1939 the family had moved to Seaford, Sussex but John remained in London where he was attending school as a mechanical laboratory student.

(Crew grave photographs as shown - available at higher resolution to relatives/friends)

Fg Off. Paul Douglas Swallow. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.14. Inscription reads: "DO NOT MOURN TOO MUCH FOR ME I TRIED TO DO MY BEST". Born 4th Qtr 1920 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Son of Frank and Elsie (née Hannam) Swallow of Netherton, Huddersfield, England.

Sgt. William Gordon Dawson. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.11. Inscription reads: "HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE EVER REMEMBERED". Born in 3rd Qtr 1922 in Skirlaugh, Yorkshire East Riding. Son of Robert and Edith Mary (née Gibb) Dawson of Lemington, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

Above: Original Grave marker Courtesy: Charlie Dixon)

Sgt. Charles Alexander Long. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.12.Son of Frederick and Catherine Louisa (née Fallows) Long. He was the second youngest of seven brothers and one sister, who lived in Stratford, East London.

Sgt. Eric Bradley Potter. Haverlee War Cemetery Grave 5.A.13. Born in Gloucester on 13th January 1923, the son of Percy H, an RAF contractor, and Gertrude J (née Tombs). His younger brother, Dennis, was born a year later. In 1939, all the Potter men were employed by the Air Ministry with Eric a junior clerk and Dennis an office boy. Gertrude passed away in 1942 and Percy in 1946.

With thanks to the following, Karel Baeten from Belgium, for bringing this loss to our attention and Mr. Sylvester Colson who owns the land and erected this memorial to the crew. Also to Dave Thomas nephew of Ernest Candy, David Coombs for photo of Cyril Ernest Coombs, Mr. S.J. Clarke for photo of Robert Clarke. Thanks to Charlie Dixon, the great nephew of Sgt. Charles A. Long for the images of his Great Uncle. Kate Tame of Aircrew Remembered for her tireless work trying to contact relatives. Also to Dave Champion for additional details - July 2018. Correction to night fighter claim and update to Next of Kin details by Aircrew Remembered (Jan 2022). Thanks to Gordon Johnstone for the image of Sgt. Dawson (Jun 2024).

Other sources as quoted.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 22 June 2024, 16:13