Operation: Langerbrugge Power Station

Date: 12th July 1943 (Monday)

Unit: No. 88 Squadron. 2 Group Tactical Air Force (motto: En garde 'Be on your guard')

Type: Boston IIIA

Serial: BZ267

Code: RH-?

Base: RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk

Location: Near Wachtebeke, Belgium

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Ralph L. Davies 1653069 RAFVR PoW No: 222588 Camp: 4B-Stalag Muhlberg (Elbe)

Obs: Fl/Sgt. Keith William Morrison NZ/404396 RNZAF Age 21. Injured (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Raymond Wilkinson 1380063 RAFVR PoW No: 222564 Camp: 4B-Stalag Muhlberg (Elbe)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John F. Primmett 1600858 RAFVR PoW No: 222630 Camp: L3-Stalag Luft Sagan

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 10:18 hrs taking advantage of cloud cover to bomb the power station ay Langerbrugge. 7 others joined them but 6 returned as they considered it not safe to contuse with the operation.

Another bombed a factory near Tornai and although he was also hit and badly damaged managed to return.

They were detected by 5./810 (AA Battery) at 11.24 hours and, together with 7./202 (coastal battery) opened up and fired 30 x 3,7 cm and 60 x 2 cm rounds scoring several hits. Still they continued to the target but so badly damaged the pilot was forced to crash land the Boston.

All 4 crew were taken PoW bur the navigator suffered serious injuries and taken to a hospital.

(1) On Wednesday 21st July Fl/Sgt. Morrison succumbed to his severe head injuries at St-Agatha-Berchem hospital despite treatment. His older brother 31 year old, Fl/Sgt. William Hugh Morrison AUS/423162 was killed just two months later on the 24th September. In similar circumstances the only crew member to be killed when Stirling III EE947 EX-D crashed a mile from the base on return to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. He was flying as the air bomber.

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Keith William Morrison. Brussels Town Centre Cemetery. Grave X.17.18. Born on the 15th September 1921 at Hamilton, the son of Hugh Carlton Morrison and of Margaret McInnes Morrison (née Black), of Hamilton, Auckland, New Zealand. Worked as a clerical cadet for the Government Tourist Bureau prior to service. A total of 487 flying hours logged and on his 20th operational sortie.

Fl/Sgt. William Hugh Morrison. Beck Row Churchyard (St. John). Row E. Grave 1. Born on the 16th May 1912 at Hamilton, the husband of Beryl Rose Morrison, of Hamilton, Auckland, New Zealand. Grave inscription: "Pracis Prudentia Praestat".

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, 12 O'Clock High Forum, other sources as quoted below:

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