Operation: Stuttgart, Germany

Date: 11th/12th March 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax II

Serial: BB250

Code: LQ:E

Base: RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire

Location: Mondrepuis, France

Pilot: Plt Off. Borden Carrick Dennison DFC, J16008 RCAF Age 31. Evader (1)

Pilot 2: Sqn Ldr. Lloyd Emerson Logan DFC, C1359 RCAF Age 23. Evader 2)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Emanual George Lacina R107026 RCAF Age 24. KiA

Nav: Flt Sgt. Elmer Leigh Bulman R72937 RCAF Age 25. Evader (3)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Gordon Lewis Spencer R91858 RCAF Age? Evader (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Harold Jack Jennings MiD, R85952 RCAF Age 26. Evader (5)

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Robert Gray Macdonald R124691 RCAF Age 26. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Ronald Frank Kennett R102033 RCAF Age 20. PoW No: 904 * (6)

* Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilutė in Lithuania).

Above Sgt. Robert G. Macdonald from his service record

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:00 hrs from RAF Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, a mixed force of some 314 Lancasters, Halifaxes and Stirlings were sent to bomb Stuttgart between 22:45 hrs and 23:51 hrs. One of a total of 53 raids that after the war left the centre of Stuttgart almost completely destroyed with 4,477 people dead.

This raid was not a success as far as damage was concerned with only a small packing store at the Bosch factory destroyed. Most of the bombing fell in open country but some fell on two small towns killing 112 people and injuring 386. Mostly houses were hit with 186 destroyed. The reason for the poor bombing is felt that although the Pathfinders did drop accurate markers the main force arrived late and were also subject to German decoy markers in use for the first time.

BB250 was claimed by Oblt. Heinz-Wilhelm Kornacker from Stab III./NJG4, his 2nd Abschuss over Mondrepuis near Hirson at 4.500 m. at 00:45 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January - 22 June) 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten).

Oblt. Heinz-Wilhelm Kornacker survived the war with two (2) confirmed Abschüsse. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten). He passed away on the 16th May 1984.

The aircraft crashed near Mondrepuis, Aisne and six (6) of the crew successfully baled out.

Three (3) other aircraft from the Squadron failed to return:

Halifax II W7803 LQ:B - Flown by Flt Lt. Harold Gordon Shockley J7979 RCAF who was KiA along with his seven (7) crew;

Halifax II BB212 LQ:U - Flown by Flt Sgt. George Theodore Chretien DFM, R83457 RCAF who along with five (5) of his crew became PoWs. Sgt. Robert Moore 1040804 RAFVR, the Rear Gunner was KiA;

Halifax II DT745 LQ:V - Flown by Plt Off. Harold David Rea J16582 RCAF who along with five (5) of his crew became PoWs and two (2) were successful evaders.

This operation cost 13 aircraft lost with the deaths of 42 aircrew, 25 being made PoW and 13 aircrew evading capture. 3 civilian maids were also killed when an abandoned severely damaged Halifax DT492 MP:H from 76 Sqn crashed onto the residence of Colonel Loder at Slaugham, Horsham West Sussex.

(1) Plt Off. Dennison DFC evade through Spain and Gibraltar. He left Gibraltar aboard the “SS Monarch of Bermuda”on the 17th July 1943 arriving in Liverpool on 24th July 1943. (Ref 1).

He was recommended to be Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) but was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (London Gazette 2nd November 1943).

Borden Carrick Dennison was born on the 27th September 1911 in the Rural Municipality of Blanshard, Manitoba, Canada. Borden passed away on the 15th October 1993 in Medicine Hat, Cypress, Alberta.

(2) Sqn Ldr. Logan evaded through Spain and Gibraltar and was flown from Gibraltar on the 19th April 1943 arriving at RAF Hendon the next day.

Above courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen, dated 19th April 1943

Above courtesy of The Montreal Star, dated 21st April 1943

Acting Sqn Ldr. Logan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 405 Sqn. (London Gazette 6th July 1943). He was also awarded then Croix de Guerre with Silver Star.

Later Sqn Ldr. Logan DFC was the pilot of 405 (Vancouver) Sqn Lancaster III LM345 which was lost on the night of the 27th/28th September 1943 on an operation to Braunschweig. He and five (5) of his crew became PoWs and Flt Sgt. George Lawrence Watts 1527439 RAFVR successfully evaded.

He evaded capture until he was betrayed in Amsterdam on the 1st December 1943. He was held in an Amsterdam jail and interrogated by the Gestapo until the 8th December and then transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel, PoW No. 1758, arriving there the next day.

On the 13th December he was transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang in Germany arriving there on the 21st December. In March 1945 he attempted to escape by being hidden under old tin cans in an outgoing wagon but was discovered outside of the compound.

On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer (SAO), Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived.

The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States. Sqn Ldr. Logan DFC was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.

Lloyd Emerson Logan was born on the 5th June 1939 in Ontario, Canada. He was in the Civil Service prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 2nd November 1939. Lloyd passed away on the 9th January 1981 in Pasco, Florida, USA.

Above courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen, dated 21st January 1981

(3) Flt Sgt. Bulman evaded through Spain and Gibraltar. He left Gibraltar aboard the “SS Monarch of Bermuda” on the 17th July 1943 arriving in Liverpool on 24th July 1943. (Ref 1).

Appointed to a commission and promoted to J18603 Plt Off. He was recommended for the Military Medal (MM) but was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 8th June 1944.

Elmer Leigh Bulman was born on the 24th August 1917 in Queens, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Elmer passed away on the 24th February 2010 in Moncton, Westmoreland, New Brunswick, Canada.

(4) Flt Sgt. Spencer evaded through Spain and Gibraltar. He left Gibraltar by air on the 9th August 1943 arriving at RAF Tangmere the next day. (Ref 1).

Appointed to a commission and promoted to J16834 Plt Off. He was recommended for the Military Medal (MM) but was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 8th June 1944.

Gorden Lewis Spencer was born on the 1st August 1922. Gordon passed away on the 11th December 1952.

(5) Flt Sgt. Jennings evaded through Spain and Gibraltar. He left Gibraltar by air on the 19th April 1943 arriving at RAF Hendon the next day. (Ref 1).

Flt Sgt. Jennings was appointed to a commission and promoted to J16817 Plt Off. whilst evading. He was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 1st June 1944.

Plt Off. Jennings J16817 was awarded the DFC whilst with 405 Sqn (London Gazette 6th July 1943). He retired from the RCAF as a Sqn Ldr.

Above courtesy of The Toronto Star, 19th April 1943

Harold Jack Jennings was born on the 28th July 1914 in Oshawa, Toronto. Harold passed away on the 6th October 1996.

(6) Flt Sgt. Kennett suffered a sprained ankle in baling out of the aircraft and was captured near Vervin that day. He was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 15th March. After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia in Germany on the 2nd April arriving there on the 4th April.

On the 10th June 1943 he was transferred to Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug in Memelland arriving there on the 12th June, when it became a Stalag Luft for enlisted men, with British and Canadian NCOs (non-commissioned officers) arriving from Stalag Luft 1 and Stalag Luft 3.

In early 1944 the Russian Army were advancing into the Baltic States from the North and the East preparation for evacuating the camp was being made. He was amongst the PoWs from the camp, which was the closest to the Russian advance, on the "northern route" of the force-marches, and were transported to Stalag 20A by train in July 1944, and from there took part in the forced-march to Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland

On the 1st September 1944 the PoWs were force-marched from Thorn (Toruń) to the site of the former Stalag 11D, with construction being carried out by the Italian PoW from Stalag 11B. The camp was commonly known as Stalag 357, Fallingbostal but officially the designation was Stalag 357, Oerbke.

In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst Hermann Ostmann that 12,000 British PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. The men marched from the camp in columns of 2,000.

The now Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Kennett was amongst the PoWs that remained at the camp which was liberated on the 16th April 1945 by British troops from B Squadron 11th Hussars and the Reconnaissance Troop of the 8th Hussars. They were met at the main gate of Stalag 357 by a guard of Airborne troops, impeccably attired and led by RSM Lord. WO2. Kennett was interviewed on the 27th April 1945.

Ronald Frank Kennett was born on the 5th June 1922 at Rush lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a student in Saskatchewan prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 24th April 1941.

Burial details:

Sgt. Emanual George Lacina. London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval. Plot 13. Row E. Grave 31. Born on the 19th December 1919 Valley Centre, Saskatchewan. Son of Peter William and of Martina (née Gossman) Lacina of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Sgt. Robert Gray Macdonald. London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval. Plot 13. Row E. Grave 30. Born on the 19th February 1917 in Vancouver, Nova Scotia. Son of Douglas Duncan and Pearle Olive (née Scribner) Macdonald of Middleton, Nova Scotia. Husband to Sarah Smith (née MacKinnon) Macdonald of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

His brother Sgt. E. Macdonald F854 served Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) at No. 7 General Hospital, Birmingham in England

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Brent Dennison (son of the pilot) for information sent to us January 2017. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Aug 2025).

Other sources listed below:

Reference:

1. RAF Evaders – Oliver Clutton-Brock ISBN: 978-1-906502-17-1

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