Operation: Köln (Cologne), Germany

Date: 2nd March 1945 (Friday)

Unit No: 625 Sqn, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB158

Code: CF:G2

Base: RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire

Location: Stotzheim 8 km (5 mls) SW of Köln (Cologne), Germany

Pilot: Fg Off. Thomas Neville Downes 434453 RAAF Age 20. KiA

Flt Eng: Plt Off. Robert Blackley 189176 RAFVR Age 30. PoW * (1)

Nav: Fg Off. Lawrie Edmund Murray 428162 RAAF Age 26. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Arthur John Bloy 5258 RAAF Age 20. PoW * (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Kenneth Thomas Brown 428620 RAAF Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Albert John Sayers 962804 RAFVR Age 24. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Walter William Foy 29904 RAAF Age 24. KiA

* Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria

Above: Fg Off. Thomas N. Downes, Fg Off. Arthur J. Bloy (From their Service Records)

Above Flt Sgt. Kenneth T. Brown, Flt Sgt. Walter William Foy (From their Service Records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 2nd March 1945 the Sqn detailed twenty-one (21) aircraft to join a force of eight-hundred and fifty-eight (858) bombers on the first phase of an operation to bomb Köln (Cologne) in support of the ground forces. The two phases of this operation were the last RAF raids on Köln (Cologne), which was captured by American forces four (4) days later.

Of the six (6) Lancasters lost only PB158 from the Sqn failed to return.

Fg Off. Bloy upon his return to the United Kingdom stated that the aircraft was hit by Flak over the target knocking out the two (2) port engines out of commission. The pilot ordered the crew to stand-by to bale out. Fg Off. Bloy stated that the rear gunner remained in his turret for a while to ascertain whether approaching fighters were friendly or otherwise. No member of the crew was injured.

The aircraft was under control but falling rapidly and fire broke out in the port wing. Immediately the fire was seen the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. The other five (5) members of the crew were still in the aircraft when Fg Off. Bloy followed by Plt Off. Blackley baled out at 4000 ft.

The wing was seen to eventually blow off causing the aircraft to “spin-in” crashing near Stotzheim 8 km (5 mls) SW of Köln (Cologne).

(1) From the limited information provided in Plt Off. Blackley’s ‘General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-PoWs’ it appears that his time as a PoW mirrored that of Fg Off. Bloy (see (2) below).

Robert Blackley was born on the 18th November 1914 in Scotland. He married Gladys Eileen Turner in 3rd Qtr of 1941 in St. Pancras, London.

Prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 20th September 1943 he was serving as a Police Constable. On the 29th September 1939 (National Registration Act.1939) register he was living at the Police Section House at 37 Hunter Street, St. Pancras, London.

1898720 Sgt. Blackley was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off. on the 12th December 1944. (London Gazette 27th February 1945). Promoted to Fg Off. on the 12th June 1945 (London Gazette 6th July 1945).

Robert passed away on the 12th April 2003 in Barnet, Hertfordshire in Middlesex aged 89.

(2) Fg Off. Bloy was captured at Stotzheim that day and transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 4th March. Here he endured the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel. On the 10th March he was transferred to the transit camp Dulag Luft, Wetzlar.

On the 12th March he was transferred to Stalag 13D, Nuremberg, (Nürnberg Langwasser) in Germany arriving there the next day.

In late 1944/early 1945 the camp population grew enormously with the arrival of PoWs evacuated from camps in the east in front of the advance of the Red Army. These included many Americans and British airmen from Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia. On the 5th April 1945 he was amongst the large number of PoWs who were forced-marched to Stalag 7A, Moosburg in Bavaria arriving there 16 days later on the 22nd April.

The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. He remained at the camp until the 7th May when he was evacuated. He was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.

Arthur John Bloy was born on the 5th January 1921 in Melbourne, Victoria. He was a clerk prior to enlisting in the RAAF on the 20th November 1939.

He was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off. on the 7th April 1944 and to Fg Off. on the 7th October 1944. He and his crew were posted from 30 Operational Training Unit (OTU) to 625 Sqn on the 31st December 1944.

He was repatriated to Australia arriving there on the 9th September 1945. Fg Off. Bloy was discharged from the RAAF on the 20th December 1945 upon demobilisation.

In 1947 he married Margaret Belle Clark in Victoria. Arthur passed away on the 3rd June 1988 in Victoria, aged just 67.

Burial details:

The five crew members who perished in the crash were recovered by American forces and initially buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium. They were finally laid to rest at the Hotton War Cemetery on the 11th June 1947.

Above: The Hotton War Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Fg Off. Thomas Neville Downes. Hotton War Cemetery Coll. Grave V.A. 8-10. Grave inscription: ‘WE HAVE LOVED HIM IN LIFE LET US NOT FORGET HIM IN DEATH’. Born on the 1st April 1924 in Sandgate, Queensland. Son of Alfred and Agnes Bridget Downes of Sandgate, Queensland, Australia.

Fg Off. Lawrie Edmund Murray. Hotton War Cemetery Coll. Grave V.A. 8-10. Grave inscription: ‘HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED’. Born on the 17th April 1918 in Evandale, Tasmania. Son of Alfred John and Hilda May Murray. Husband of Eunice Winniefred Murray of Huonville, Tasmania, Australia.

Above Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Kenneth T. Brown (Courtesy of Des Philippet-FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. Kenneth Thomas Brown. Hotton War Cemetery Grave V.A. 11. Grave inscription: ‘HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED’. Born on the 28th July 1923 in Thornbury, Victoria. Son of Alexander Frazer and Florence Myra Brown of Preston, Victoria, Australia.

Above: Grave marker for Sgt. Albert J. Sayers (Courtesy of and in memory of the ‘Fallen Graver’ Max-FindAGrave)

Sgt. Albert John Sayers. Hotton War Cemetery Grave V.A. 12. Grave Inscription: ‘IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALBERT. REST, REST IN PEACE THY VICTORY'S WON. MOM AND DAD’. Born in 2nd Qtr of 1920 in Aston, Warwickshire. Son of William Charles and Maud Rose (née Sanderson) Sayers of Aston, Birmingham, England.

Above Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Walter W. Foy (Courtesy of Des Philippet-FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. Walter William Foy. Hotton War Cemetery Coll. Grave V.A. 8-10. Grave Inscription: ‘ALWAYS HE FACED THE UNKNOWN WITH A GOOD COURAGE’. Born on the 5th June 1919 in Perth, Western Australia. Son of William and Ellen Jane Foy of Victoria Park, Western Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (May 2025).

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