Operation: Scholven-Buer, Germany

Date: 21st/22nd June 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 467 (RAAF) Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ED532

Code: PO:H

Base: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire

Location: Sundern, Germany

Pilot: Plt Off. Edgar Vincent Dearnaley DFC, 414341 RAAF Age 22. KiA (1)

Pilot 2: Plt Off. Jack Mitchell 60895 RAAF Age 22. KiA

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. Samuel Henry Dennis Breedon 948979 RAFVR Age 23. KiA

Nav: Plt Off. Gladstone Arthur A'Court 418496 RAAF Age 23. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Joseph Edward Emmett 1041920 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Rowland McPherson Hill 409919 RAAF Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Roy Trevethan 1852878 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Ronald John Carlill 429176 RAAF Age 23. KiA

Above Plt Off. Jack Mitchell (from his Service Record), Flt Sgt. Samuel H. D. Breedon (Courtesy of Victoria Sendall)

Above: Plt Off. Gladstone A. A'Court, Flt Sgt. Rowland M. Hill, Flt Sgt. Ronald J. Carlill (From their Service Records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster ED532 took off at 23:02 hours from RAF Waddington to bomb the synthetic oil plant at Scholven-Buer in Germany

It was thought that the Lancaster had been shot down by Flak and crashed at Sundern. A total of 12,669 shells were reported to have been fired resulting in eight (8) aircraft being shot down during this raid. German records stated that at 01:42 hours on the night of 21/21st June 1944 a Lancaster aircraft was shot down by IV Flak Division, 3 km SW of Haltern. It caught fire when it crashed and 7 crew members killed. Some publications state that ED532 was shot down by night-fighters.

The latest information regarding the loss of ED532 records that the aircraft was claimed by Hptm. Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow, his 24th Abschuss, from 1./NJG1, NNW of Duisburg at 5.200 m. at 01:39 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten).

Note: Also claimed by Flak of 4./schw. Flak Abt. 525 (Eisb), 3. & 4./schw. Flak Abt. 445 (o), 2. & 4./schw. Flak Abt. 471 (o), 1. & 4./gem. Flak Abt. 382, Grossbatterie Korthausen, 1./schw. Flak Abt. 643 and 1./schw. Flak Abt 231 (Lancaster Sudern 01:40 hrs). The victory for Hptm. Modrow was confirmed on the 6th September 1944. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten).

(1) Plt Off. Dearnaley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 467 Sqn. (London Gazette 23rd June 1944).

Citation: “This officer has displayed great skill and resolution during his tour of operations when he has attacked a large number of well defended targets. On a recent occasion in an operation against Brunswick one engine of his aircraft became useless. In spite of this he flew in to the target which he bombed with his usual determination. His keenness and devotion to duty have been most commendable”.

Burial Details:

The crew were initially buried in the Sythen cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 15th April 1947.

Above: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Plt Off. Edgar Vincent Dearnaley DFC. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.6. Grave Inscription: “"PUTT" HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED”. Born on 29th October 1921 in Brisbane, Queensland. Son of Edgar Samuel and Katie Rosina Dearnaley of Ascot, Queensland, Australia.

Plt Off. Jack Mitchell. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.4. Grave Inscription: “HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED”. Born 2nd June 1922 at Newcastle, New South Wales. Son of Joseph Henry and Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell, of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Samuel Henry Dennis Breedon. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.5. Grave Inscription: “FOR US HE DID HIS BEST. GOD GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST”. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1919 in Basford, Nottinghamshire. Son of Henry Breedon and Elsie (née Buckley) Breedon of Pickburn, Yorkshire, England.

Plt Off. Gladstone Arthur A'Court. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.2. Grave Inscription: “DUTY CALLED, HE ANSWERED”. Born on the 16th July 1920 in Melbourne, Victoria. Son of Arthur John and May Elizabeth A'Court of East Kew, Victoria, Australia.

Sgt. Joseph Edward Emmett. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.3. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER”. Born in the 1st Qtr of 1922 in Billesden, Lincolnshire. Son of James Henry and Mary Elisabeth (née Nolder) Emmett of Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, England.

Flt Sgt. Rowland McPherson Hill. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.8. Grave Inscription: “HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED”. Born 7th November 1922 at Carlton, Victoria. Son of Henry Rowland and Hannah Victoria Hill, of St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.

Sgt. Roy Trevethan. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.7. Grave Inscription: “MORNING THOUGHTS, EVENING MEMORIES, EVERLASTING LOVE”. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1924 in St. Issey, Cornwall. Son of Leslie Charles and Winifred Mabel (née Vivian) Trevethen of St. Issey, Cornwall, England

Flt Sgt. Ronald John Carlill. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Grave 12.E.1. Grave Inscription: “TILL THE DAY DAWNS”. Born on 5th December 1920 at Marrickville, New South Wales. Son of Archibald Oswald and Ruby Millicent Carlill of Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia.

Initial research by Bob Wilton for Aircrew Remembered. Thanks to Victoria Sendall for the photograph of her great-great uncle, Flt Sgt. Breedon with other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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 - 2026 Last Modified: 28 October 2025, 12:40