Operation: Sterkrade, Germany

Date: 16th/17th June 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 102 (Ceylon) Squadron

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ301

Code: DY:M

Base: RAF Pocklington, Yorkshire

Location: North Sea, 100 km (62 mls) west of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. David Roy Fisher DFC, DFM. 125430 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Kenneth Clough 1523112 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Nav: Fg Off. Albert George Striowski J21814 RCAF Age 24. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Gilbert Clark Buglass 54592 RAF Age 25. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Leonard Arthur Watts DFC. 158130 RAFVR Age 22. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Lt. Ralph Edward Cook 139650 RAFVR Age 26. MiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Peter James Northern Parker 2208900 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Above left: Sqn Ldr. Fisher DFC, DFM. (courtesy Phillip Manchel), right Fg Off. Striowski from his service record

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 22.49 Hrs from RAF Pocklington, Yorkshire. Part of a 321 aircraft raid on Sterkrade synthetic-oil plant in Northern Germany. 162 Halifaxes, 147 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes left to find the target area covered by a thick cloud and the markers dropped by the pathfinders very quickly disappeared. The main bomber force could do very little but bomb the demising glow of the markers through the cloud.

102 Squadron Halifax at RAF Pocklington (courtesy IWM)

RAF photographic reconnaissance and the German reports agree that the bombing was scattered, although some bombs did hit the oil plant. This had little effect on production. 21 Germans were killed on the ground and a further 6 foreign workers. 18 Houses were destroyed

The loss to the allies was huge with a total of 21 bombers shot down by the German night fighters and another 10 by flak. This amounted to 159 aircrew being killed, 53 being made PoW.

MZ301 or 102 (Ceylon) Sqn MZ292 was claimed as a probable by Lt. Josef Förster, his 2nd Abschuss, from 8./NJG2, over the sea 80-115 km west of Haarlem at 2.900 m. at 02:35 (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten).

Oblt. Josef Förster was shot down on the night of the 6th November 1944 SW of Paderborn. He was uninjured and survived the war credited with 14 Abschüsse. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 1)

Four other crews were lost from 102 Squadron:

Halifax III LW192 DY:H. Flown by 22 year old, Flt Sgt. Eric F. Braddock 177675 RAFVR from Norwood, London. (7 KiA);

Halifax III MZ292 DY:C. Flown by 23 year old, Flt Sgt. James G.W. Kelso 1795060 RAFVR from Portrush, Northern Ireland. (7 KiA);

Halifax III NZ642 DY:U. Flown by Sgt. Adam J.Mcd. Barr 177680 RAFVR. (4 KiA, 2 PoW);

Halifax III MZ652 DY:Z. Flown by Fg Off. Austin V. Maxwell J25924 RCAF. (7 KiA).

Burial Details:

Note: Robert Muzeen kindly visited the Runnymede Memorial in September, 2014 taking the photographs of each crew member panel. Relatives of the crew who would like the original photo of these labels are invited to contact us.

Runnymede Memorial - unusual photo taken from the inside (Aircrew Remembered July 2013)

Sqn Ldr. David Roy Fisher DFC, DFM. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 200. Son of Walter Henry and Elizabeth Fisher, of Tonbridge, Kent, England. One of the youngest Sqn Ldrs within Bomber Command.

The DFM was awarded to 1376531 Sgt. Fisher whilst with 77 Sqn. London Gazette 15th May 1942.

Citation: "1376531 Sergeant David Roy FISHER, No. 77 Squadron. One night in April, 1942, this airman captained an aircraft which attacked Rostock. On the outward journey, shortly after crossing the North Sea, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. Although his aircraft was severely damaged, Sergeant Fisher succeeded in evading the attacker and, displaying great courage and resolution, flew the remaining 140 miles to his target which he both bombed and photographed. He finally flew the damaged aircraft 'back to base and made a safe landing. Throughout, this airman showed great determination and skilful airmanship".

The DFC was awarded to Acting Flt Lt. Fisher whilst with 77 Sqn. London Gazette 11th June 1943.

Sgt. Kenneth Clough. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 227. Son of Arthur George and Nora Clough, of Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

Fg Off. Albert George Striowski. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 248. Born on the 14th August 1919 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Son of Julius and Matilda Striowski, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Husband to Ethel Ada (née Muzeen) Striowski of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (His father was a former citizen of Danzig in Germany)

Plt Off. Gilbert Clark Buglass. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 210. Born in Tynemouth, Northumberland. Son of Gilbert C. and Annie Buglass. Husband (married in April 1939) of Irene M. (née Cox) Buglass, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England.

Fg Off. Leonard Arthur Watts DFC. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 209. Son of Clement E. Watts and Elizabeth Louisa Watts of Woodford Wells, Essex, England.

The DFC was awarded posthumously to Fg Off. Watts whilst with 102 Sqn. London Gazette 25th January 1946.

Flt Lt. Ralph Edward Cook. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 201. Born on the 14th September in Leeds. Son of Albert and Emily (née Leonard) Cook of Leeds. Husband of Frances M Cook (née Hanson), they married in Leeds in July 1940.

Sgt. Peter James Northern Parker. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 235. Son of Alfred James Parker and Muriel Dorothy Parker, of Crewe, Cheshire, England.

Research by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the crew and their families. Thanks to,Jean Hamilton, Robert Muzeen, relatives of Fg Off. Albert George Striowski. Thanks to Paul Markham for the update to Next of Kin details (Feb 2024). Other updates and correction to German night fighter claim by Aircrew Remembered (Feb 2024).

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 - 2024 Last Modified: 17 February 2024, 09:18