Operation: Berlin

Date: 02/03rd September 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 35 Squadron

Type: Halifax I

Serial: L9560

Code: TL-F

Base: RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Location: Kreuzbruch, 40 km. North of Berlin, Germany.

Pilot: P/O. Douglas Fraser 88869 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Pilot 2: Sgt. R.L.B. Beare 1375044 RAFVR PoW No: 9569 Camps: 8B/L6/L4

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Norman Willingham 922470 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Obs: P/O. John Peter Boston Cushion 88456 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Denis Slater 755528 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Arthur Henry Stroud 909968 RAFVR Age 22. KIlled

Air/Gnr: Sgt. E. Wilkinson 1018131 RAFVR PoW No: 9597 Camps: 8B/L3/L6/357

We would like to appeal for any relatives of the crew who we understand, may have further information / photographss of the crew.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 2nd September 1941, Halifax I L9560 TL-F took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 20:50 hrs for an operation to bomb Berlin. It transmitted a signal indicating that the aircraft was on track and about to cross the enemy coast.

The cause of loss and crash site is thought to have been the victim of Uffz. Karl Kupfer of 3./NGJ3, shot down between 01:15 hrs - 01:28 hrs over Kreuzbruch 40 km. north of Berlin. It was one of two Halifaxes of 35 squadron to be lost on this op. The five crew who lost their lives rest in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.

The other Halifax I from 35 squadron was flown by F/O. Ross James DFC. killed with another member of his crew, remaining 5 taken as PoW.

(1) Uffz. Karl Kupfer 3./NGJ3 - survived the war with a total of 3 night claims.

P/O. Douglas Fraser. Berlin War Cemetery. Joint grave 4.B.2-3. Son of Wing Commander Archie Stewart Fraser RAF and Dorothy Fraser of Hythe, Kent, England. Epitaph reads: “Je Suis Pret. St. Mark IX.23.” (I am ready)

Sgt. Norman Willingham. Berlin War Cemetery. Grave 4.B.5. Husband of Iris May Willingham of Ipsden, Oxfordshire, England. No epitaph.

P/O. John Peter Boston Cushion. Berlin War Cemetery. Joint grave 4.B.2-3. Son of Air Vice-Marshall Sir William Boston Cushion, KBE, CB and Lady Cushion (née Kenyon-Spooner) of Andover, Hampshire, England. No epitaph.

Sgt. Denis Slater. Berlin War Cemetery. Grave 4.B.1. Son of John and Muriel Slater of Allenton, Derbyshire, England. Epitaph reads “In Proud And Loving Memory Of Denis. Our Dearly Loved Only Son.”

Sgt. Arthur Henry Stroud. Berlin War Cemetery. Grave 4.B.4. Son of Benjamin and Alice Maud Stroud of Chadwell Heath, Essex, England. His family and friends knew him as “Gus”. Epitaph reads “Years Have Passed But Every Day In Silence We Remember Him. All At Home.”

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. With thanks to the following: Pat Baker - photo of Sgt Stroud ( from a collection of photographs of his Aunt Edna Baker WAAF who sever at Linton-on-Ouse. Many thanks also to Martin Harper and the family of Sgt. Stroud for additional family information, also, a great may thanks to April Fury - relative of Sgt. Arthur Henry Stroud - who continue to support this page to the crew - March 2017. The family visited the graves of the crew.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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