Operation: Gardening

Date: 8th/9th December 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: 149 Squadron

Type: Stirling I

Serial: BF391

Code: OJ:T

Base: RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk

Location: Dobersdorf, Germany

Pilot: Fg.Off. Michael Harvey Good 120928 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Flt.Eng: Sgt. Haydyn Taliesin Williams 562624 RAF Age 30. Killed

Nav: Sgt. William Thomas Taylor 1262024 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Air Bmr: Sgt. Charles Richard Long 1028719 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Leonard Percy James French 1381454 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Patrick Hatton Murray 968359 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. John Alfred Clough 926499 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 16:31 hrs for a mining operation in the Fehmarn Channel region (Baltic). See Gardening map for codenames.

BF391 was claimed by 1. 3. and 5./lei. Flak Abt. 770 (o) and Flak Abt.241, 261 an 281, crashed at Schlesen am Dobersdorfer See at 19:25 hrs (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (30 May - 31 December 1942) The Early Years Part 3 - Theo Boiten)

The following powerful image was sent in to Aircrew Remembered 1st April 2018 by Mr. Mike Walker:

Plt.Off. John Philip BEM (1) 133028 RAFVR Stirling I W7639 OJ:Q killed on return from operation with all 7 crew.

Fg.Off. Laurence Theodore Izzard J7462 RCAF Stirling I R9253 OJ:C Missing with 7 crew, 1 body recovered.

(1) Plt.Off. John Philp had been awarded his BEM earlier in September, when the Stirling (BF334 OJ:R) he was piloting suffered engine failure and they were forced to ditch. Both he and another crew member towed severely injured 19 year old, Sgt. Frederick Henry King 1330708 RAFVR, as they swam ashore. Sgt. King, from Upton Park, Essex, England, had unfortunately died during their 4 hour swim when they were finally picked up by a small fishing boat.

Burial details:

Fg.Off. Michael Harvey Good. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.14. Son of Maj. Thomas Spellman Good and Freda Mary Good, of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Epitaph reads: "In Memory Of Michael Harvey, Son Of Major and Mrs. T.S. Good, Brother Of Pat. WAAF".

Sgt. Haydyn Taliesin Williams. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.12. Son of Charles and Johanna Williams, of Alton, Hampshire, England and husband of Laura Williams. Epitaph reads: "For Liberty, Fraternity, Equality."

Sgt. William Thomas Taylor. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.16. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Taylor; husband of Kathleen Taylor, of Didsbury, Manchester, England. Epitaph reads: In Loving Memory Of One Who Was Held Dear By All."

Sgt. Charles Richard Long. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.13. Son of Charles Richard and Violet Long, of Thornley, Co. Durham, England. Epitaph reads: "God's Greatest Gift, Remembrance."

Sgt. Leonard Percy James French. Kiel War Cemetery. Joint grave 1.C.17. Son of Frederick William Wybrow French and Edith French, of Hornchurch, Essex, England.

Flt.Sgt. Patrick Hatton Murray. Kiel War Cemetery. Joint grave 1.C.17. Son of Robert Kyle Murray and Ethel Emilie Murray, of Hartley, Plymouth, England. Epitaph reads: "Until We Meet, Mums."

Sgt. John Alfred Clough. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 1.C.15. Son of Fred and Minnie Emma Clough, of Sandwich, Kent, England and husband of Margaret Elizabeth Clough. Epitaph reads: "The Path Of Duty Was The Way To Glory" Mam, Dad, Margaret, John, Colin And Family".

Sgt. Frederick King. Margate Cemetery. Sec. 50. Grave 16201. Son of Frederick Lewin King and Lilian Kate King, of Upton Park, Essex, England. Grave epitaph reads: “At The Going Down Of The Sun, And In The Morning We Will Remember Him. Mum And Dad.”

Researched for Mrs. Heather Triggs, relative of Charles Long and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as quoted and Bob Boston and Brad Evans from Find A Grave for grave photographs.

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