Operation: Vohwinkel
Date: 01/02nd January 1945 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit: No. 218 Squadron (Gold Coast)
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: PB768
Code: XH-B
Base: RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
Location: Emines, Belgium
Pilot: F/O. Robert Garfield Grivell AUS/417578 RAAF Age 20. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Leslie Peckett 1615706 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Hugh Clements R/186020 RCAF Age 35. Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. G.E. Ingram J/37809 RCAF Survived - baled out with shrapnel wounds.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth Bennett 2214378 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Percival Buttrum-Gardiner 1851287 RAFVR Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Royston Elvin Keel 1809996 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
A relative would like to make contact with others from this crew and any additional details / photographs would be welcome.
REASON FOR LOSS:
The target for this operation - the railway yards at Vohwinkel in Germany. 17 aircraft from the squadron taking part, PB768 taking off at 16.06 hrs.The attack was classed as successful with the target severely damaged. This followed an unsuccessful operation on the 31st December when much of the bombing fell outside of the target area due to strong winds.
Above and below 218 Squadron Lancaster (courtesy IWM)
Notes: PB768 had been fitted with Merlin 22 engines, built at A.V Roe, Woodford in April 1943. Delivered to 218 Squadron in November 1944.
During the month of January, German forces begins to run out of fuel for its military machine. On the 1st January, the Luftwaffe launches massive attacks on allied bases in France, Belgium and the Netherlands - losing nearly 50% of its 800 aircraft. This was probably the reason that the American flak units were quick to fire before positive recognition was obtained.
Initially buried at the Fosse American Cemetery they were re-interned after war end at the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery.
Sgt. Leslie Peckett. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. Joint grave VIII.D.19-20. Son of Dorothy Peckett, and stepson of Leslie Chamberlain, of Winfarthing, Norfolk, England.
Sgt. Kenneth Bennett. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. Grave VIII.D.15. Son of Ernest and Edith Emma Bennett, brother to James, Thomas and Yeo, also had four sister, Mrs. J. Abercrombie, Mrs. A. Gardiner, Mrs. Jack Taylor and Mrs Harold W. Dryden. Husband of Mavis Helen Bennett, of Stanningley, Yorkshire, England. Grave inscription reads: ’Till we meet my darling, Mizpah, Mavis and Sandra.’ Also commemorated on the Pudsey War Memorial.
Sgt. Edward Percival Buttrum-Gardiner. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. Grave VIII.D.18. Son of George Edward and Dorothy Ethel Buttrum-Gardiner, of Oxford, England. Grave inscription reads: ‘He gave his greatest gift, his own unfinished life.’
Sgt. Royston Elvin Keel. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery. Grave VIII.D.17. Son of Bertie Owen Keel and Ellen Keel, of Felbridge, Surrey, England.
For further details our thanks to the following, Jason Ainge (nephew of Sgt. Kenneth Bennett) Des Philippet for grave photos, Australian archives, Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vol's. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', ‘Bomber Command Database’, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries (Updated 2014 version), 'Paradie Archive'. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Further information from these titles/organisations are available from us, just use the 'help' button on the main page above or 'add info' button also shown on this page.
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Binyon
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