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Operation: Berlin, Germany
Date: 22nd/23rd November 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit No: 10 Squadron
Type: Halifax II
Serial: JD367
Code: ZA:Z
Base: RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire
Location: Seete near Osnabrück, Germany
Pilot: Fg Off. Thomas Hall 51335 RAF Age 31. KiA
Flt Eng: Sgt. William Robert Zastrow 1603263 RAFVR Age 19. KiA
Nav: Sgt. George Leslie Skelton 1545950 RAFVR Age 22. KiA
Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Samuel Phillip Rogers 818036 RAuxAF Age 32. KiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Cyril James Ashton 1399659 RAFVR Age 21. KiA
Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Howard Leroy Anderson R193090 RCAF Age 20. KiA
Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. John Roy Colebrooke 1874034 RAFVR Age 26. KiA
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 16:54 hrs from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire on the largest single force of heavies to Berlin of the war to date 764 aircraft taking part. No diversions were set in place which was unusual. The route planned was from base - to Texel, Holland and then onto the target - return route would be the same. Bomber command were attempting to use the weather with 10/10 cloud with severe icing which kept the night fighters grounded. Very few air to air combats taking place.
The prolonged bombing which lasted over two hours saw some night fighter action over the target.
JD367 was claimed by 1., 3., 6., 7. and 8./schw. Flak Abt. 273 (o). The aircraft crashed at Seete near Osnabrück at 21:47 hrs (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten)
26 bombers were lost with 80 returning home with various degrees of flak damage. Some 6 Luftwaffe night fighters were also lost during the night.
Note: JD367 was built by English Electric Co. (Salmesbury and Preston) in July 1943.
2 aircraft from 10 Squadron failed to return this night the second being:
Halifax II JD146 ZA:V flown by 30 year old Flt Lt. Donald Samuel Pont 60087 RAFVR from Bristol, England, missing with all his 6 other crew after being hit by Flak.
Burial details:
Fg Off. Thomas Hall. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 26.A.11. Inscription: "IN THE COMING YEARS WE'LL READ THE MEANING OF OUR TEARS AND WE SHALL UNDERSTAND". Son of Robert H. and Louisa M. Hall, husband of Mena A. E. Hall, of Somerton, Oxfordshire, England.
Sgt. William Robert Zastrow. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. Son of William and Annie Zastrow, of Luton, Bedfordshire, England.
Sgt. George Leslie Skelton. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. No further details, are you able to contribute?
Flt Sgt. Samuel Phillip Rogers. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. Born on the 24th April 1911 in Caerphilly, Glamorgan. Son of William and Mary Kate (née Hughes) Rogers of Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales.
Sgt. Cyril James Ashton. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. Born during 2nd Qtr of 1922 in East Stonehouse, Devon. Son of Edward & Lavinia (née Phillips) Ashton of East Stonehouse, Devon, England.
Sgt. Howard Leroy Anderson. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. Born on the 25th April 1924 in Regina. Son of Russel Leroy and Esther Williamena (née Jaeke) Anderson.
He was the youngest of three children. He grew up in Saskatchewan and Minnesota before the family settled in Hamilton, Ontario. Both parents were American immigrants to Canada. When he enlisted in the RCAF 9 September, 1942, he was working as a clerk for Morris Gift and Leather in Hamilton.
Sgt. John Roy Colebrooke. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 26.A.12-14. Inscription: "DARLING, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. AS LONG AS LIFE LASTS WE WILL REMEMBER THEE". Son of Herbert George and Lilian Stevenson Colebrooke, of Wood Green, Middlesex, England. Husband of Florence Lena Colebrooke, of Hertford, England.
Researched for Derek Colbrooke and Ken Hatfield. With thanks also to Wes Ashton, great nephew of Sgt. Cyril Ashton who contacted us in October 2016. Information and photo of Sgt. Anderson courtesy of David Champion (Oct 2017). Thanks to Laurence Gibson a nephew of Sgt. Ashton for his Next of Kin details (Nov 2023). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Nov 2023).
Other sources listed below:
RS 15.11.2023 - Updated and Next of Kin details for Sgt. Ashton
Original upload details unknown
KTY 05.10.2017 - Further details added
RS 15.11.2023 - Updated and Next of Kin details for Sgt. Ashton
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 16 November 2023, 06:41