Operation: Berlin, Germany

Date: 3rd/4th September 1943 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 7 Squadron (motto: Per diem, per noctem - 'By day and by night'), 8 PFF Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JA929

Code: MG:N

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Location: Reinickendorf, Berlin

Pilot: WO. Thomas Harold Hatchard 403525 RNZAF Age 31. MiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. William Burnell 540272 RAF Age 25. MiA

Nav: Fg Off. Bernard Frederick Edge 417275 RNZAF Age 21. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Frederick Timothy Brosnahan 421669 RNZAF Age 25. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. George Switzer Dougherty 403620 RNZAF Age 21. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Colin Albert Fleischfresser 425293 RAAF Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Lewis Alfred Squire 417244 RNZAF Age 21. MiA

Above: Flt Sgt. Colin A. Fleischfresser from his Service Record

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 20:13 hrs to join 315 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitoes to bomb the heart of Germany.

Huge losses with 22 Lancasters Lost. Mosquitoes dropped spoof flares to divert German night-fighters. Given the very high loss rates, it is doubtful that this technique worked. Actual target marking was short of the target and most bombs fell in residential areas, although both a water and electricity facility were put out of action and 422 people were killed. Amongst the dead were 7 criminals earning remission by defusing unexploded bombs.

Three (3) 7 Squadron aircraft failed to return, the other two were:

Lancaster III JA713 MG:V - Flown by Fg Off. Anthony Crockford 114241 RAFVR who along with his crew were KiA;

Lancaster III JA854 MG:X - Flown by Flt Lt. Richard Otway French DFC, 415756 RNZAF who along with five (5) of his crew were MiA with one (1) becoming a PoW. missing with 5 others, 1 taken PoW.

JA929 was coned by Flakscheimw. Abt. 370 hit by 4./schw. Flak Abt. 154, 1.-3./schw. Flak Abt. 437, 1.-5./schw. Flak Abt. 516 and 4./schw. Flak Abt. 416. The aircraft exploded in mid-air and hit the ground at Berlin-Reinickendorf at 00:24hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

Burial details:

WO. Thomas Harold Hatchard. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 198. Born on the 26th August 1912 at Wellington. Son of Thomas Henry Frederick (died 23rd August 1933, age 60) and Alice (née Scanlan - died 14th September 1972, age 90) Hatchard of Kilbernie, Wellington , New Zealand.

A salesman for Wellington City Council. Enlisted on the 16th September 1940 at Levin. A total of 844 flying hours logged and on his 4th operational sortie.

WO. Hatchard was awarded the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct in the New Year 1943. (Source: “By Such Deeds” p.239 – Colin Hanson).

Sgt. William Burnell. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 144. Son of William Leafe (died 1971) and Rebecca Burnell (née Smith - died 1964). Husband of Helen Burnell (marriage October 1941) of West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England.

Fg Off. Bernard Frederick Edge. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 197. Born on the 6th October 1921 at Onehunga. Son of Joseph Benjamin and Ida Mary Edge, of Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand.

A teacher for Auckland Education Board. Enlisted at Levin on the 28th December 1941. Total of 252 flying hours logged and on his 1st operational sortie.

Fg Off. Frederick Timothy Brosnahan. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 197. Born on the 3rd March 1918 at Wellington. Son of Timothy and Nellie Frances (née Faulding - died 2nd September 1974, age 81) Brosnahan of Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand.

Worked as a clerk for the Land and Income Tax Department in Wellington. Enlisted on the 7th March 1942 at Rotorua. Total of 252 flying hours logged and on his 1st operational sortie.

Flt Sgt. George Switzer Dougherty. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 198. Born on the 31st October 1921 at HamiltonSon of George Searles Dougherty and Kathleen Elizabeth Dougherty (née Switzer), of Malville, Auckland, New Zealand.

Worked as an apprentice motor trimmer for S.T. Nolan in Hamilton. Enlisted on the 29th September 1940 at Levin. Total of 380 flying hours logged and on his 3rd operational sortie.

Flt Sgt. Colin Albert Fleischfresser. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 1.J.1. Grave Inscription: 'A TRIBUTE OF LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE TO OUR GALLANT ONLY SON'. Born on the 8th April 1922 in Ipswich, Queensland. Son of Albert Wilhelm (died 28th February 1973, age 78) and Pauline (née Kruger - died 1st March 1977, age 85) Fleischfresser of Harrisville, Queensland, Australia.

Worked as a railway porter prior to service in Boonah. Enlisted on the 1st February 1942 in Brisbane.

Flt Sgt. Lewis Alfred Squire. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 199. Born on the 10th August 1922 at Kawakawa. Son of Bertram Charles and Louisa Jane Squire (née Kneebone), of Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

Worked as a clerical cadet for New Zealand Railway. Enlisted on the 28th December 1941 at Levin. Total of 159 flying hours logged and on his 1st operational sortie.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand (May 2022). Thank to Antonio McDonald for the award to WO. Hatchard. Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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