Operation: Friedrichshafen, Germany

Date: 27th/28th April 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 75 Squadron (RNZAF), 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND796

Code: AA:J

Base: RAF Mepal, Cambridgeshire

Location: Langenhart near Stockach

Pilot: Fg Off. Robert Weir Herron 422282 RNZAF Age 23. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John William Germing 1803074 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Nav: Flt Sgt. Matthew Roland Henderson 427204 RNZAF Age 25. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Walter Reginald Percival 553063 RAF Age 22. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Euan Wilfred McLachlan 415266 RNZAF Age 22. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): WO. Keith Alfred Smith 416022 RNZAF Age 23. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear) Fg Off. Peter Ernest Chilman 155993 RAFVR Age 25. KiA

Above left: Fg Off. Euan Wilfred McLachlan. Right rear - Russell Young, Fg Off. James Allan Fleming, Sgt. Francis Scott, centre - Bob Vancy, Fg Off. Euan McLachlan, front - Les Brown, ‘Bubs’ Richards, Dave Thomas, Flt Sgt John Cecil Turner. (courtesy Jan Field-Dodgson)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 22:05 hrs from RAF Mepal to attack the small town of Friedrichshafen the reason being that it contained important factories manufacturing gearboxes and engines for the German tank force. The attack was arranged on a moonlit night to make the bombing more successful. Although more dangerous doing this the town was south of the country and on the very limit of Luftwaffe night-fighters.

The bomber stream approached and bombed the target with no interception from fighters. However, during the attack the Luftwaffe arrived. 18 of the 322 Lancasters were brought down.

It is estimated that 100 twin-engined night fighters were sent to intercept the 322 Lancasters in the bomber stream

ND796 was claimed by Fw. Günther Bahr of 3./NJG6, his 15th Abschuss and first of two this night, over Langenhart near Stockach at 5.400 m. at 03:37 hrs.

Ofw. Bahr survived the war and was credited with 19 confirmed Abschüsse, 2 of which were day victories. A further 18 awaiting confirmation. He passed away on the 29th April 2009.

The aircraft crashed at Langenhart, SW of Sigmaringen and north of Messkirch.

The attack itself proved very successful with 1,234 tons of bombs being dropped resulting in an estimated 99 acres (67%) of the town being devastated - the gearbox factory was destroyed along with other important buildings. Civil reports state that 136 people were killed and a further 375 injured, with 656 houses destroyed and 421 damaged to a severe degree.

Burial details:

Above grave marker for Fg Off. Herron (Courtesy of Jörg Mezger)

Fg Off. Robert Weir Herron. Durnbach War Cemetery, Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Born on the 20th July 1920 in Auckland, New Zealand. Son of Rev. David Craig and Edith Stewart (née Smart) Herron of Auckland City, New Zealand. M.A. (Otago University).

Sgt. John William Germing. Durnbach War Cemetery, Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Grave Inscription: “IN OUR HEARTS, THAT LOVED HIM, FOND MEMORIES LINGER YET”. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1922 in Camberwell, London. Son of Wilhelmus Joseph and Leah Elizabeth (née Wilkinson) Germing. Husband of Lilian May (née Turner) Germing of Potters Bar, Middlesex, England.

Flt Sgt. Matthew Roland Henderson. Durnbach War Cemetery, Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Son of Matthew Cochrane and Agnes (née Findlay) Henderson of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Above grave marker for Sgt. Percival (Courtesy of Jörg Mezger)

Sgt. Walter Reginald Percival. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Grave Inscription: “HE DIED LIKE OTHERS, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. TILL WE MEET AGAIN, REG. MUM AND DAD”. Born on the 27th September 1921 in Greenwich, London. Son of Walter George and Ellen Elizabeth (née Burr) Percival of Blackheath, London, England.

Above grave marker for Fg Off. McLachlan (Courtesy of Jörg Mezger)

Fg Off. Euan Wilfred McLachlan. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Born on the 10th June 1921 in Doyleston, Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of Wallace Lamont and Erica Hope (née Bartram) McLachlan of Tinwald, Canterbury, New Zealand.

WO. Keith Alfred Smith. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Born on the 7th October 1920 in Hamua, Wairarapa, New Zealand. Son of William James and Elsie Mary (née Bisset) Smith of Pahiatua, Wellington, New Zealand.

Above grave marker for Fg Off. Chilman (Courtesy of Jörg Mezger)

Fg Off. Peter Ernest Chilman. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.C.11-7. Born on the 10th April 1919 in East Grinstead, Sussex. Son of George and Ada Sarah (née Flack) Chilman of East Grinstead, Sussex, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as shown below. Thanks also to Jan Field-Dodgson, relative of the pilot, Sgt. Francis Scott and whose album these photographs were scanned (Apr 2017). The Auckland War Memorial Museum. and Errol Martyn - For Your Tomorrow Vols 1-3. Reviewed and updated with new information with thanks to Jörg Mezger for the grave markers (Dec 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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