Operation: Dortmund

Date: 22/23rd May 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 35 Squadron (motto: Uno animo agimus - 'We act with one accord'). 8 Group

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND762

Code: TL-E

Base: RAF Graveley, Cambridgeshire

Location: Vessem - Middelbeers (Noord Brabant).

Pilot: F/O. Ernest Holmes DFC 157389 RAFVR PoW No: 6288 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria / Marlag and Milag Nord (Note)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. John Robert Cursiter 1570690 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Lt. John Kennedy Stewart DFC 129742 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

Air/Bmr: P/O. Derrick Ernest Coleman 169201 RAFVR PoW No: 6387 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Bellaria / Marlag and Milag Nord

Air/Bm 2: F/O. Harold Thomas Maskell 139295 RAFVR Age 35. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Frank Joseph Tudor DFM 1063420 RAFVR PoW No: 137 Camp: Stalag Luft Bankau near Kreuzberg Upper Silesia / Stalag Luft Luckenwalde

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Albert William Cox 1314241 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Alastair Stuart McLaren 1891777 RAFVR Age 37. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Gravely at 22:47 hrs, one of 16 from the squadron for a target marking operation to Dortmund.

Homebound, and flying at 16,000 feet, the aircraft was intercepted by night fighter pilot Oblt. Hans-Heinz Augenstein of 12./NJG1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield in Belgium.

The engagement that followed was ended at 01:29 hrs when the Lancaster exploded, throwing out the three survivors, the debris from the bomber falling between Middelbeers (Noord Brabant) and Vessem, 14 km W from the centre of Eindhoven.

Above left: Netersel Farm with right Ernest Holmes on the farm

He also then learned on his repatriation that the Dutch farmer, Fons van der Heijden, had been taken out of church and shot by the Germans just a day before the village was liberated. This tragedy weighed heavily on Ernie’s heart for the rest of his life.

Left: Fons van der Heijden

He and his family have always maintained contact with the Van Der Heijdens.

Ernest Holmeses was sheltered by a Dutch farmer and his family before being passed onto the ‘evasion line’ by which downed aircrew were routed back to the UK.

F/O. Holmes and P/O. Coleman initially evaded but was betrayed and captured in Antwerp on the 17th of June 1944.
W/O. Tudor was part of Trupp 4. He arrived at Bankau on the 20th of June 1944.

Above: F/O. Ernest Holmes DFC

W/O. Tudor awarded DFM whilst with 35 Squadron. Gazetted on the 15th of February 1944, Citation:
'This NCO has been on many operations as a Wireless Operator in a crew engaged in a most vital role. The targets have been in some of the enemy’s most heavily defended areas. At all times this NCO has demonstrated his skill and reliability as a Wireless Operator with great coolness in spite of very heavy opposition. His devotion to duty and enthusiasm to operate against the enemy are worthy of the highest praise and set a fine example to other aircrew in the Squadron'.

F/O. Holmes was awarded DFC whilst with 35 Squadron. Gazetted 02nd October 1945.
Fl/Lt. Stewart was awarded DFC whilst with 35 Squadron. Gazetted 19 May 1944.

Above: F/O. Ernest Holmes DFC marriage to Irene Spinks in 1946.

Note: Obituary to Fl/Lt. Ernest Holmes DFC here here.

Burial details:

The crew killed were buried on 26th May 1944.

Sgt. John Robert Cursiter. Eindhoven General Cemetery (Woensel). Plot KK Grave 70. Born on the 23rd July 1924 in Victoria Street, Stromness Son of John R. Curiter (died 11th June 1931, age 31) and Mary J. Cursiter (née Garriock - died 12th May 1929, age 30) brother of Annie Mabel Cursiter of Stromness, Orkney, Scotland. Due to the early deaths of his parents, he was brought up by his paternal grandparents, Thomas (died 28th March 1932, age 55) and Margaret Cursiter (née Firth - died 25th December 1938, age 68)

Fl/Lt. John Kennedy Stewart DFC. Eindhoven General Cemetery (Woensel). Plot KK Grave 57. Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Stewart and husband of Edna Denby Stewart, of Torquay, Devon. Epitaph: 'Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends'.

F/O. Harold Thomas Maskell. Eindhoven General Cemetery (Woensel). Plot KK Grave 58. Son of Alfred and Lottie Louise Maskell and husband of Margery Kate Maskell, of Ipswich, Suffolk. Epitaph: 'Abide With Me; Fast Falls The Eventide; The Darkness Deepens; Lord, With Me Abide'.

Fl/Sgt. Albert William Cox. Eindhoven General Cemetery (Woensel). Plot KK Grave 56. Son of William and Florence Rose Cox, of Parkstone, Dorsetshire. Epitaph: 'Sleep On, Dear Son, On Holland's Breast, Your Duty Done, It Was Your Best. Mum And Dad'.

Sgt. Alastair Stuart McLaren. Eindhoven General Cemetery (Woensel). Plot KK Grave 55. Son of John and Margaret McLaren. Formerly served in the Metropolitan Police Force. Epitaph: 'He Sought The Glory Of His Country; He Sees The Glory Of God'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to John Jones, Air-27-381-9/10 National Archives, SSAFA, Made in Perth, RAF News. Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1944 Part 3 - Theo Boiten, 35 Squadron Association, Kracker Luftwaffe Archives.

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