Operation: Köln (Cologne), Germany

Date: 2nd March 1945 (Friday)

Unit No: 460 (RAAF) Sqn, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: RA524

Code: AR:V

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

Location: Köln (Cologne), Germany

Pilot: Flt Lt. Jeffrey Howard Holmes 429054 RAAF Age 20. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. James Devlin 1826573 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Nav: WO. Henry Vincent Gordon 405307 RAAF Age 26. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Eric Parkinson 1456507 RAFVR Age 26. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. John Michael Gerrard 434180 RAAF Age 20. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Trevor Andrew Thomson 436777 RAAF Age 30. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. George Worland Rankin 427742 RAAF Age 31. KiA

Above left to right: Flt Lt. Jeffrey H. Holmes, WO. Henry V. Gordon (from their service records)

Above left to right: Flt Sgt. John M. Gerrard, Flt Sgt. Trevor A. Thomson, Flt Sgt. George W. Rankin (from their service records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 2nd March 1945 the sqn detailed twenty-two (22) aircraft to join a force of eight-hundred and fifty-eight (858) to bomb Köln (Cologne). This was the last raid on the city as it was captured by American forces four (40) day later.

Of the six (6) Lancasters lost only RA524 from the Sqn failed to return.

A report from crews of four (4) accompanying aircraft stated that they saw RA524 shot down over the target. During the run up to the target, the aircraft was seen to be hit by bursts of heavy Flak, and black smoke trailed from the aircraft but no flames were visible.

The bomb doors were closed, the aircraft dived steeply and then levelled off at 15,500 feet and the smoke ceased. Four (4) parachutes were seen to open in quick succession after which the aircraft went into a slow left hand spin with great volumes of smoke re-issuing.

After losing 2,000 more feet, it again levelled out, turned to starboard, came back across the target climbing slightly with flames appearing in starboard wing and fuselage, then flew straight and level for 30 seconds before making a straight steep dive and crashed on the west and of Hohenzollern Bridge. The aircraft had a full bomb load and exploded on impact.

A report by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) dated the 23rd August 1945, found no traces of an aircraft crash on the west end of the Hohenzollern Bridge or anywhere nearby. Enquiries were made through the town mayor if any civilians had heard or seen the crash on the bridge itself, but no one questioned had heard or seen anything. The bombing was very intense and many civilians either perished or were in air-raid shelters.

Records at the Henri-Chapelle American cemetery show that many bodies of airmen were picked up from the streets and wrecks of houses in the city on the 13th and 14th March and subsequent days, some were identified and others buried as unknown. It was believed that the bombing and Flak was so intense that the airmen parachuting would have perished before landing.

The exact location of the crash was not established but the MRES report determined that it did not appear that the aircraft was deliberately aimed in its crash dive at the Hohenzollern Bridge.

(1) Jeffrey’s brother Fg Off. William George Holmes 412963 RAAF, served with the HQ in London in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch.

Burial details:

The bodies of Flt Lt. Holmes, Flt Sgt. Rankin and Flt Sgt. Thomson were recovered on the 14th March 1945. The bodies of WO. Gordon, Flt Sgt. Gerrad and Sgt. Devlin were recovered on the 19th March. These six (6) members were initially buried in the Henri-Chapelle American cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Hotton War Cemetery on the 9th June 1947.

Flt Sgt. Parkinson was initially buried in the Köln (Cologne) West Cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Rheinberg War Cemetery on the 6th June 1947.

Above: Grave markers for Flt Lt. Jeffrey H. Holmes, Sgt. John Devlin, WO. Henry V. Gordon (Courtesy of Des Philippet – FindAGrave)

Flt Lt. Jeffrey Howard Holmes. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.1. Grave Inscription: “HE WALKS BESIDE ME”. Born on the 23rd March 1924 in Mudgee, New South Wales. Son of George Thomas and Janet Pauline Holmes of Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia.

Sgt. John Devlin. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.6. Grave Inscription: “HE FLEW ON WINGS WITH THE JOY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN HIS HEART”. Son of James and Agnes Devlin of Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

WO. Henry Vincent Gordon. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.5. Grave Inscription: ‘"THY WILL BE DONE" R.I.P.’. Born on the 27th September 1918 in Maryborough, Queensland. Son of Angus Carlyle and Josephine Claire Gordon. Husband of Eileen Maud Gordon of Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Above: Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Eric Parkinson (Courtesy of Des Philippet – FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. Eric Parkinson. Rheinberg War Cemetery 2.K.18. Grave Inscription: “THE ONE WE LOVED DEARLY AND WILL NEVER FORGET. LOVING WIFE, ROGER AND MOTHER”. Born on the 7th April 1918 in Morpeth, Northumberland. Son of Athelstan and Gertrude Parkinson. Husband of Rachel Irene (née Garton) Parkinson of Newby, Scarborough, Yorkshire, England.

Above: Grave markers for Flt Sgt. John M. Gerrard, Flt Sgt. Trevor A. Thomson, Flt Sgt. George W. Rankin (Courtesy of Des Philippet – FindAGrave)

Flt Sgt. John Michael Gerrard. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.4. Grave Inscription: “OUR ONLY SON - IN GOD'S CARE. TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE FORGOTTEN”. Born on the 1st October 1924 in Mount Morgan, Queensland. Son of John Frederick and Kathleen Agnes Gerrard of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Trevor Andrew Thomson. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.3. Grave Inscription: “PEACEFULLY SLEEPING”. Born on the 20th October 1914 in Thebarton, South Australia. Son of Alexander and Isabella Thomson. Husband of Ethel Winifred Thomson of South Perth, Western Australia.

Flt Sgt. George Worland Rankin. Hotton War Cemetery VIII.A.2. Grave Inscription: “HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED”. Born on the 3rd July 1913 in Fremantle, Western Australia. Son of Alexander John Worland and Letitia Ellen Rankin of Perth, Western Australia. Husband of Elaine Kathleen Rankin of Perth, Western Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape from Aircrew Remembered as dedicated to this crew and their families (Jun 2025).

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