Operation: Siegen

Date: 01/02nd February 1945 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 61 Squadron (motto: Per puram tonantes-'Thundering through the clear air') 5 Group

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NF912

Code: QR-L

Base: RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire.

Location: Airfield base

Pilot : Sq/Ldr. Hugh Wilkinson Horsley AFC. 68786 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Fl/Eng: W/O. Henry John Pyke 575245 RAF Age 22. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Samuel Fleet 1670353 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Victor Douglas Merrow 1522918 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Chapman CGM. 1576762 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arthur Albert Sherriff DFM. 514220 RAF Age 35. Killed

Air/Gnr: Cpl. William Herbert Howes 1682475 RAFVR Age 21. Killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 15:42 hrs from RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire to join 271 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes.

Shortly afterwards the port outer engine cut as the Lancaster became airborne. After using considerable skills Sq/Ldr. Horsley managed to fly a very tight circuit and a minute later he force landed the aircraft back onto the field. As the aircraft touched down there was an explosion followed by fire. All seven crew were tragically killed.

Previously on the 23/24th September 1944 flying Lancaster III LM718 QR-E again with 61 Squadron on a raid to Ladbergen they were shot down by German Night fighter, the aircraft was abandoned. 2 of the crew were killed, Fl/Sgt. George Twyneham and Sgt. Herbert Jennings, 2 others made PoW. F/O. Webber and F/O. Wheeler and 3 others managed to evade capture and return to England - Sq/Ldr. Horsley AFC, P/O. Cawthorne DFM and Sgt Hoskisson

(1) Various sources (including the squadron's operation record book) describe that Sgt. Reginald Thomas Hoskisson 961858 was the rear gunner on this aircraft and that he survived seriously injuured. However his memoirs make no mention of it. 61 Squadron ORB here

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Hugh Wilkinson Horsley. AFC. Leeds Crematorium (Lawns Wood). Screen wall. Panel 2. Son of Edgar and Renee Horsley, husband of Mildred Elsie Horsley, of York, England.

W/O. Henry John Pyke. Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery. Sec S.10 Grave 19894.Born on the 07th March 1922. Son of Florence M. Pyke (died 1959) of Beckenham, London, England.

Fl/Sgt. Samuel Fleet. Greatham Church Cemetery. Centre plot. Son of Samuel (died 1961, age 63) and Rebecca Fleet, (née Read - died q995, age 92) of Greatham, Durham, England. Epitaph: 'Son Of Samuel And Rebecca Fleet, Of Greatham\.

Fl/Sgt. Victor Douglas Merrow. Tynemouth Cemetery (Preston). Born in 1923 in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England Sec. K. Grave 14509. Son of Victor and Elizabeth Merrow (died 1961) husband of Linda Winifred Merrow, of North Shields, England. Epitaph: 'Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery, Northumberland'.

Fl/Sgt. Leslie Chapman CGM. Whaplode Cemetery. Grave 1391A. Born 1922 in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. Son of Ernest and Eva Ellen Chap Merrow man, of Moulton Washway, England. Epitaph: 'In The Hour Of Need His Best He Gave And Died For Those He Tried To Save'.

Fl/Sgt. Leslie Chapman CGM citation:

This officer (Pilot. Officer Desmond Clayton Freeman (2) - awarded the DFC) and airman were pilot and wireless operator respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Nuremberg one night in March, 1944. During the operation the aircraft was attacked by a fighter. It was driven off but shortly afterwards two more enemy aircraft attacked. Before they also were driven off the bomber had sustained, much damage. The starboard wing, the flaps and the undercarriage nacelle were all hit by bullets. The mid-upper and front turrets were damaged. The windscreen was shattered and other parts of the airframe were shot away. Four members of the crew were wounded. Most of the navigational equipment was useless but course was set for home. Sergeant Chapman had been wounded in the back, neck and head but bravely remained at his post obtaining fixes which were of inestimable value in establishing the aircraft's position at various stages on the return flight. Finally the English coast was reached and Pilot Officer Freeman landed the aircraft safely although a tyre on one of the landing wheels had been punctured. Pilot Officer Freeman displayed great skill, courage and determination throughout; Sergeant Chapman also proved himself to be a gallant member of aircraft crew. It was not until the aircraft had been safely landed that he informed his captain of his wounds. He set a splendid example.

Fl/Sgt. Arthur Albert Sherriff DFM. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15754. Son of Samuel Lee Sherriff (died 1950, age 73) and Sarah Sherriff, husband of Marion Sherriff, of Bolton, Lancashire, England. Epitaph: 'Ternal Rest Grant To His Soul And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. R.I.P.'

Cpl. William Herbert Howes. City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium, Manor Park. Screen Wall. Square 241. Coll. grave 108029. Son of Herbert and Eliza Howe, of Southwark, London.

(2) 21 year old F/O. Desmond Clayton Freeman DFC 172828 lost his life on the 24th September 1944 flying Lancaster I NF914 QR-T - five others also killed, one evaded.

Researched and submitted by Tony Cantlow for relatives of the crew with thanks to some of the sources quoted below. National Archives Kew, AIR 27-580-3/4ngland.

Other sources as quoted below:

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