Operation: Nurnberg, Germany

Date: 30/31st March 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 424 (Tiger) Squadron, RCAF

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LV879

Code: QB:A

Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire

Location: Alten-Buseck

Pilot: Fg Off. John Doig J16112 RCAF Age 31. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John Stanley Bolton 1581788 RAFVR Age? KiA

Nav: Fg Off. John Ross Mason J20714 RCAF Age 28. PoW (1)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Alfred Hirst Crosland R161229 RCAF Age 22. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Donald Stewart 1387541 RAFVR Age 20. KiA (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Robert James Atkins R191525 RCAF Age 27. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Thomas James Rogers 1852120 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Above left to right: Fg.Off. John Doig, Sgt. Robert J. Atkins. (From their Service Records).

Above left to right: Flt Sgt. Alfred H. Crosland, Sgt. Tomas J. Rogers (Courtesy of Vince Munro)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On 30th March 1944 Halifax III LV879 took-off from RAF Skipton-on-Swale at 21:35 hrs. On the outbound journey it was attacked by a night-fighter.

LV879 was claimed by Lt. Klaus Bretschneider, his 4th claim, from 6./JG300 in the Glessen area at 5,800m at 00:35 hrs. The aircraft exploded and crashed on Hangelstein, 1km west of Alten-Buseck. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

(1) Fg.Off. Mason bailed out and sustained leg injuries. He was taken into custody by a policeman named Hahn based in Lollar and was handed over to the guardroom at Giessen. It is believed that he had been taken to Giessen hospital for treatment. His PoW camp is unknown.

(2) Sgt Stewart had married Joan just two weeks prior to his death. He had been promised leave for a honeymoon if he volunteered as a replacement Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.

Above: Sgt. Donald Stewart and on his wedding day to Joan (see credits)

Burial details:

The crew were initially buried in the Alten Busek Civilian Cemetery, Germany in the east corner in buried in separate graves. They were finally laid to rest at the Hanover War Cemetery on the 16th May 1947.

Fg Off. John Doig. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 13. Grave inscription: “FOND MEMORIES LINGER EVERY DAY REMEMBRANCE KEEPS HIM NEAR MOTHER AND DAD”. Born on the 14th May 1912 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Son of George and Isabella Doig of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Sgt. John Stanley Bolton. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 14. No further details as yet are you able to assist?

WO2. Alfred Hirst Crosland. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 15. Grave Inscription: “FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS”. Born on the 4th March 1922 in Homeferth, England. Son Herbert and Alice Crosland of Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Donald Stewart. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 18. Son of William and Lillian Stewart. Husband of Joan Celia Helen Stewart of Finsbury Park, Middlesex, England.

Plt Off. Robert James Atkins. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 17. Grave Inscription: “A LONELY HEARTACHE A SILENT TEAR, BUT A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF A SON WE LOVED SO DEAR”. Born on the 28th February 1917 in Petrolia, Ontario. Son of George Alfred and Roxie Mary Atkins of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Atkins was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J88345 Plt Off.

Sgt. Thomas James Rogers. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 6.D. 16. Grave Inscription: “TIME PASSES, SHADOWS FALL, BUT LOVE AND MEMORIES OUTLIVE ALL. GOD'S WILL BE DONE”. Born in 3rd Qtr of 1915 in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Son of Thomas and Mary (née Phllips) Rogers of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. With special thanks to Marion Eley (née Stewart) for the photographs of Sgt. Stewart. Thanks to Vince Munro for the correction to the name of the navigator which should be Fg Off. John Ross Mason and not Marsh (May 2020). Thanks to Vince Munro for the photographs of Flt Sgt. Crosland and Sgt. Rogers (Nov 2024)

Other sources listed below:

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