Operation: Hamburg, Germany

Date: 29th/30th July 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 460 Squadron, RAAF, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ED535

Code: AR:?

Location: Flögeln, Germany

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England

Pilot: Fg Off. Alan James Johnson 402507 RAAF Age 26. MiA

Flt Eng: Plt Off. Sydney Frederick Norman Fox 143802 RAFVR Age 30. MiA

Nav: Plt Off. Derrick George Scruton 52599 RAF Age 26. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Frederick Sydney Ralph 149829 RAFVR Age 26. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: WO. Reginald Maxwell Burcher 411440 RAAF Age 23. MiA (1)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Fg Off. Clifford Timothy O'Riordan 403397 RAAF Age 34. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): WO. Pax Lloyd Evan Jones 402508 Age 24. MiA

Above: WO. Reginald Maxwell Burcher from his service record

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 29th/30th July 1943 twenty-four (24) aircraft from the Sqn were detailed to join a force of three-hundred and seven (307) bombers on the 3rd RAF heavy raid on Hamburg.

Of the four (4) Lancasters that failed to return two (2) were from the Sqn.

ED535 was claimed by Hptm. Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld, his 42nd Abschuss, from Stab III./NJG1 over Flögeler Holz, NW of Bederkesa at 6.800 m. at 01:40 hrs. He was detached to NJG3 for this victory which was confirmed on the 20th December 1944. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

Maj. Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld his Bordfunker Oberfeldwebel Josef Renette and Bordschütze Unteroffizier Kurt Röber were killed on a routine flight from Parchim to Athies-sous-Laon on the 12th March 1944. Over Belgium they appeared to have encountered low cloud and a dense snowstorm and it was assumed that the aircraft hit high ground after being forced to fly lower because of ice forming on the wings. The burnt out wreckage of Bf 110G-4 C9+CD werk #720010 was found near St. Hubert, Ardennes the next day. (p.44 Nachtjagd – Defenders of the Reich 1940-1943 – Martin W. Bowman)

He was credited with 47 Abschüsse with two awaiting confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten)

The second aircraft was Lancaster III JA689 flown by Flt Sgt. Herbert L. Fuhrmann DFM. He and five (5) of his crew were posted missing in action. The 7th member of the crew, Sgt. John Patrick Doyle, was a murder victim.

A report based upon interrogation of local residents at Flögeln and investigations carried out at the Wesermunde-Geestemünde Garrison Cemetery, determined that the aircraft had been shot down by an enemy night fighter and crashed in woods at Flögeln at about 01:30 hrs on the 30th July 1943.

Flögeln is approximately 41 miles (66 km) north of Bremen, and the Wesermunde-Geestemünde Garrison Cemetery is located about 13 miles (21 km) SW of Flögeln near the mouth of the Weser River.

Following the impact the ammunition aboard the aircraft continued to explode for a considerable period. The report added that the bodies of five (5) members of the crew were recovered from the wreckage by the Germans who identified two (2), namely, Fg Off. O’Riordan and Sgt. Ralph prior to the interment of all five (5) bodies in the Wesermunde-Geestemünde Garrison Cemetery.

Although the Germans identified two (2) members before burial, they marked all five (5) graves as those of “unknown airmen”. However, following exhumation it was only possible to establish the identity of Fg Off. O’Riordan. Unfortunately, it was not possible to identify the remains of the other four (4) members.

All efforts by the Missing, Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) to find any trace of the remaining two (2) crew members was unsuccessful. In view of this and as the Germans only recovered five (5) bodies from the wreckage, it was considered that the severity of the crash and subsequent explosions was such as to render impossible the recovery of their remains.

(1) On the night of the 8th/9th December 1942 103 Sqn Lancaster W4338 took off from RAF Elsham Wolds on a ‘Gardening’ operation laying mines in the approaches to the Baltic.

Homebound the aircraft ran into defences at Esberg and the aircraft was hit by heavy Flak. Sgt. Burcher suffered wounds to his right forearm, left shoulder, both hands and to his face from Flak splinters. Despite his wounds he tried to repair his equipment and pass a message to base and take loop bearings. The inter-comm was completely unserviceable except for the Mid Upper and Rear Gunner positions who fired 2000 rounds at the Flak positions claiming to silence one of the guns.

Sgt. Burcher was admitted to Station Sick Quarters (SSQ) and then to Rauceby Hospital on the 12th December 1942. After being discharged from hospital he was granted 30 day sick leave and taken off Sqn strength.

Returning to fitness he was posted to 460 Sqn, RAAF on the 26th March 1943 and resumed operational flying.

Burial Details

Fg Off. O'Riordan and the four (4) unidentified members of the crew were initially buried in the Wesermunde-Geestemünde Garrison Cemetery in Bremerhaven and finally laid to rest in the Becklingen War Cemetery on the 5th November 1946, the four (4) unidentified members as “Known onto God”.

Above: The Runnymede Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Fg Off. Alan James Johnson. Runnymede Memorial 188. Born on the 3rd March 1917 in Camperdown, New South Wales. Son of James Thomas and Beatrice Emily (née Rowles) Johnson of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia.

Plt Off. Sydney Frederick Norman Fox. Runnymede Memorial 131. Born on the 25th March 1913 in Bromley, Kent. Son of Frederick Robert and Caroline Emma (née Dixon) Fox. Husband of Myrtle Alice (née Coulson) Fox of Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England.

Plt Off. Derrick George Scruton. Runnymede Memorial 133. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1917 in Edmonton, Essex. Son of Derrick Vander and Hilda (née Hart) Scruton of Enfield, Middlesex, England.

Plt Off. Frederick Sydney Ralph. Runnymede Memorial 133. Born on the 3rd April 1917 in West ham, Essex. Son of Sydney Algernon and Emily Elizabeth (née Hargreaves) Ralph. Husband of Joan Mary (née Higgs) Ralph of Harrow, Middlesex, England.

WO. Reginald Maxwell Burcher. Runnymede Memorial 191. Born on the 15th July 1920 in Neutral Bay, New South Wales. Son of Reginald Ernest and Ivy Myrtle (née Spencer) Burcher of Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, Australia.

Above: Grave marker for Fg Off. Clifford T. O'Riordan (Courtesy of the TWGPP)

Fg Off. Clifford Timothy O'Riordan. Becklingen War Cemetery 23.A.6. Grave Inscription: “HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. A TRUE AUSTRALIAN. R.I.P.”. Born on the 12th May 1909 in Mascot, New South Wales. Son of Michael and Julia (née Clifford) O'Riordan of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.

WO. Pax Lloyd Evan Jones. Runnymede Memorial 191. Born on the 1st January 1919 in Sydney, New South Wales. Son of Arthur Llewellyn and Margaret Alice Jones (née Hindes) of Edgecliff, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. (Feb 2026).

Thanks to The War Graves Photographic Project for their great work.

Other sources listed below:

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