Operation: Stuttgart

Date: 15/16th March 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 76 Squadron (motto: 'Resolute').4 Group

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LW657

Code: MP-G

Base: RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire

Location: Heslach, Stuttgart.

Pilot: P/O. Allan Jones J/19642 RCAF Age 23. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Roland Golding 1481558 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Air/Bmr: W/O II. Lloyd George Scott R/161591 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. William Norman Hedges 1604542 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Raymond Quicke 1320468 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Charles Walter Robson 1293713 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Arthur Bean 1891083 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:14hrs with 17 others from the squadron to attack Stuttgart. A total of 863 aircraft taking part. Bombing made between 10,000 and 20,000 ft. and the returning 76 squadron crews reported concentrated bombing and accurate.

The bomber stream approached France, crossing the German border as late as possible, delaying the point at which the German fighters were able to enter the stream. PFF marking was well short of the target, possibly due to the strong winds as the conditions were clear. Although some of the early bombing fell in the city, much of the later bombing fell outside. Damage was light with 88 deaths and 203 injured.

The bombers encountered heavy Luftwaffe attacks both en route and over the target. 37 allied aircraft were lost, mostly due to night fighters.

LW657 was claimed by a flak unit but later attributed to Uffz. Gerhard Koch of 1./NJG1 flying a Bf109G out of Neubiberg airfield in Bayern. The Halifax was intercepted at 19,000 ft. and shot down at 23:35 hrs, killing all the crew.

Above L-R: Sgt. David Bean, Sgt. John Quicke, P/O. Allan Jones, Sgt. William Hedges, W/O. Lloyd Scott, Sgt. William Robson, Sgt. Roland Golding (Courtesy Barry Robson)

Burial details:

P/O. Allan Jones. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 11.C.4-7. Born on the 20th December 1920. Son of Willie Wilson Jones and Lily Jones, of Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'One Of The Many God Has Chosen Will Never Be Forgotten'.

Fl/Sgt. Roland Golding. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 11.C.4-7. Son of Roland and Nellie Golding. Husband of Phyllis Margaret Golding, of Coed Mawr, Caernarvonshire, Wales. Epitaph: 'Dear The Memory, Silently Kept, Of The One We Loved And Shall Never Forget'.

W/O II. Lloyd George Scott. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.1. Born on the 11th September 1923. Son of Joshua Scott (died 1958, age 80) and Millie Mabel Scott (née Pretty - died 1961, age 81) of Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. Also remembered on the family grave in St. James Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. William Norman Hedges. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 11.C.4-7. Son of William Henry and Jessie Agnes Hedges, of Shirley, Southampton, England. Epitaph: 'Dearly Loved And So Sadly Missed By Mum And Dad'.

Sgt. John Raymond Quicke. Durnbach War Cemetery. Collective grave 11.C.4-7. Son of Charles Stafford Quicke (died 27th May 1942, age 55) and Violet Emily Quicke (died 31st December 1977 age 89), of Leyton, Essex, England. Epitaph: 'Sleep On, Beloved Son, In God's Safe Keeping. May We Keep Faith, Remembering. Also remembered on the family grave in the City of London Cemetery.

Sgt. William Charles Walter Robson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.2. Son of William Walter and Lillian Priscilla Robson. Husband of Edna Joyce Matilda Robson, of Rainham, Essex, England. Epitaph: 'Bill, Whom I Loved When Oh, So Young, My Heart It Still Your Praises Sings. Nin'.

Sgt. David Arthur Bean. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.3. Son of Richard Arthur and Lilian Bean, of Walworth, London, England. Epitaph: 'Sacred To The Memory Of Our Dear Son Who Rests In Peace, His Task Well Done'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to, Air-27-652-5/6 National Archive, Theo Boiten Nachtjagd Combat Archive, the Paradie Archive and the Kracker Archive.

Other sources as quoted below:

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