Operation: Stuttgart

Date: 28/29th January 1945 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 153 Squadron (motto: Noctividus - 'Seeing by night'). 1 Group

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB638

Code: P4-O

Base: RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

Location: Michelbach, Germany

Pilot: F/O. Owen Meredith Clement Jones DFC 176235 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. John Francis Dormer 1603839 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. Peter Raeburn Jenkinson DFM 1826262 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Edward Walter Fletcher 1549302 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Wilson Milburn 1567899 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Coles 1684124 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Harold Ferguson 989177 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of January 28-29, 1945, Stuttgart was subjected to a major bombing raid by the RAF, with 602 aircraft participating in a two-part attack. The first wave targeted the railyards at Kornwestheim, while the second focused on the Hirth aircraft engine factory in Zuffenhausen. The raid resulted in significant damage, including the destruction of the Bosch plant in Feuerbach.

The raid was part of a larger series of attacks on Stuttgart during World War II. In total, around 142,000 bombs were dropped on the city throughout the war. The attack on January 28-29 was the last of 53 major raids on the city. Despite the scale of the attack, Stuttgart's unique geography, with its deep valleys and hills, helped to mitigate the damage, and its air defences, including anti-aircraft batteries and fighter bases, also played a role in protecting the city.

The raid resulted in casualties, with 119 dead and 78 wounded. The bombing also led to 5,500 people being left homeless. While the attack on the Hirth factory was hindered by cloud cover, the bombing of Kornwestheim caused significant damage to the railyards and also impacted the Bosch plant in Feuerbach. The raid involved a mix of high explosive and incendiary bombs. There were also significant losses on the RAF side, with 11 aircraft lost, and a number of others damaged, highlighting the dangers faced by the bomber crews.

Above PB638 crew-L-R rear: Fl/Sgt. John Milburn, Fl/Sgt. Peter Jenkinson DFM, Fl/Sgt. James Coles and Fl/Sgt. Edward Fletcher.
Front: Fl/Sgt. John Dormer, F/O. Owen Jones DFC and Fl/Sgt. Harold Ferguson. (courtesy IBCC - see links below)

Bomb load; 1 x 4,00 lb HC (1), 12 x 50 lb. GP ANM64 (2)

Taking off in darkness from a snow covered airfield at 19:25 hrs to bomb the marshalling yards at Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart with 16 others from the squadron. All aircraft airborne un good visibility and no clouds which remained so until well into France. They then flew into 10/10 cloud at 7,000 ft. The target was clear due to a gap in the clouds. 15 aircraft bombed the target and returned to base landing in good visibility by 03:00 hrs. F/O. Wheeler flying Lancaster LM530 abandoned the operation due a generator problem and landed at 23:35hrs. Sq/Ldr. Thomas Woodruff Rippingale DFC 39159 (4) flying Lancaster LM754 P4-E was attacked by a night fighter resulting in serious dame to the aircraft. No crew were injured and he managed to nurse the Lancaster back to base.

Nothing heard since take off from PB638 and they were listed as 'Missing'.

Many websites incorrectly list it as being shot down by Hptm Hans Heinz Augenstein but he was lost the previous month on the 07th December 1944. However according to Theo Boiten (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1945) they were probably shot down by the Luftwaffe 'Ace' Off. Günther Bahr of 1./NJG6 at 23:32 hrs (of the 6 Lancasters lost he was credited with 4). The aircraft came down in a small forest east of Michelbach, Germany, killing all 7 crew members.

(1) 4,00 lb HC - High Capacity, nicknamed by the press as the 'Blockbuster' as they has enough explosive power to destroy an entire street or large building.

(2) 12 x 50 lb. GP ANM64 - intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect. They are designed to be effective against enemy troops, vehicles, and buildings.

(3) Ofw. Günther Bahr - survived the war with a total of 37 confirmed claims. He died aged 87 in April 2009 at Wacken/Schleswick-Holstein, Germany. See Kracker Archives

(4) Sq/Ldr. Thomas Woodruff Rippingale DFC DSO born on the 17th September 1914.Whilst with 166 squadron flying Lancaster III PB242 AS-E attacked by a night fighter, rear gunner, Sgt. Ronald Tom Hallett 1602270 RAFVR killed with other crew injured managed to fly to RAF Manston in Kent.
The aircraft was later written off.

Left: Sgt. Ronald Tom Hallett

Burial details:

F/O. Owen Meredith Clement Jones DFC. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.19. Also remembered on the war memorials Bradford Grammar School and Worcester College, Oxford. Born on the 06th December 1912 in Shipley. Prior to service was a pilot in the Civil Air Guard. Enlisted on the 08th May 1940. Joined 153 Squadron on 07th October 1944. Son of Alfred Clement Jones, M.A., Ph.D., and Gertrude Lillian Jones (née Smith), husband of Constance Jones, of Oxford. M.A. (Oxon.). Epitaph: 'So Little Time'.
DFC Awarded on the 05th November 1946

Fl/Sgt. John Francis Dormer. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.22. Son of Frank Edwin and Ethel Beatrice Dormer, of Tarring, Worthing, Sussex. Epitaph: 'Behold: Though He Be Dead Yet Shall He Live. Glory Be To God Our Father'.

Fl/Sgt. Peter Raeburn Jenkinson DFM Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.20. Son of Norman Henry and Isabel Raeburn Jenkinson, brother of Evelyn and Philip, of Chulmleigh, Devon. His brother W/O. Leslie Philip 1316403 also served - PoW No. 507 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug 06/07th September 1943 10 squadron Halifax II JD166 ZA-G (shot down by night fighter)
DFM awarded on the 27th January 1945

Fl/Sgt. Edward Walter Fletcher. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.21. Son of Harold and Ethel Mary Fletcher, of Dutton, Lancashire. Epitaph: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them'.

Fl/Sgt. John Wilson Milburn. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.21. Son of John Wilson Milburn and Mary Elizabeth Milburn, of Blyth, Northumberland. Epitaph: 'Ever Remembered By His Loving Mum, Dad And Brothers Bill, Tom And David'.

Fl/Sgt. James Coles. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.23. Son of Walter and Frances Emma Coles, of Bradford, Yorkshire. Epitaph: 'He Died That We Might Live. His Loving Mother. Rest In Peace'.

Fl/Sgt. Harold Ferguson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 5.H.24. Son of Robert and Annie Ferguson, of Newton Heath, Manchester. Epitaph: 'Just A Cluster Of Loving Memories And A Heartache Still For You. Mam And Dad'.

Memorial to the crew

Some years after the war, a Michelbach resident, Herr Karl Frauhammer, himself a refugee who had been left severely disabled as a result of war wounds and therefore unable to fully follow his profession of blacksmith, designed and created a war memorial to honour the memory of the dead crew.

A large block of sandstone incorporates a piece of the aircraft wreckage and bears a wrought-iron motif and commemorative plaque. Standing before the sandstone is a low gateway of decorative wrought ironwork; inset areseven gilt crosses and symbolic four-engined aircraft (unfortunately it looks more like a Flying Fortress than a Lancaster - but does not detract. from the obvious sincerity of the creator's intentions). The commemorative plaque, freely translated, reads:-

'On 28th January 1945, a four-engined British bomber aircraft crashed at this spot, killing all seven members of its crew'.

The memorial, which is set alongside a well-known scenic walk in a peaceful woodland on the outskirts of Michelbach, was unveiled on Sunday, 13th Oct. 1974 in a ceremony attended by the British Air Attache, Bonn; the British Consul-General, Stuttgart; the local German Air Force commander; and local dignitaries including the Burgomeister and heads of all community services.

Also present were the parents of the crew's Wireless Operator (F/Sgt John Wilson Milburn) together with contingents representing the RAF, the German Air Force and the Fire Services.
The ceremony did not pass unnoticed. The Daily Telegraph of 14th October 1974 reported:-

'In an unusual, or even unique ceremony. a small German village paid tribute to the memory of seven British airmen of No. 153 Squadron, who died there in 1945'.

Similar reports appeared in various British and German provincial papers, and in RAF News.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the International Bomber Command Centre , National Archiv Kew AI- 27-1029-25/26. Relatives of Fl/Sgt. Peter Raeburn Jenkinson DFM. Theo Boiten (Nachtjagd Combat Archive Worcester College. Kracker Luftwaffe Archive 1939-1945.

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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