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Operation: Chemnitz
Date: 14/15th February 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)
Unit: No. 166 Squadron
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: PD394
Code: AS-P
Base: RAF Kirmington
Location: Culitzsch, Germany
Pilot: F/O. Dennis Stuart Kemp J/42491 RCAF Age 23. Killed
Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. John McCreadie 638636 RAF Age 32. Killed
Nav: F/O. Edgar Charles Hill 160743 RAFVR Age 34. Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. Michael Arthur O’Callaghan 164488 RAFVR Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Arthur George Flack 1304368 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Neville Walter Oates 1868430 RAFVR Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick William Wakefield 1853724
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Kirmington in Lincolnshire to bomb Chemnitz as part of the "Operation Thunderclap" (1) 717 aircraft from 1,3,4,6 and 8 group taking part.
The diversionary tactics used by the allies resulted in relatively few aircraft losses, 13 in total during the Chemnitz raid,.
PD394 the only aircraft lost from 166 Squadron on this operation. Understood to have been shot down by Oblt Engelbert Heiner (2), of Stab.IV./NJG6. The action taking place over Culitzsch, Germany with the aircraft crashing at 00:43 hrs scattering the wreckage over a considerable area.
1) "Operation Thunderclap" - In August 1944 plans were drawn for an operation code named Thunderclap but it was shelved and never implemented. The plan envisaged a massive attack on Berlin that would cause 220,000 casualties with 110,000 killed, many of them key German personnel, which would shatter German morale. But on consideration it was decided that it was unlikely to work, so it was shelved.
Right: Oblt Engelbert Heiner Kracker Archives)
All the crew were initially buried at the local cemetery in Culitzsch and reinterred after war end.
F/O. Dennis Stuart Kemp. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.2. Son of Harold Stuart Miller Kemp and Elsie Kemp (née Lamb), of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Grave inscription reads: "The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge And Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms" Further information can be found on the ‘Saskatchewan Virtual Memorial’.
Fl/Sgt. John McCreadie. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.5. Son of James and Annie McCreadie; husband of Marjorie McCreadie, of Hexthorpe, Yorkshire, England. Grave inscription reads: “Always Remembered.”
F/O. Edgar Charles Hill. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.1. Son of Sidney Moody Hill and Winifred Eva Hill; husband of Evelyn Ida Hill, of Ewhurst, Surrey, England. Grave inscription reads: “My Beloved Husband, Though Absent You Are Always Near, Still Loved And Ever Dear.”
F/O. Michael Arthur O’Callaghan. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.7. No further information, are you able to assist?
W/O. Arthur George Flack. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.3. Son of Albert and Jemima Caroline Flack, of South Lambeth, London, England. Grave inscription reads: “Till We Meet Again.”
Sgt. Neville Walter Oates. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.4. Son of Herbert Leslie and Louise Jenny Oates, of Reigate, Surrey, England. Grave inscription reads: “Faithful Unto Death.”
Sgt. Frederick William Wakefield. Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Grave 13.Z.6. No further information, are you able to assist?
Researched for relatives of John McReadie and dedicated to all relatives of the crew. For further details our thanks to the sources quoted below.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 13 July 2016, 00:08