Operation: Volkel airfield, Germany

Date: 3rd September 1944 (Sunday)

Unit No: 426 (Thunderbird) Sqn, RCAF, 6 Group

Type: Halifax VII

Serial: LW206

Code: OW:Q

Base: RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire

Location: Pampisford, Cambridgeshire

Pilot: Plt Off. Robert Arthur Lamb J87830 RCAF Age 27. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Norman Kingsley Robinson 183935 RAFVR Age 40. Killed

Nav: Plt Off. Robert E.B. Mallalue J87902 RCAF Age? Survived

Bom Aimer: Plt Off. E.T Longley J20860 RCAF Age? Survived

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Robert M. Kipfer R201012 RCAF Age? Survived

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Albert Anthony Joseph Willis R221202 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. William Baker Wright R251792 RCAF Age 23. Killed

Above left to right: Plt Off. Lamb, Sgt. Willis, Flt Sgt. Wright from their service records.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Above: A 426 (Thunderbird) Sqn, RCAF Halifax. Believed to be NP696 OW:M, which was a B.VII

On the 3rd September 1944 675 aircraft took off to take part in heavy attacks on several Luftwaffe bases in the south of Holland. Reports state all the raids were a success.

LW206 took offfrpm RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 15:17 hrs on an operation to attack the airfield at Volkel in the Netherlands. The bomb load was made up of 9 x 1,000 lp bombs, 4 x 500 lp bombs. Weather conditions on takeoff 6/10 cloud at 3,100 ft, 10/10 cloud at 14,000 ft, visibility 3 miles with a 5 mph SW surface wind.

Two other aircraft were lost on this operation:

Halifax III MZ758 MH:V from 57 Squadron. Flown by 23-year-old, WO Kenneth Potts 183583 RAFVR. Forced landing on return at 19:25 hrs. due to double port and hydraulic engine failure. No serious injuries were reported although on the 5th January 1945 the then Fg Off. Potts DFC was listed as missing - believed killed whilst with 35 Squadron.

Halifax III NA616 L8:? from 347 Squadron. Flown by Adj. Henri René Rouillay FFAF. Hit by flak and crashed at Bochult at 17:15 hrs. At least 2 crew baled out and made PoW, with 5 others killed. Unconfirmed reports stated that three of the crew were murdered on the ground by German soldiers.

After take-off, they flew down country in the cloud at around 14,000 ft. Plt Off. Mallalue had just given Plt Off. Lamb an alteration in the course and the turn commenced when the aircraft went into a flat spin. Corrective action had no effect and the pilot ordered the crew to bale out. Three did so successfully but Sgt. Norman Robinson's parachute lines were cut by the aircraft. It was presumed that the pilot and rear gunner were still in the aircraft when it crashed.

Weather conditions at the time of accident 16:30 hrs: 1/10 cloud at 2,500 ft, 10/10 cloud at 14,000 ft, visibility 9 miles with a 5 mph SW surface wind.

The wreckage was scattered over a wide area by the explosion of the bomb load. Where the aircraft crashed there was a crater approximately 25 yards in diameter, 16 ft deep, and half-filled with water. The force of the explosion was so violent that no large pieces of the aircraft were available for examination and many pieces were in the branches of the surrounding trees. Several cottages were damaged by the blast and a small hutted camp was demolished.

A tree that was probably alongside the aircraft after it had crashed was blown approximately 40 yards by the explosion and fell across a lane killing 3 Americans USAAF personnel. Also killed was another USAAF Officer and a civilian. Several American vehicles were damaged.

1st Lt. Louis F. Streb O-1796881, was killed on duty when a RCAF Halifax crashed near Duxford airfield on the 3rd September 1944. He and his driver, Sgt. Wayne T. Marsh 35358225, had rushed to crash scene to help rescue the crew when the aircraft exploded, killing them both. Both served with the 989th Military Police Company (Aviation) based at Duxford.

Also killed were Maj. Clyde J. Kennedy O-1114294, who was the Executive Officer with the 66th Fighter Wing HQ Squadron, and 1st Lt. William M. Shoemaker O-565838, the fire marshal with 2027th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon (US Army), attached to RAF/USAAF Duxford.

Note: Maj. Kennedy was killed on the same day he received his promotion from Captain

The Civilian killed was Frederick Stanley Teversham. Who was a member of the "Home Guard" whose occupation was a cattle farmer.

The subsequent court of inquiry reported that the wind was found to be stronger than had been forecast and as a result 'dog legs' were flown to waste time.

The navigator gave the last course alteration, 120˚ to port, to bring the aircraft to the turning point on time.

The pilot had been using the automatic pilot but he disengage it before starting the turn. When the aircraft had about 40˚ of bank on and had completed about 15˚ of the turn it slipped away in a diving turn to port and then went into a flat spin. Four members of the crew baled out but one parachute was hit by the aircraft and the shroud lines were cut.

The aircraft crashed in woodland and caught fire. Shortly afterwards the bomb load exploded, causing extensive damage killing six others and several other personnel suffering various injuries.

The cause of the crash is obscure but as the aircraft went into a spin it most probably stalled first and it is assumed that the pilot eased the control column too far back in the turn. After the aircraft started spinning the pilot did not appear to be taking the correct action to bring it out of the spin.

As witnesses only saw 4 bodies leave the aircraft and saw one hit by the aircraft this must have been the flight engineer, Sgt. Robinson. Why the mid-upper gunner, Sgt. Willis was not wearing a parachute harness is unexplainable, but he is not considered to have jumped and fallen through his harness. It is considered that the parachute seen hanging in a tree by the 11th witness was blown there by the explosion.

The flight authorization book, pilots flying logbook, airframe, and engine log cards were all in order.

The Group Commander stated that he concurred with the investigation that the cause of this accident is obscure but it would appear that the pilot eased the control column too far back and used more aileron than was necessary for the turn. The aircraft stalled and spun in.

It was recommended that the correct method for bringing a four-engine aircraft out of a spin, is given to all pilots at Heavy Conversion Units.

The Commander-In-Chief added the attention of Groups has been drawn to the revised flying instructions regarding the flying characteristics of the Halifax aircraft. In addition, a representative from RAE was to visit conversion units to lecture on the same subject.

Experience of the pilot: 1666 OTU Assessment - 'Average'. 24 OTU Assessment - 'Average'. 11 (P)AFU Assessment - 'Average, needs watching'. 3 SFTS Canada Assessment - 'Average, rough on controls, airmanship careless'.

Burial Details:

Brookwood Military Cemetery

Plt Off. Robert Arthur Lamb. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Plot 43 Row I Grave 7. Grave inscription: 'IN SACRED MEMORY OF A LOVING SON'. Born on the 13th April 1917 in Vancouver. Son of Addie Ellie Lamb, of 3654 5th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

A total of 419 flying hours were logged with 143 on the Halifax. Trained with No. 3 Service Flying Training School in Canada. No. 11 Pilot Advanced Flying School, 24 Operational Training Unit, and 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit.

Sgt. Albert Anthony Joseph Willis. Brookwood Military Cemetery Plot 43 Row I Grave 6. Grave inscription: 'HERE RESTS A SOUL GOOD AND TRUE DEAREST SON, WE MISS YOU SO. REST IN PEACE'. Born on the 24th November 1921 at Regina. Son of Anthony and Barbara Willis, brother of Donald, Louise and Shirley of 1746 Tourangeau Road, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Enlisted on the 30th March 1943 at Windsor, Ontario. Worked as a mechanic for General Motors.

Plt Off. William Baker Wright. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Plot 43 Row I Grave 8. Born on the 31st May 1921 in Toronto. Studied at Western Technical School in Toronto. Worked as a receiver for Bauer and Black. Son of Norman Sangster Wright and Margaret June Baker Wright, of 328 Sunnyside Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Appointed to a commission and promoted to J89217 Plt Off. on the 11th August 1944.

Cambridge City Cemetery

Sgt. Norman Kingsley Robinson. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 14102. Grave inscription: 'GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS'. Son of Thomas William (died 23rd October 1956, age 75) and Eveline Annie Robinson (died 15th September 1957, age 76) and husband of Margaret Robinson, of Durham, England.

Studied at Windsor High School.

USAAF Personnel:

Above Grave marker for 1st Lt. Louis F. Streb (Courtesy of darealjolo - FindAGrave (not contactable))

1st Lt. Louis Francis Streb. Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot F, Row 5, Grave 34. Born on the 24th February 1911 in Baltimore, Maryland. His Next of Kin was reported to be his Uncle Mr. Edward Simmons Goodhand of Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Above Image and grave marker for Sgt. Wayne T. Marsh (Courtesy of Steve Kruger - FindAGrave and Lesa Epperson- FindAGrave)

Sgt. Wayne Thomas Marsh. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Rockfield Cemetery, Veedersburg, Indiana. Born on the 24th December 1916 in Indiana. Son of Elmer and Estie (née Gookins) Marsh. Husband to Dortha M. (née Gardener) Marsh of Detroit, Michigan, USA.

1st Lt. William Martin Shoemaker. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Memorial Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Born on the 8th September 1921 in McAlester, Oklahoma. Son of William Lester and Bernice (née Goss) Shoemaker. Husband of Martha (née Tayrein) Shoemaker of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Maj. Clyde John Kennedy. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Calvery Cemetery and Mausoleum, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Born on the 6th April 1910 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Son of John Henry and Margaret Ann (née Ferguson) Kennedy Husband of Arlene E. (née Tierney) Kennedy of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Civilian:

Frederick Stanley Teversham. Son of Albert and Mary Jane Teversham of 18 Council Houses, Fulbourn. Husband of Vera Teversham (née King), father of Marjorie Kathleen of Netherhall Farm Cottages, Queen Edith's Way, Cherry Hinton.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to John Jones for information and photographs, Steven Oatway (Dec 2021). Thanks to George S. Sherman for the initial information regarding the USAAF personnel killed (Jan 2024). Further updates with information and photographs added by Aircrew Remembered (Jan 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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