Operation: Stuttgart, Germany

Date: 20th/21st February 1944 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit No: 427 (Lion) Squadron, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LV836

Code: ZL:Y

Base: RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire

Location: Near Yafforth, North Yorkshire

Pilot: Fg Off. Ross K. Laut J22723 RCAF Age 22. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Edward John Rowe 1271023 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Nav: Fg Off. William Norman Hegy J20660 RCAF Age 23. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Roy William Moody R164683 RCAF Age 20. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. George Henry Jones 1420376 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Frank Albert Charles Harris 545284 RAF Age 23. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Alfred Frederick Fitton 2209093 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Above left to right: Fg Off. Ross Laut, Fg Off. William Hegy, Flt Sgt. Roy Moody, Sgt. Edward Rowe, Sgt. George Jones, Sgt. Alfred Fitton and Sgt. Frank Harris.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 20th/21st February 1944 fourteen (14) aircraft from the squadron were detailed to join a force of five-hundred and ninety-eight (598) aircraft on an operation to bomb Stuttgart in Germany.

LV836 was loaded with 720x4lb, 90x4lb and 24x30lb incendiary bombs. The aircraft took off at 00:15 hrs and gained height by making circuits until all the other aircraft from the squadron were airborne.

Just 5 minutes later at approximately 00:20 hrs the Halifax came down near Yafforth in a cultivated field, killing all the crew instantly in the impact and consequent blaze. The aircraft wreckage was scattered over a large area.

The area now occupied by the Romanby Golf and Country Club.

The subsequent court of enquiry failed to discover any reason for the accident.

Around the Leeming area was poor with drizzle and low cloud present on what was reported as being a very dark night.

Apart from the pilot who was on his fourth operational sortie the crew were on their second.

(1) Ross K. Laut enlisted in the RCAF on the 24th August 1940 and trained as an Air Gunner. He was awarded his Air Gunner brevet and promoted to Sgt on the 27th October 1940.

Above. R60391 Sgt. Ross K. Laut - Air Gunner (from his service record)

He then remustered to being trained as a Pilot and was awarded his wings on the 22nd January 1943.

His elder brother, Wg Cdr. Albin Laut, MiD C861 RCAF, was killed when the 113 (BR) Squadron, Ventura PV-1 #2148 on which he was aboard crashed at RCAF Station Sydney in Nova Scoti on the 3rd October 1943.

The aircraft took off on a cross-country flight to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The aircraft made a circuit of the aerodrome at very low altitude (50 ft or less) and then commenced a 2nd circuit. In the 2nd attempt, the aircraft pulled up into a steep vertical bank to port, stalled and then crashed to the ground from 250 ft. The cause of the accident was attributed to pilot error in manoeuvring a heavily loaded aircraft too low and too aggressively. All six (6) onboard the aircraft perished.

Above: Courtesy of The Calgary Albertan, dated 9th October 1943

Burial details:

Fg Off. Ross K. Laut. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Sec. F, Row A, Grave 19. Grave Inscription: 'REST IN PEACE'. Born on the 26th July 1921 In Alberta. Son of Frank and Nina E. Laut (deceased in January 1939) of Crossfield, Alberta, Canada.

Above: Courtesy of The Calgary Albertan, date 25th February 1944

Sgt. Edward John Rowe. East Grinstead Cemetery (Mount Noddy), Sec. 1, Grave 453. Grave Inscription: 'HE MADE THE GREAT SACRIFICE WITH OTHERS OF HIS CREW ON AN AIR OPERATION. GIVING ALL THAT WE MAY LIVE'. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in East Grinstead, Sussex. Son of Alfred James and Margaret (née Budgen) Rowe of East Grinstead, West Sussex, England.

Fg Off. William Norman Hegy. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Sec. F, Row A, Grave 17. Grave Inscription: 'THERE IS A LINK DEATH CANNOT SEVER LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LAST FOR EVER'. Born on the 18th April 1920 in Calgary, Alberta. Son of Edward Clarence and Elizabeth M. (née Scollard) Hegy of Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

Plt Off. Roy William Moody. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Sec. F, Row A, Grave 18. Grave Inscription: 'HEARTS THAT LOVE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IN MEMORY YOU ARE WITH US YET. FAMILY'. Born on the 24th February 1923 in Montreal, Quebec. Son of Cecil William and Daisy (née Denham) Moody of Point St. Charles, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Moody was appointed to a commission and promoted to J87165 Plt Off, effective 20th February 1944.

Above: Courtesy of The Montreal Star, dated 26th February 1944

Sgt. George Henry Jones. Newport Cemetery (St. Woolos), CON. A. 80, Grave 132. Born on the 24th August 1923 in Wales. Son of Gordon and Elsie Maud (née Jones) Jones of Newport, Monmouthshire. Husband of Queenie Olive (née Thomas) Jones of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Sgt. Frank Albert Charles Harris. West Kingston Churchyard, (St. Mary), West of Church. Grave Inscription: 'ENJOY THE PEACE THY VALOUR WON'. Birth registered in the 2nd Qtr of 1920 In Chippenham, Wiltshire. Son of Frank and Ida (née Wicks) Harris of West Kington. Husband to Emma J. (née Moore) Harris of West Yatton, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.

Sgt. Alfred Frederick Fitton. Over Churchyard. Grave 268. Grave inscription: 'THIS WAS A SAD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF A DEAR ONE GONE TO REST'. Born on the 5th April 1924 in Northwich, Cheshire. Son of Alfred and Blanch Elizabeth (née Pendry) Fitton of West Winsford, Cheshire, England.

Above: Courtesy of the Northwich Guardian, dated 25th February 1944

Researched aby Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) nd dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives Kew, Air-27-1846-3/4, International Bomber Command Centre IBCC. (Mar 2023). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with new information and clippings (Sep 2026)

Other sources listed below:

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