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Operation: Berlin
Date: 24/25th March 1944 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 576 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: LM471
Code: UL-J2
Base: RAF Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Location: Beeck, Duisberg, Germany
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Leslie John Collis 1284701 RAFVR Age 27. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Edward Smith 1818735 RAFVR Age 27. Killed
Nav: Sgt. R.J. Roper 1576408 RAFVR PoW No: No details Camp Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang
Air/Bmr: F/O. A.C. Harper J/25585 RCAF PoW No: 3819 Camp: Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. P. McDougall 1458525 RAFVR PoW No: 3828 Camp: Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang
Air/Gnr: Sgt. B. Warren 2200072 RAFVR PoW No: 43396 No further details.
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Robinson 1078798 RAFVR PoW No: 2187 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 18.51hrs Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire to bomb the heart of Germany - Berlin. Another huge raid with 811 Allied bombers formed up to bomb Berlin. The weather was extremely good with very high visibility which resulted in many losses to the german Night fighters who were already closing in on the bomber stream as early as 19.45 hrs! Un-forecasted jet stream winds scattered the bombers to the South of the intended route and many of the aircraft were flying without the protection of "Window".
The night became known as “The night of the strong winds".
Wedding of Sgt. Joseph Robinson with some of LM471 Crew (courtesy of Claire Brown)
The raid itself resulted in the usual damage to civilian properties with 150 people being killed on the ground in the target area (A further 30 people killed in other areas bombed by the scattered force.) No major industrial targets were hit although some damage was done to 5 military establishments - including the Waffen-S.S. depot in Lichterfield
A total of 72 aircraft were lost in this last major raid on Berlin of the war including 2 from 576 Squadron the other flown by F/O. Peter Brooke who together with 6 of his crew were killed.
Left: Reichswald War Cemetery
Fl/Sgt. Leslie John Collis. Reichswald War Cemetery. Grave 7.B.4. Son of Joseph Benjamin and Edith Collis, husband of Constance Mary Collis, of Sidcup, Kent, England.
Sgt. Edward Smith. Reichswald War Cemeter.y Grave 7.B.5. Son of Edward and Florence Smith, husband of Winifred May Smith, of Foleshill, Warwickshire, England.
Researched for Claire Brown (Granddaughter of Sgt. Joseph Robinson) and relatives of the crew.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 04 April 2015, 21:09