Operation: Ottignies rail installations, Belgium

Date: 20th/21st April 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 635 Squadron, 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND826

Code: F2:W

Base: RAF Downham Market, Norfolk

Location: Dion-le-Mont (Brabant), 4km ESE of Wavre, Belgium

Pilot: Sqn Ldr Donald William Mansbridge AFC, 45151 RAF Age 30. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: WO. Albert Stanley ‘Tich’ Palmer DFM, 643812 RAF Age 24. KiA (2)

Nav: Fg Off. Gerald Herbert ‘Gerry’ Cruwys CdeG, 135442 RAF Age 22. KiA (3)

Bomb Aimer: WO. William Courtney White DFM, 1311804 RAFVR Age 34. KiA (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: WO. John Richard Hanson 1284645 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Ernest ‘Butch’ Hambling DFM, 928499 RAFVR Age 22. KiA (5)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Ernest Rowe Newton Barrell 992916 RAFVR Age 29. KiA

Above: Thought to be some of the crew. Left to right: 1st. Sqn Ldr. Mansbridge AFC, 5th. Flt Sgt. Hambling DFM. (courtesy Hilary Mowles and Donna Burgess)

We have been contacted by Clive Smith who believes that the airman 4th from the left and next to Flt Sgt. Butch Rambling resembles Flt Sgt. John Richard Hanson. Flt Sgt. Hanson was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner who flew his first tour with 106 Squadron at RAF Coningsby and RAF Syerston between March and December 1942. He flew predominantly with pilot Flt Lt. Bill Whamond. His nickname was 'Happy' as he was always jolly and smiling.

Above: Flt Sgt. John Richard Hanson (Courtesy of Clive Smith)

Left to right: Plt Off. Challoner, Plt Off. Wynne DFM, Plt Off. Cruwys, Sgt. Shearer and Sgt. Colwell all serving with 161 Squadron (courtesy Debbie Kennett neice of Gerald Herbert Cruwys). Centre: Plt Off. Cruwys (courtesy Michal Beckers) Right: Sgt. Hambling (courtesy Hilary Mowles and Donna Burgess)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster ND826 took-off from RAF Downham Market at 21:28 hrs and joined a force of 196 aircraft, on an operation to bomb the rail installations at Ottignies, Belgium.

Lancaster Mk III (courtesy Imperial War Museum) and the railway station at Ottignies (courtesy Wikipedia)

Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after take-off. No German records have been found that record the loss of ND826 claim so the reason for the loss of the crew and aircraft remain unknown. The aircraft crashed at Dion-le-Mont (Brabant), 4km ESE of Wavre in Belgium. This was a very experienced crew who had flown together on many operations.

(1) Donald William Mansbridge completed part of his education at Portsmouth Grammar School. On the 24th January 1938 Sgt. Mansbridge was on a night navigation training exercise flying 51 Sqn, Anson I K6277 (1 Killed, 3 Injured) which crashed on approach to what was mistakenly thought o be their base.

580120 Sgt. Mansfield was appointed to a commission on the 8th January 1941 as 45151 Plt Off. on probation. He was confirmed as Plt Off. and promoted to Fg Off. with effect the 8th January 1942 and to Flt Lt. on the 8th January 1943.

While serving with 19 Operational Training Unit (OTU) he was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) and promoted to Sqn Ldr.

(2) Flt Sgt. Palmer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 97 Squadron (London Gazette, 11th February 1944).

(3) Official news that their son is missing from air operations has been received by Mr and Mrs H.F. Cruwys of 238 Gloucester Road, Cheltenham. An Air Ministry Telegram stated:

"Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Flying Officer Gerald Hubbert Cruwys, is reported missing as the result of air operations. Any further news received will be immediately communicated to you"

Fg Off. Cruwys was awarded the French Croix de Guerre (CdeG) in 1943 (Courtesy of The Gloucestershire Echo, dated 28th May 1943)

(Courtesy of The Gloucestershire Echo, dated 28th May 1943)

1187365 Flt Sgt. Cruwys was appointed to a commission and promoted to 135442 Plt Off. with effect the 6th October 1940 (London Gazette, 12th January 1943). He was promoted to Fg Off. with effect 6th April 1943 (London Gazette 21st May 1943).

(4) William White had been a builder's foreman before enlisting in the RAF during 1940.

Sgt. White was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst serving with 49 Squadron. (London Gazette, 18th May 1943)

Above Courtesy of The Cornishman, dated 20th May 1943

William completed his first tour of duty with 49 Squadron.

(5) Ernest’s brother William and his father went to London to collect Ernest's Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) on behalf of the family, which was presented by King George. It is believed that Ernest was due to collect it in person but sadly lost his life, before this could take place.

Ernest attended the society wedding (shown above, 2nd from right) of his pilot, Sqn Ldr. Mansbridge when he got married.

Ernest was one of seven brothers, all of whom had farming connections and it is believed that his father, Harry, was a horse dealer and that Ernest worked on the land.

His brother 26 year old, Alfred Edward Hambling, served in the 5th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment and became a prisoner of the Japanese. He was being transported with a large number of British and Australian PoWs, having already survived the “Death railway” in Burma on the 12th of September 1944, when the Rakuyo Mara was torpedoed by the American submarine USS Sealion unaware that the ship was carrying PoWs.

Alfred was amongst the 1159 PoWs that died. The dead included 350 PoWs whose lifeboats were bombarded and killed by a Japanese Naval vessel the next day. He is remembered on the Singapore Memorial. Both brothers are remembered on the War Memorial at Layham, Suffolk.

Burial details:

All the crew were first buried in Le Culot Temporary Burial Ground, Belgium and reburied on the 25 October 1946 in Heverlee War Cemetery. Heverlee War Cemetery (courtesy Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Sqn Ldr. Donald W. Mansbridge AFC, WO. Albert S. Palmer DFM, Plt Off. Gerald H.Cruwys CdeG

Sqn Ldr. Donald William Mansbridge AFC. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Grave Inscription: “FOR A WEB BEGUN GOD FINDETH THREAD”.Born on the 15th October 1913 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Son of William and Alice (née Moss) Mansbridge. Husband of Letitia Joyce (née Jennings) Mansbridge of Fareham, Hampshire, England.

Above: Sqn Ldr. Mansbridge is remembered on Portsmouth Grammar School War Memorial and the Fareham War Memorial

WO. Albert Stanley ‘Titch’ Palmer DFM. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Grave Inscription: “NOW HE'S PASSED FROM EARTHLY CARE, GOD THE SOUL WILL KEEP GIVING HIS BELOVED, SLEEP”.Son of Mr and Mrs Albert Palmer. Husband of Florence Rona (née Staff) Palmer of Canton, Cardiff, Wales.

Fg Off. Gerald Herbert ‘Gerry’ Cruwys CdeG. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G. 1-7. Grave Inscription: “IN REVERENCE, LOVE AND PRIDE. MOTHER, DAD AND BROTHERS TOM (RAF), STAN. (RN) AND PETER (ATC)”. Born on the 8th October 1921 in Cork, Ireland. Son of Herbert Frederick and Edith Florence (née Wiggins) Cruwys of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

Fg Off. Cruwys is also remembered on the Cheltenham War Memorial

WO. William Courtney White DFM. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Grave Inscription: “HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. G.M.W.”.Born in 1st Qtr of 1910 in Helston, Cornwall. Son of William Henry and Christian Jane White. Husband of Gertrude May White of West Croydon, Surrey.

WO. William C. White DFM, WO. John R. Hanson, Flt Sgt Ernest Hambling DFM and Flt Sgt. Ernest R.N. Barrell. (all courtesy Marcel Rosveld)

WO. John Richard Hanson. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING I WILL REMEMBER HIM”.Born on the 4th August 1922 in Shillong, India. Son of Richard Clarence (deceased in September 1941) and Mabel Violet (née Connell) Hanson of Hucclecote, Gloucestershire, England.

Flt Sgt. Ernest ‘Butch’ Hambling DFM. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Born in 1922. Born on the 29th April 1921 in Blything, Suffolk. Son of Harry S. and Kate (née Ruddock) Hambling of Layham Suffolk, England.

Flt Sgt. Ernest Rowe Newton Barrell. Heverlee War Cemetery, Coll. Grave 2.G.1-7. Grave Inscription: “THY PURPOSE, LORD WE CANNOT SEE BUT ALL IS WELL THAT'S DONE BY THEE”. Born on the 25th March 1915 in Liverpool, Lancashire. Son of George and Edith (née Brankley) Barrell. Husband of Annie (née Curd) Barrell of Prescot, Lancashire, England.

Flt Sgt. Barrell is also remembered on the Prescot Civic War Memorial

Researched Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to Michal Beckers, Debbie Kennett, Marcel Rosvelds. Grateful thanks to Linda Ibrom, Donna Burgess, great niece of Ernest and her mother Hilary Mowles, niece of Flt Sgt. Hambling. Thanks to Clive Smith, 106 Sqn Association, for the image of Flt Sgt. John Richard Hanson and for his information (Mar 2025). Reviewed, Reorganised and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Mar 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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