Operation: Berlin, Germany

Date: 24th/25th March 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 7 Squadron, 8 Group (Pathfinder Force (PFF)), Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND581

Code: MG:O

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Location: Berlin in the NE district of Friedrichshain

Pilot: Fg Off. John Milward Mee DFC, 416518 RNZAF Age 25. MiA

Flt Eng: Flt Sgt. George Lionel Grimes 1119613 RAFVR Age 32. MiA

Nav: Flt Lt. David Percy Bain DFC, 415815 RNZAF Age 33. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. David Newbury Luxton 414310 RNZAF Age 30. MiA

Wireless Op/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Vivien Vincent Mortlock 1322900 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Lt. Leonard Thomas Berrigan DFC, J16898 RCAF Age 29. MiA (1)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Richard Arthur Webb 1473046 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 24th March 1944 Bomber Command mounted an 811 bomber raid on Berlin. The aircraft comprised 577 Lancasters, 216 Halifaxes and 18 Mosquitoes. Of this force 44 Lancasters and 28 Halifaxes were lost.

This night became known in Bomber Command as ’the night of the strong winds’. A powerful wind from the north carried the bomber streams to the south at every stage of the outbound leg. The bomber stream became very scattered, particularly on the homebound leg and radar-predicted Flak batteries at many places were able to score successes. It was estimated that approximately 50 of the 72 aircraft lost were from Flak and most of the remainder were lost to German night-fighters.

ND581 was claimed by Hptm. Gerhard Raht, his 26th Abschuss, from 4./NJG3 over Berlin at 5.300 m. at 22:28 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Hptm. Raht flew a total 171 sorties and was credited with 59 Abschüsse. After the war he joined the Post-war Bundes Luftwaffe. He died on the 11th January 1977. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 3)

Captured German records stated that the aircraft was shot down in Berlin in the NE district of Friedrichshain. It also confirmed an International Red Cross Committee (IRCC) report that the bodies were taken to the Reserve Lazarett 101, Olympisches Dorf, Doberitz for burial.

A letter written to the family of Flt Lt. Berrigan, dated 25th January 1952, found on his service record, stated that a number of Commonwealth airmen were located in the cemetery at Doberitz. Regrettably, however, due to circumstances outside of British control, it had not been possible to revisit Doberitz, which at that time was situated in the Russian Zone of Occupation, for the purpose of obtaining information about him and the members of his crew.

It is not known what steps have been taken to visit the cemetery at Doberitz if at all, to identify the airmen buried there since the amalgamation of East and West Germany and consequently their names remain perpetrated on the Runnymede Memorial.

(1) On the night of the 27th January 1943, Flt Sgt. Berrigan R72662 was struck in the chest by a Flak splinter, whilst flying as the Mid-Upper Gunner aboard 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn, Lancaster I R5729, KM:A. He was passed fit for operations on the 2nd February 1943.

Fg Off. Berrigan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst serving with 7 Sqn. Posthumously promulgated in the London Gazette on the 2nd June 1944.

Citation: “This officer has completed many successful operations against the enemy in which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty”.

Burial details:

Above: The Runnymede Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC))

Fg Off. John Milward Mee DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 262. Born in 1919 in Dunedin, Otago. Son of James and Myra Anne (née Hanger) Mee, of Becks, Otago, New Zealand.

The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was awarded to Fg Off. Mee whilst serving with 7 Sqn. Posthumously promulgated in the London Gazette on the 21st April 1944.

Flt Sgt. George Lionel Grimes. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 218. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1911 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Son of Francis Louis and Ada Emily (née Harris) Grimes, of Liverpool. Husband of Georgina (née Brennan) Grimes of Liverpool, England.

Flt Lt. David Percy Bain DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 262. Born on the 1st June 1910 in Devonport, Auckland. Son of David Patrick and Violet Ethel Sybil (née Smith) Bain of Laingholm, Auckland, New Zealand.

The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was awarded to acting Flt Lt. Bain whilst serving with 7 Sqn. Posthumously promulgated in the London Gazette on the 21st December 1945.

Flt Sgt. David Newbury Luxton. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 264. Son of Thomas and Grace Luxton. Husband of Madge Luxton from Belfast, Ireland.

Flt Sgt. Vivien Vincent Mortlock. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 220. Born in 3rd Qtr of 1923 in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. Son of Vincent Vivian and Elsie Winifred (née Coulson) Mortlock of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

Flt Lt. Leonard Thomas Berrigan DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 244. Born on the 24th December 1914 in Dunedin, Clyde River, Prince Edward Island. Son of Patrick J and Sarah Ellen (née Moreside) Berrigan of Clyde River, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Richard Arthur Webb. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 223. Son of Arthur Henry and Evelyn Marian Webb of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Jun 2024.

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