Operation: Duisburg, Germany

Date: 12th/13th May 1943 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 77 Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax II

Serial: DT632

Code: KN:Z

Base: RAF Elvington, Yorkshire

Location: Near Ahaus, Germany

Pilot: Sgt. Thomas Matheson Moran R105579 RCAF Age 22. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. John Desmond Mahony 577547 RAF Age 18. KiA

Nav: Sgt. Leonard Allen Stimpson 1312924 RAFVR Age 35. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Frederick Allan Clark 128520 RAFVR Age 30. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Ronald George Miles 1377449 RAFVR Age 32. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid-Upper): Sgt. William Anthony Pasqual 1547158 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr: (Rear): Sgt. John Thomson Murray 1467008 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Above: Enhanced image of Sgt. Thomas Matheson Moran (Original courtesy of Kim Downey)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 12th May 1943 77 Sqn detailed thirteen (13) aircraft to join a force of five-hundred and seventy-two (572) bombers on an operation to bomb Duisburg for the fourth time.

Halifax II DT632 was one the nine (9) Halifaxes of the thirty-four (34) aircraft that failed to return.

Halifax II DT632 was claimed by Oblt. August Geiger from 7./NJG1, his 24th Abschuss over Gaxel near Vreden at 5,600m at 02:06hrs (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January - 22 June) 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten)

Hptm. Geiger was KiA on the night of the 29/30.09.43 in the Ijsselmeer 8 km NW of Harderwijk, when his Bf110 G4 G9+ER was shot down by 141 Sqn Beaufighter X8147 flown by Wg Cdr. John R.D. Braham 40667 DSO & 2 bars, DFC & 2 Bars and Flt Lt. Henry Jacobs 78685 DFC & Bar, AFC. Both Geiger and his Bordfunker. Uffz. Dietrich Koch baled out after a fierce battle but drowned in the Ijsselmeer. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten)

Hptm. Geiger was credited with 49 confirmed Abschüsse and 1 pending confirmation. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten).

DT632 crashed near Ahaus which is some 8¾ miles (14 km) ENE of Vreden where the crew were initially buried.

A second aircraft from the Sqn returning from the raid, Halifax II JB865 KN:J, was diverted to RAF Pocklington because of bad weather at base but in attempting to land crashed one (1) mile SW of Bishop Wilton, some five (5) miles ESE of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire. The Pilot, Fg Off. Thomas Archibald DFC 412606 RAAF and the Bomb Aimer, Sgt. Gerard Scully 1219445 RAFVR perished in the crash.

(1) Thomas Matheson Moran was one of three (3) brothers who served in the Canadian Forces:

WO1. David Oliver Moran R61157 served with 53 Sqn, Coastal Command. His Hudson V AM549 was hit by enemy Flak and crashed off the coast of Sylt, Germany on the 8th April 1942. He and his crew all survived and became PoWs.

Frederick Douglas Moran served with the Royal Canadian Army overseas – No further information found.

Above: Three brothers Moran (Courtesy of the Edmonton Journal, 8th January 1942)

Burial details:

The crew were initially interred at the Vreden Cemetery and finally laid to rest at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 18th March 1947.

Above: The Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Above; Grave marker for WO2. Thomas M. Moran (Courtesy of Kim Downey)

WO2. Thomas Matheson Moran. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Grave 4. Born on the 27th May 1920 in North Edmonton, Alberta. Son of Samual Mackie (deceased August 1931) and Pauline (née Sommers) Moran of North Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. Moran was posthumously promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 with effect 2nd January 1943.

Sgt. John Desmond Mahony. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Collective Grave 5-7. Born on the 1st October 1923. Grave Inscription: “JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIM. MARY AND JOSEPH PRAY FOR HIM”. Son of the late Maurice and Agnes C. O'Mahony of Birr, Co. Offaly, Irish Republic.

Sgt. Mahony was only 18 years of age making him amongst the youngest airmen killed while on Bomber Operations in 1943.

Sgt. Leonard Allen Stimpson. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Collective Grave 5-7. Born on the 13th July 1908 in New Hinkley, Oxfordshire. Son of Percival Leonard and Frances Kate (née Allen) Stimpson. Husband of Violet Daisy (née Hearne) Stimpson of Purley, Berkshire, England.

Fg Off. Frederick Allan Clark. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Grave 1. Born on the 7th July 1912 in Southwark, London. Son of Albert Jospeh and Florence (née Windley) Clark. Husband of Gladys Lilian (née Rose) Clark of Ealing, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Ronald George Miles. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Collective Grave 5-7. Grave Inscription: “"O YOU WHO TROD THE CLOUDS! O GREAT OF HEART!"”. Born on the 4th November 1911 in Lewisham, Greater London. Son of George William and Florence Miles. Husband of Kathleen Elsie (née Elphick) Miles of West Croydon, Surrey, England.

Sgt. William Anthony Pasqual. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 23, Row C, Grave 3. Born on the 2nd June 1921. Grandson of Mrs. E. Tuckey of Brackley, Northamptonshire, England.

Sgt. John Thomson Murray. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 23, Row C, Grave 2. Grave Inscription: “HEREAFTER WE HOPE TO MEET KNEELING AT GOD'S MERCY SEAT "THY WILL BE DONE" R.I.P.”. Born on the 3rd July 1921 in Wantage, Berkshire. Son of John Thomson and Kate Alice (née Latimer) Murray of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks to Kim Downey who is the grand niece of WOII. Moran for her contributions (May 2026).

Other sources listed below:

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