Archive Report: Allied Forces

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23/24.05.1943 No. 12 Squadron Lancaster I W4861 PH-M F/O. William N. Mounsey

Operation: Dortmund

Date: 23/24th May 1943 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No: 12 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: W4861

Code: PH-M

Base: RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire

Location: Markelo, Holland

Pilot: F/O. William Norman Mounsey 124550 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. W.B. Jowett PoW No: 183 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus (357)

Nav: P/O. William Butler Whitaker 130596 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. A. Dews PoW No: 117 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug (L6)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Sydney George Miller 1313750 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr (mid upper): Sgt. Kenneth George Legg MM. 539691 RAF Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr (rear): Sgt. Harry Pierpoint 1181213 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

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We would like relatives of this crew to contact us in order that we can place them in contact with the great people of Markelo, Holland who have adopted the crew graves and also for any further information they may have.

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REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire at 22:55 hrs on a massive 826 aircraft raid on Dortmund.

Bombing took place between 01:03 hrs and 02:10 hrs. The operation caused devastation to the centre and outlying districts of the city. 2,000 buildings were destroyed, many of them industrial including the Hoesch steelworks. Casualties on the ground amounted to over 600 killed with a further 1,275 injured.

The force from Bomber Command was hit hard losing some 41 aircraft. 189 aircrew were killed, 68 being made PoW.

Lancaster W4861 was shot down by Oblt. August Geiger (1) of 7./NJG1 with combat taking place at 02.30 hrs. 3 Km. south east of Holten at 6.000 mtrs.

Luftwaffe crew - August Geiger and Luttje (archives)

(1) This was the 28th claim by the nightfighter ace Oblt. August Geiger (a total of 49 kills) was later shot down and killed by W/Cmr Bob Braham from 141 Beaufighter squadron after a fierce dogfight on September 29th 1943.

Markelo Cemetery, Holland (courtesy Darryl Robertson)

Burial details:

F/O. William Norman Mounsey. Markelo Cemetery, Holland. Sp. Mem. "C". Plot 4. Row B. Grave 7. Born on the 15th May 1916, the son of William Herbert Taylor Mounsey and Isabella Mounsey (née Richardson) of Sedbergh Yorkshire. In civilian life he was a surveyor for Yorkshire Electric Company.

P/O. William Butler Whitaker. Markelo Cemetery, Holland. Sp. Mem. "C". Plot 4. Row B. Grave 10. Son of John William Whitaker, and of Ellen Isadore Whitaker, of Fishponds, Gloucestershire, England.

Sgt. Robert Sydney George Miller. Markelo Cemetery, Holland. Plot 4. Row B. Grave 9. Son of William George and Amy Miller, of Newtown, Witchampton, Dorset, England.

Sgt. Kenneth George Legg MM. Markelo Cemetery, Holland. Plot 4. Row B. Grave 8. N.o.K details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Sgt. Harry Pierpoint. Markelo Cemetery, Holland. Plot 4. Row B. Grave 6. Son of Harry and Hannah Elizabeth Pierpoint, of Alsager, Cheshire, England.

With thanks to the following: Darryl Robertson for information, also to Bill Richardson who contacted us in May 2016 with further information on the pilot - his cousin. Further sources as shown below.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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