Operation: Berlin

Date: 23rd/24th August 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit No: 101 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: ED328

Code: SR:S

Base: RAF Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire.

Location: Lanke, 6 km west of Biesenthal

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Robert Clarence Naffin 416601 RAAF Age 23. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. David Morgan Ellis 1031023 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Nav: Flt Sgt. Noel Joseph Bullen 409503 RAAF Age 25. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Douglas John Tresidder 415104 RAAF Age 20. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. John Armstrong Currey 1237454 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. John Henry Phillips 1451351 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Everard John Phillips 415273 RAAF Age 23. Killed

We would very much like other relatives to contact us in order that they can be informed about this and the work of the Finowfurt Aviation Museum.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 20:27 hrs from RAF Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire to attack Berlin as part of a force of 727 aircraft consisting of 335 Lancasters, 251 Halifaxes, 124 Stirlings and 17 Mosquitoes.

The Mosquitoes were used to mark various points on the route in order to keep the Main Force on the correct track. A total of 56 aircraft were lost – 23 Halifaxes, 17 Lancasters and 16 Stirlings, 7.9% of the force which was the greatest loss of aircraft in one night to date. The losses for the Stirlings were almost 13% of those despatched.

It was reported that the raid was only partially successful as the Pathfinders were not able to identify the centre of Berlin by H2S.

The area which was marked was in the southern outskirts of the city but with the Main Force arriving late causing a number of aircraft to cut a corner and approach the target from the SW instead of the SSE, a number of bomb loads fell in open country.

However, Berlin suffered its most serious damage of the war to date with a wide range of industrial and residential properties being destroyed or severely damaged. Some bombs fell by chance in the centre of the city resulting in damage around the Wilhelmstraße area.

ED328 was claimed by Oblt. Werner Husemann, his 10th Abschuss, from Stab NJG1 over Biesenthal, north of Bernau at 5.200 m at 00:50 hrs. The aircraft was also coned by 1. -4./Flakscheinw.Abt. 339, 1., 3. & 5./Flakscheinw.Abt. 448 (Halifax Biesenthal 6000-4500 m at 00:52hrs) (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 June - 22 September) 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Werner Husemann was born on the 10th November 1919. He was the holder of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold and the Ritterkreuz. He became the last Kommandeur of I./NJG3. He went on to claim a total of 31 confirmed night Abschüsse surviving the war having flown 250 combat missions. He died on the 2nd February 2014. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 2)

It is understood that the aircraft exploded in mid-air killing all the crew with the debris scattered over a wide are

A research group based at the Finowfurt Aviation Museum discovered the crash site, recovering many pieces of the Lancaster. Mr. Ian Hill travelled to the area in October 2013 to open an exhibition of some of the artefacts. We would very much like other relatives to contact us in order that they can be informed about this and the work of the Finowfurt Aviation Museum.

Finowfurt Aviation Museum display of ED328 finds

Burial details:

Left: Graves of Sgt. Ellis and Flt Sgt. Phillips at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery

Flt Sgt. Robert Clarence Naffin. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 1.H.12. Inscription: "HE WHO PERISHED BEFORE HIS DAY, WE LOVE, CHERISH AND REMEMBER". Born on the 22nd February 1920 in North Adelaide, South Australia. Son of Clarence and Grace Naffin, husband of Diana Stephanie Naffin, of Kington, Herefordshire, England

Sgt. David Morgan Ellis. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Joint Grave 1.H.16-17. Son of David and Jane Ellis, husband of Iris May Ellis, of Cwmgorse, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Flt Sgt. Noel Joseph Bullen. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 4.J.17. Inscription: "REST IN PEACE". Born on the 26th December 1917 in St Kilda, Victoria. Son of Sydney Joseph and Minnie Bullen, of Thornbury, Victoria Australia.

Flt Sgt. Douglas John Tresidder. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 1.H.9. Inscription: "BELOVED SON AND DEAREST FRIEND". Born on the 1st September 1922 in Guildford, Western Australia. Son of Ernest Victor and Dorrit Tresidder, of Crawley, Western Australia.

Sgt. John Armstrong Currey. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 4.G.8. Inscription: "REST IN PEACE". Son of George and Emily Currey, of Scarborough, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. John Henry Phillips. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Joint Grave 1.H.16-17. Inscription: "AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM". Son of George Wilfred and Minnie Phillips, of Crewe, Cheshire, England.

Flt Sgt. Everard John Phillips. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 1.H.10. Inscription: "SLEEPING WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL". Born on the 23rd May 1920 in Perth, Western Australia. Son of Thomas William and Edith Lila Phillips, of Wembley, Western Australia.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew including Mr. Ian Hill, nephew of Sgt. John Phillips. Narrative reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Aug 2022).

Other sources below:

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