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Operation: Deelen Airfield Holland
Date: 15th August 1944 (Tuesday)
Unit: No. 207 Squadron
Type: Lancaster MkI
Serial: LM263
Code: EM-N
Base: RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire
Location: 3KM SW of Deelen airfield Holland
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Geert Adrainus Cornelis Overgaauw 102525 RAFVR Age 26. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Percy Arthur Wildsmith 936016 RAFVR Age 25. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Anthony Leonard Brett 183918 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. William Auld Swinton J/25057 RCAF Age 22. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Huntley David Shaw Mann Jack Mackay 56034 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Alick Watt J/89063 RCAF Age 23. Killed (1)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Lee Coaker 1890818 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 09:59 from RAF Spilsby in Lincolnshire.
1,004 aircraft, 599 Lancasters, 385 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes and a single Lightning ordered to attack 9 Luftwaffe airfields in Holland and Belgium. Visibility for this daylight operation were perfect and all the operations were classed as successful.
3 Lancasters were lost all understood to be victims of the fierce ant-aircraft fire from various flak units.
At dawn this day the allies started the rapid invasion in Southern France with troops at Normandy also breaking out. Germany was on the eve of defeat, although it was to be a further 10 months before Germany surrendered. 1000's of servicemen and civilians - from both sides were still to lose their lives during that period.
(1)Watt Lake, Saskatchewan renamed after Fl/Sgt. Alick Watt.
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Geert Adrainus Cornelis Overgaauw. Arnhem Moscowa General Cemetery. Grave 37. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Overgaauw, of Amsterdam, Holland.
Sgt. Percy Arthur Wildsmith. Arnhem Moscowa General Cemetery. Grave 35. Son of Albert C. and Florence H. Wildsmith, of Derby, England and husband of Esmie Wildsmith. Grave inscription reads: "We Are Always Together In Memory Lane "Until We Meet Again".
Fl/Sgt. Anthony Leonard Brett. Arnhem Moscowa General Cemetery. Grave 34. Son of William Henry Brett, and of Alcy M. Brett, of West Runton, Norfolk, England. Grave inscription reads: "In Proud And Precious Memory Of My Only Son Anthony. I Remember You Always".
F/O. William Auld Swinton. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Plot XV.C.7. Son of William and Mary Swinton, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Grave inscription reads: "Lest We Forget".
Fl/Sgt. Huntley David Shaw Mann Jack Mackay. Arnhem Moscowa General Cemetery. Grave 38. Son of Huntley Jack Mackay, and of Sarah Jack Mackay, of Avoch, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. Awarded Dux Gold Medal, Avoch Junior Secondary School. Grave inscription reads: "I Go To Prepare A Place For You".
Fl/Sgt. Alick Watt. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Plot XV.C.10. The son of John and Helen (née Russell) Watt originally from Scotland but at this time living at Atwater, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Sgt. Ronald Lee Coaker. Arnhem Moscowa General Cemetery. Grave 33. Son of Donald Lee Coaker and A. Coaker; grandson of Mrs. F. Longley, of Canterbury, England Grave inscription reads: "For Peace And Freedom You Died. God Grant For Us That It Be Not Denied".
Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered June 2018. With thanks to J Verhagen-Wouter van Dijken, Des Philppet and Jaap van der Woude for grave photographs, remainder from the collection of Michel Beckers.
MB - 13.06.2018
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 02 April 2021, 18:19