Operation: Frankfurt, Germany

Date: 22nd/23rd March 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 35 (Madras) Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND645

Code: TL:O

Base: RAF Graveley, Huntingdon

Location: Schiffenberg near Giessen, Germany

Pilot: Flt Lt. Thomas 'Tommy' Rowe DFC. 124836 RAFVR Age 30. PoW * (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Abel Simpson 1031549 RAFVR Age? KiA

Nav: Plt Off. Edmund Howard Williams 171772 RAFVR Age 27. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Lt. Fred Haigh 101522 RAFVR Age 24. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Lt. Alexander Grant DFC. 129612 RAFVR Age 20. PoW No 4141 * (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Plt Off. Malcolm Ross Hunter 421982 RAAF Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Plt Off. Harry Gray 420662 RAAF Age 22. KiA

* Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Above: Pilots from 77 Squadron taken in June 1941. (Courtesy of Paul Markham)

Standing left to right: Unknown, Flt Lt. John L. Wilson, Flt Lt. Thomas Rowe; Front left to right: Unknown, Sqn Ldr. Richard T. Fitzgerald DFC, Unknown.

Flt Lt John Leslie Wilson 412788 RAAF was KiA on the 31st August 1943 on a mission to Berlin aboard 77 Sqn Halifax JD413. (6 KiA, 2 PoW)

Sqn Ldr. Richard Thomas Fitzgerald DFC 295249 RAAF was KiA on the 24th March 1944 on a mission to Berlin aboard 35 (Madras) Sqn Lancaster III ND597 (5 KiA, 2 PoW).

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 18:46 hrs from RAF Graveley near Huntingdon to bomb Frankfurt (The third attack on this City in a week). A very large raid was planned for this night as a combined force of 816 Lancasters, Halifaxes and Mosquitos set out for Frankfurt. The route chosen was to fly in an easterly direction crossing into main land Europe over northern Holland. From there the formation was to fly due south to Frankfurt. This circuitous route, as well as several diversionary attacks on other cities, confused the German defences as to which city had been selected as the primary target. This delay in the appearance of the night fighters allowed the majority of the bomber stream to reach the target.

Flying at altitudes of 20,000 to 25,000 feet a staggering 54,000 lbs. of high explosive and 408,000 lbs. of incendiaries were unleashed on the city. It was a devastating blow destroying much of the old city as well as disrupting the core services of water, gas and electricity for an extensive period of time. Much of the industrial areas to the west were particularly hard hit and over 1000 inhabitants lost their lives.

Although some of the bombers were lost en-route to the target, most were intercepted over the target area or, having dropped their bomb load, were shot down while homeward bound. In all 33 aircraft failed to return.

35 Squadron lost another crew on this operation:

Lancaster III ND649 TL:C Flown by 1498781 Flt Sgt. John C.K. Webb RAFVR from Belfast, Northern Ireland (7 KiA).

ND645 was claimed by Hptm. Paul Zorner, his 34th Abschuss from 8./NJG3 in the Giessen area north of the target, Frankfurt, at 5.900 m at 21:43 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Maj. Zorner surrendered to the Americans in May 1945 and was haded over to the Russians. He was not released until the 30th December 1949. He flew a total of 272 sorties and was credited with 58 Abschüsse. He died on the 27th January 2014. (Luftwaffe ACES - Biographies and Victory Claims (Mathews and Foreman) - Volume 4)

The Missing Research and Enquiry Unit visited the crash location on the 7th December 1946. Four bodies were recovered from the crash site - all were identified at the time by their ID discs and buried in the church at Giessen. Searches were made for the remainder of the crew with units sent from Hausen and Watzenborn-Steinberg.

The sequence of events that were reported are vague, some stated they saw three prisoners, others say they saw two other bodies near the crash site. It was hoped that statements from the two PoW’s would have been able to show some light as to the fate of Flt Lt. Fred Haigh and if a war crime had been committed. They stated later that they were informed by the Germans all the crew were killed in the crash.

(1) Flt Lt. Thomas Rowe was captured 20 miles north of Frankfurt on the 22nd March 1944. He was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on the 23rd March 1944. He was transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth on the 11th April 1944 arriving there 14th April 1944.

On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer, Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived.

The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp Stalag Luft 1 in self-administration on May 1, 1945, after the Germans had fled from the approaching Red Army in the night of the 30th April 1945, to 1st May, heading west. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft I Barth finally took place on 12th to 14th May 1945, from Barth Air Base using aircraft of the 8th US. Air Force. Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

Flt Lt. Thomas Rowe awarded his DFC whilst with 77 Squadron - 12th November 1943.

Thomas Rowe was born on the 13th August 1913. He was a Professional Football, playing for Portsmouth Football Club and winning the FA Cup in 1939 prior to enlisting in the RAFVR 4th April 1941.

He retired from the RAF as a Squadron Leader. He passed away on the 9thMay 2006, aged 92.

(2) Flt Lt. Alexander Grant was captured north of Frankfurt on the 22nd March 1944. He was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on the 23rd March 1944. He was transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth on the 11th April 1944 arriving there 14th April 1944.

On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer, Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived.

The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp Stalag Luft 1 in self-administration on May 1, 1945, after the Germans had fled from the approaching Red Army in the night of the 30th April 1945, to 1st May, heading west. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft I Barth finally took place on 12th to 14th May 1945, from Barth Air Base using aircraft of the 8th US. Air Force. Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

Alexander Grant was born on the 23rd April 1923 and was student in Essex prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on 17th April 1941.

Flt Lt. Alexander Grant awarded his DFC whilst with 77 Squadron. London Gazette 12th November 1943.

Burial details:

Sgt. Abel Simpson. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 4.C.9. Believed to be from Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, England. No further details - are you able to assist?

Plt Off. Edmund Howard Williams. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 4.C.8. Grave inscription: '"AND THERE'S ANOTHER COUNTRY, ... AND ALL HER PATHS ARE PEACE"'. Son of the Revd. Edmund Williams and Jeannie Williams, of Lympstone, Devon, England.

Flt Lt. Fred Haig. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 202. Son of Seba and Mahala Haigh, of Gildersome, Yorkshire, England.

Plt Off. Malcolm Ross Hunter. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 4.C.7. Grave inscription: 'FOR GOD, KING AND COUNTRY. FOREVER REMEMBERED’. Born on the 22nd July at Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia. Son of Francis George and Effie Oliver May Hunter, of Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia.

Plt Off. Harry Gray. Hanover War Cemetery. Grave 4.C.10. Grave inscription: 'HAPPY MEMORIES’. Born on the 4th September 1921 in Yorkshire, England. Son of Claude Harry and Gladys Mary Gray, of Hunters Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks Ken Ogilvie. Thanks to Paul Markham for the photograph of Flt Lt. 'Tommy' Row (Feb 2024). Reviewed and updated with new information by Aircrew Remembered (Feb 2024)

Other sources listed below.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 12 September 2024, 05:59