Operation: Aachen

Date: 27/28th May 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: 75 (New Zealand) Sqn - 'C' Flight

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND802 (The Flying Scotsman)

Code: JN-D 'Dog'

Base: RAF Mepal, Cambridgeshire

Location: Gilze-en-Rijen

Pilot: Sgt. Francis Alexander Jack Scott 421105 RNZAF Age 28. Killed

Pilot 2: WO. Ronald Thomas Clark 422369 RNZAF PoW No 770 *

Flt.Eng: Sgt. F. Max Harris 1850150 RAFVR PoW No 300 *

Nav: Flt.Sgt. Leslie George Hill 426997 RNZAF PoW No 170 *

Air/Bmr: Flt.Sgt. Stephen Astley Cook 421142 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Ronald Edward Howson 1437112 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. Alan Mantle 925315 RAFVR PoW No 469 *

Air Gnr: Sgt. Reginald Dale 1818763 RAFVR PoW *

* Stalag Luft 7, Bankau near Kreuzberg, Silesia, Germany. (Now Bąków, Opole Voivodeship, Poland)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Mepal in Cambridgeshire at 00:45 hrs to bomb the Rothe Erde railway yards. 162 Lancasters with 8 Mosquitoes from 1,3 and 8 Group taking part (18 from 75 Squadron, 1 returning early with engine problems - others leaving at various other bases in England).

Above believed to be photo of the crew, identified are Sgt. Francis Alexander Jack Scott 3rd from left, Fl/Sgt. Stephen Astley Cook on extreme right, Flt.Sgt. Ronald Edward Howson on right in hatch (courtesy Jan Field-Hodgson)

This, the second attack within days on the target had dramatic effect with severe damage caused but also with some of the bombs hitting the suburbs of Aachen, including a hospital, an army barracks, army stores and various other industrial buildings. 167 people were killed on the ground with a further 164 injured - some 603 civilian homes were also hit. The raid from start to finish lasted just 12 minutes.

Above: Rear row, Left to Right; Sgt. Francis A.J. Scott and Plt.Off. Chisholm Martin Wilson, 421128, RNZAF. Middle Row. Left to Right; Flt.Sgt. Ronald. E. Howson. The other airmen in the images have yet to be identified (Courtesy Jan Field-Dodgson)

Above: Left image; Sgt. Francis A.J. Scott. Centre image, Left to Right; Sgt. Francis A.J. Scott, Flt.Sgt. Stephen A. Cook. Right Image, Left to Right; Sgt. Francis A.J. Scott, Flt.Sgt. Ronald E. Howson, Unknown, Ronald Frank Boyce (no further details). (Courtesy Jan Field-Dodgson)

The allies lost 13 aircraft - 77 crew members killed, 8 taken PoW with 2 evading capture. 7 other crew escaped injury after returning at crash landing their Lancaster.

It is understood that the aircraft was intercepted by Obstlt. Günther Radusch of Stab NGJ2 at 02:07 hrs. with the aircraft eventually breaking up and crashing at Gilze-en-Rijen. (shown right)

Another Lancaster from the Squadron was also lost:

Lancaster III ND908 AA-M Flown by 21 year old Flt.Lt. Spencer Francis Fauvel 414971 RNZAF - killed with all 7 other crew.

(1) This was the 60th claim by nightfighter ace Obstlt. Günther Radusch. He survived the war with a total of 66 claims. Died in Nordstrand, Schleswig-Holstein in 2000.

Above - 1 SFTS Wigram 1942 (possibly on award of Pilots Wings - they were all presented their Wings on the 28th November 1942) five of these seven airmen were to pay the ultimate sacrifice - see below:

Standing Rear Left to Right: Flt.Sgt. A.R. Young, Flt.Sgt. J.S.S. Fleming, Fg.Off. G. Braddock,. Centre Left to Right: WO. N.E.M. MacDonald, Sgt. F.A.J. Scott. Front Left to Right: Flt.Sgt D.B. Thomas, Flt.Sgt H.L.R. Richards. (courtesy Jan Field-Hodgson)

(1) 27 year old, Flt.Sgt. John Stuart Selby Fleming 421038 (RNZAF) - Killed on the 19th November 1943 whilst with 90 Sqn. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery.
(2) 24 year old, Flt.Sgt. Graham Braddock 421012 (RNZAF) - Killed on the 29th August 1943. Buried at Dyce Old Churchyard in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
(3) 23 year old, WO. Neil Evan McLeod MacDonald 42427 (RNZAF) - Killed on the 28th December 1944 whilst with 33 Sqn. Buried at Bath Cemetery (Haycombe)
(4) 28 year old, Sgt. Francis Alexander Jack Scott 421105 (RNZAF) - Killed on the 28th May 1944 whilst with 75 Sqn. Buried at Gilze-En-Rijen R.C Cemetery.
(5) 28 year old, Flt.Sgt. Harold Leslie Raymond Richards 42457 (RNZAF) - Killed whilst serving with 622 Sqn on the 18th November 1943. Buried at Lachalade Churchyard, Meuse, France.

Burial details:

Sgt. Francis Alexander Jack Scott. Gilze-En-Rijen Roman Catholic Cemetery. Grave 3. Born on the 22nd February 1922 the son of Alexander Anderson Scott and Margaret Grace Scott, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. He had 642 flying hours logged and on his 27 operation.

Flt.Sgt. Stephen Astley Cook. Gilze-En-Rijen Roman Catholic Cemetery. Grave 2. Son of David and Lillias McGregor Cook, of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. He had 724 flying hours logged and on his 27 operation.

Flt.Sgt. Ronald Edward Howson. Gilze-En-Rijen Roman Catholic Cemetery. Grave 1. Son of William Edward and Beatrice May Howson, of 147 Noble Street, Leicester. His brother, 19 year old Pte. Douglas William, 14655542 also died in service. Killed just months later on the 26th August 1944 serving with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment and buried in the Bayeux Cemetery, Normandy, France. Grave V.C.2.

Researched by Jan Field-Hodgson (relative of the pilot, Sgt. Francis Scott) for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as quoted. Thanks also to Chris Newey, the nephew of Flt.Sgt. Gerry Newey who served with No. 75 (NZ) Sqn, for the correction to the aircraft code. Thanks to Jan Field-Dodgson for the update to the identities of crew images

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: 31 March 2021, 19:51