Operation: Berlin, Germany

Date: 15th/16th February 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 156 Squadron (motto: 'We light the way'), 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND504

Code: GT:?

Base: RAF Warboys, Cambridgeshire

Location: North Sea - lost without a trace

Pilot: Flt Lt. Maurice Cecil Stimpson DFC, 155249 RAFVR Age 22. MiA (1)

Flt Eng/Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Walter John Catchpole 1802374 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Nav: Plt Off. Harold Naylor Jackson DFC, J18946 RCAF Age 23. MiA (2)

Nav II: Flt Sgt. John Leonard Gurton DFM, 1335009 RAFVR Age 22. MiA (3)

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. John Hammond Wright DFC, 50580 RAF Age 22. MiA (4)

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Flt Sgt. William Henry Smith 611657 RAF Age 26. MiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Thomas Royle Dutton 1032629 RAFVR Age 31. MiA

Above L-R: Plt Off. Harold Jackson DFC, Unknown, Flt Lt. Maurice Stimpson DFC, Fg Off. John Wright DFC; Front: Flt Sgt. William Smith, Flt Sgt. Thomas Royle Dutton and Flt Sgt. John Gurton. (Courtesy Stimpson family and IBCC)

Note: In the above image the airman standing 2nd from the left was identified as Flt Sgt. Harry Robinson who was KiA on the 15th Jul 1944. The airman that died on the 15th July 1944 was Flt Lt. Harry George Mason Robinson 412304 RAAF who joined the Sqn after the loss of ND504.

There was a Sgt. R.A.C. Robinson who last flew on this crew three times in November 1943, however, the airmen standing 2nd from the left appears to be an officer wearing medal ribbons and remains unidentified.

Above Plt Off. Harold Naylor Jackson DFC from his service record

REASON FOR LOSS:

21 aircraft from the squadron were detailed to take part. ND504 took off at 17:11 hrs with a bomb load of 1x4 Fl, 1x4000 lb, 4x1000 lb as well as various flares and target indicators,

891 aircraft - 561 Lancasters, 314 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - were dispatched to Berlin. This was the largest force sent to Berlin and the largest 1,000 bomber force sent to any target, exceeding the previous record of 826 aircraft (which included Stirlings and Wellingtons) sent to Dortmund on the night of the 23rd/24th May 1943.

It was also the first time that more than 500 Lancasters and more than 300 Halifaxes were dispatched. The German controllers were able to plot the bomber stream soon after it left the English coast but the swing north over Denmark for the approach flight proved too far distant for many of the German fighters. The German controller ordered the fighters not to fly over Berlin, leaving the target area free for the flak, but many fighters ignored him and attacked bombers over the city.

The diversion to Frankfurt-on-Oder failed to draw any fighters. 43 aircraft - 26 Lancasters, 17 Halifaxes were lost.

Berlin was covered by clouds for most of the raid. Heavy bombing fell on the centre and south-western districts and some of Berlin's most important war industries were hit, including the large Siemensstadt area. This was really the end of the true 'Battle of Berlin'; only one more raid took place on the city in this period and that was not for more than a month.

ND504, 100 Sqn Lancaster ND391 or 207 Sqn Lancaster ND501 was claimed by two German night-fighter pilots:

As a probable by Lt. Achim Woeste from Stab IV./NJG3, his 3rd Abschuss, over Neumünster 3 km south of Plön at 5.500 m at 21:10 hrs;

Oblt. Hans-Heinz Schnaufer from 12./NJG1, his 44th Abschuss and the first of three this night, over the sea 20 km west of Texel at 5.400 m at 22:58 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1944 - 15 March 1944) Part 1 - Theo Boiten)

Lancaster III ND464 from the Sqn flown by Flt Lt. Kenneth Doyle was also engaged by night-fighters but the pilot managed to nurse the aircraft back to England, two of the crew were seriously injured. On the 24th of September 1944 Flt Lt. Kenneth Doyle DFC and his crew were posted MiA on a daylight mission to Calais flying Lancaster III PB177.

(1) Acting Flt Lt. Stimpson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 156 Sqn (London Gazette 11th February 1944).

Citation: “Throughout his tour of operations, this officer has displayed skill, courage and keenness of a high order. One night in January, 1944, Flight Lieutenant Stimpson captained an aircraft detailed to attack targets in Berlin. During the bombing run his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Although the bomber sustained much damage and the navigator was injured, Flight Lieutenant Stimpson pressed home his attack and afterwards flew safely to base. This officer has attacked a wide variety of targets in Germany, including it sorties against the enemy's capital city”.

(2) Harold Naylor Jackson was an Aero Engineer prior to service for Canadian Airways. Enlisted on the 30th of December 1940.

Plt Off. Jackson was awarded the awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 156 Sqn (London Gazette 19th May 1944).

Citation: “Pilot Officer Jackson has at all times shown great determination in missions directed against many of the most heavily fortified centres in Germany. In January, 1944 he was navigator in an aircraft flight to base. His gallantry and skill as a navigator have proved of great value to his squadron”.

(3) Flt Sgt. Gurton was posthumously awarded The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 156 Sqn (London Gazette 21st December 1945)

(4) Fg Off. Wright was awarded the awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 156 Sqn (London Gazette 15th October 1943).

Burial details:

Above: The Runnymede Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Flt Lt. Maurice Cecil Stimpson DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 203. Born on the 8th of September 1921. Son of Harry and Nellie Louisa Stimpson of Headstone Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, England. Brother of twin sisters Vera and Nellie and Maurice Arthur.

Also remembered at Tower Hill High School in Harrow, London.

Flt Sgt. Walter John Catchpole. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 216. Born on the 8th September 1923 in Lowerstoft, Suffolk. Son of John Durrant and Martha May (née Waters) Catchpole of Lowerstoft, Suffolk, England.

Plt Off. Harold Naylor Jackson DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 250. Born on the 22nd of June 1921 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Son of Albert (died 1952, age 64) and Mary Jackson (née Thomas - died 8th July 1938. age 53) of Millet, Alberta, Canada.

Flt Sgt. John Leonard Gurton DFM. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 218. Born on the 23rd July 1922 in Hackney, Middlesex. Son of Thomas Leonard and Lilian (née Tutt) Gurton of Highbury, London, England.

Fg Off. John Hammond Wright DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 210. Son of Harry James and Hilda Ann Wright. Husband of Betty Joan (née Cleaver) Wright of Shepperton, Middlesex, England.

Flt Sgt. William Henry Smith. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 222. Born in 1st Qtr of 1918 in Devon. Son of Edgar John and Marie Antwistle (née Turton) Smith of Seaton, Devon, England.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Royle Dutton. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 217. Born on the 19th June 1912 in Runcorn, Cheshire. Son of Alfred Edgar and Eva Royale (née Garnett) Dutton, of 136 Arabella Street, Cardiff. Husband of Daisy Maud (née Bell) Dutton of Runcorn, Cheshire, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives Kew, Air-27-1042-3/4 (May 2023). Thanks to Paul Markham for the correction to the crew photograph identification. Othe5 updates by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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