Operation: Mannheim

Date: 05/06th September 1943

Unit: No. 44 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JA703

Code: KM-W

Base: RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire.

Location: Mannheim - Sandhofen

Pilot: P/O. Donald Ewart Stiver J/18138 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Clifford Beecroft Edwards 1456665 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: P/O. Alexander McNair 156914 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Lloyd Frederick Quinton AUS/409443 RAAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth Walter Chaplin 1035098 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed (1)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ernest Mosely 531870 RAF Age 27. Missing - believed killed (1)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Edward Davies 978626 RAFVR Age 23. Missing - believed killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire at 20:02 hrs joining 604 aircraft to bomb the city of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen

This Lancaster target was Mannheim where although detailed reports were not made available regarding casualties or property damage the damage is thought to have been so severe that normal report gathering was not possible. The town described the raid as a 'catastrophe!'

The allies did not come off lightly on this operation. 37 aircraft were lost, 170 aircrew killed, 64 taken PoW and 9 evading capture.

n the fine work by Theo Boiten and Mr. Roderick Mackenzie they describe this loss as claimed by Hptm. Karl Floitgraf (2) of 2./NJG5. The area of loss has been placed at Mannheim - Sandhofen opposite Frankenthal-Morsch on the East bank of the Rhine, with combat taking place at 00:57 hrs. The loss of JA703 was also claimed by a flak unit but awarded to Hptm. Karl Floitgraf on the 01st August 1944.

(1) It seems that it is possible, according to research by a relative, that one or more of the crew listed as 'missing' maybe buried as unknown at Durnbach War Cemetery.

(2) This was the second of three claims for Hptm. Karl Floitgraf who survived the war.

P/O. Donald Ewart Stiver. Durnbach War Cemetery. Joint Grave 2.J. 20-21. Son of Ewart J. Stiver and Winnifred E. Stiver, of Unionville, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Clifford Beecroft Edwards. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 2.J.15. Son of John and Amy Edwards, of Bebington, Cheshire, England.

P/O. Alexander McNair. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 8.K.7. Son of William and Elizabeth McConnell McNair, of Knightswood, Glasgow, Scotland.

F/O. Lloyd Frederick Quinton. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 189. Born on the 21st August 1922 at Raglan, the son of Norman Frederick and Rubie Quinton, of East St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia.

Sgt. Kenneth Walter Chaplin. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 145. Next of kin details not currently available, are you able to assist?

Sgt. Ernest Mosely. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 159. Son of Cecil and Louie H. Mosey, of Ulceby, Lincolnshire, England.

Sgt. David Edward Davies. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 147. Son of Herbert Joseph and Annie Davies, of St. Brides Major, Glamorgan, Wales.

Dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses' Vol. 4, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Tom Kracker - 'Kracker Luftwaffe Archives'.