Operation: Politz

Date: 21st/22nd December 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 630 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NG258

Code: LE:?

Base: RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire

Location: Scanfield farm, Winceby, Lincolnshire. England

Pilot: Fg Off. Arnold Stockill 142550 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. James Duffett 1805514 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Fg Off. William McPherson James 163644 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Raymond Athol Bruck 1815134 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. James Stuart Bain 1821620 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. John Henry Quinlivan 1874439 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. L. Pooley RAFVR Age? Injured/Survived

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster NG258 took off at 16:58 hrs from RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire.

On the return journey home, a blanket of thick fog covered most of Southern England and the pilot was instructed to land elsewhere instead of base.

Burial details:

Fg Off. Arnold Stockill. Darlington Crematorium, Durham. Panel 4. Son of Robert and Louisa (nee Seagrave) Stockill of Darlington and husband of Beryl Stockill.

Fg.Off. Stockill is also remembered in the Book of Remembrance 1939-45 in the entrance hall of the Darlington War Memorial Hospital in Hollyhurst Road.

Flt Sgt. James Duffett. Colchester Cemetery, Essex. Sec.B, Div.B, Grave 100. Son of William and Lily A Duffett of Colchester, Essex, England.

(Above: Courtesy of Sally Jowitt)

The following narrative is reproduced from a clipping, provided by Lee Woodhouse, reporting on the funeral Service for Flt Sgt. James Duffett.

Colchester Airman’s Death

We regret to record the death on active service of Flight-Sergt.-Engineer James Duffett, R.A.F.V.R., of S, St. Julian Grove, Colchester, on Dec. 22nd:

The deceased, who was educated at the Blue Coat School, was very popular, and a member of the school football team, participating in the Markham Cup competition. He joined the staff of the Essex County Telegraph as an apprentice in the composing room, and was well liked by all. In 1942 he volunteered for the R.A.F. as a member of an air-crew, and had completed twenty-three missions over enemy and enemy-held countries.The funeral took place at the Cemetery on December 29th, the ante-grave service being held in St. Botolph’s Church, the Rev. C.H. Douglas officiating.

Among those present at the Church were Miss Martin, Mesdames Nice, S. Calvesbert, Grayham, Jennings, W. Marshall, Gear (representing Derek Gear, a former colleague, now serving withe the R.A.F.) Warner, Lee, and Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. T. Rayner, Sub-Lieut. J. appleby and Mr. W. Appleby (old school friends), Mr. R. Newborn (late headmaster, Blue Coat School), Mrs. Buck (representing St. Botolph’s Sunday School teachers), Mr. G. Cotton, Mr. Nicholls, Mr. and Mrs. C. Baker, and Mr. R. Balm. The Essex County Telegraph was represented by Mr. B. A. Nash (Editor and Managing Director, also representing Miss A. E. Shepherd), Mr. G. C. Dyer (Works Manager), Messrs. F. Barton, F. Barton, F. Burch, F. Campsie, O. Godfrey, R. Bush, H. Salmon, and T. Chandler (composing department), I. Tilott, R. Vintor and P. Emmerson (machine department), and S. Mann and Miss N. Fayers (Binding department).

The mourners were mr. and Mrs. W. Duffett (father and mother), Mr. and Mrs. C. Duffett (brother and sister-in-law), Mrs. G. Duffett (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. G. Duffett (sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. j. Henley (brother-in-law and sister), Mrs. S. Slaton (sister), Mr. and Mrs. A. Clayton 9uncle and aunt), Mr. C. Duffett (uncle), Sergt. F. Duffett (W.A.A.F., cousin), Sergt. F. Duffett (cousin), and Flying-Officer P. Coyne (R.A.F. Station).

Among the beautiful floral tributes were the following:- Mother and Father; Brother Charlie, Nellie, and family; Brother George (Belgium); Ethel, John, and Brian; Sister lily, joe, Michael, and Patricia; Sister Rose, Sam, and Diana (Blackpool); Uncle and Auntie, and all of Causton Road; Auntie Tot, Cousin Percy, and Doris; Uncle and Aunt (Great Horkesley); George and Phyllis (Mile End); Commanding Officer and Officers, R.A.F. Station; Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen, R.A.F. Station; Mr. and Mrs. Balls and family; Directors and Colleagues of the Essex County Telegraph (past and present); neighbours and friends St.Julian Grove and Priory Street; Marie, Harry, and children; Ray and Mr. and Mrs. Scott, and family; Mr and Mrs. appleby and family; Zena, Joe, and Gillian; and Mrs. E. Buck.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by the Co-operative Society Funeral furnishing Service.

Above: Grave marker for Fg Off. William McPherson James (Courtesy of Ian Black)

Fg Off. William McPherson James. Stockton on Tees (Oxbridge Lane Cemetery) Sec.C. Non-Conformist. Old Part. Row P, Grave 30. Inscription: 'ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD ROMANS VIII 28'. Son of David Llewllyn and Jane Shires James of Redcar, Yorkshire, England. B.Sc.Engineering (London)

Above: Grave marker for Sgt. Raymond Athol Bruck (Courtesy of Sally Jowitt)

Sgt. Raymond Athol Bruck. Tankerseley (St.Peter) Churchyard. Inscription: 'HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE, HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST'. Son of Albert Edward and Beatrice Virginia Bruck of Tankersley.

Raymond was the only brother to Muriel Elaine, Margaret Elizabeth, Dorothy Sylvia and Kathleen Mary. He was born nine years after Kathleen and idolised by his sisters and parents. He attended Barnsley Holgate Grammar School and after leaving joined the police force before volunteering for the RAF. He had training at the Bombing and Gunnery School (later to be No. 5 Air Observer School) on Juby, Isle of Man. Although he was single at the time of his death he did have a regular girlfriend. Sgt. Bruck is buried in Tankerseley (St.Peter) Churchyard. Yorkshire and also remembered on a plaque inside the church.

Sgt. James Stuart Bain. Edinburgh (Liberton) cemetery, Scotland. B.Sec.N, Grave 132. Son of William Stuart and Janet (“Jenny”) Garvie Bain and brother if Ena Stuart Bain of Edinburgh.

He attended Boroughmuir High School where he is remembered on the WW2 roll of honour. Sgt. Bain rests in B.Sec.N, Grave 132, Edinburgh (Liberton) Cemetery, Scotland.

Sgt. John Henry Quinlivan. Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington. Sec.F.2. Grave RN 60903. Born in Holborn in 1924. Son of Patrick Michael and Victoria Mary Anne Quinlivan and brother of Terrence Quinlivan of Clerkenwell.

His brother Sgt. William Patrick Quinlivan was killed on a mission to Essen, 102 Sqn, Halifax II, JB836 on the 12th of March 1943 and is remembered on the Runnymede memorial. To lose two sons had a profound effect on their family and when younger brother Terrence later joined the RAF, he abstained from wearing his uniform at home.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Thanks and information on Sgt. Quinlivan to Chris Sitton and Terrence Quinlivan (brother). Photo credits of Fg Off Stockill to June Seagrave. Special thanks to Muriel Ackroyd, cousin of Sgt. Bruck for the family information. Thanks to Lee Woodhouse for the funeral information for Flt.Sgt. Duffett (Aug 2020). Thanks to Sally Jowitt for the grave marker image for Sgt. Bruck. (Oct 2020). Thanks to Ian Black for the grave marker for Fg Off. James (Nov 2023).

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: 19 November 2023, 20:32