Operation: Cologne (Köln), Germany

Date: 23rd December 1944 (Saturday)

Unit No: 582 Squadron, Pathfinder Force (PFF), 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: PB523

Code: 6O:J

Base: RAF Little Staughton, Huntingdonshire

Location: Opitter, 4 km (2½ mls) SE of Bree, Belgium

Pilot: Flt Lt. Peter Alfred Thomas DFC, 172593 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Flight Engineer: Flt Sgt. Vivian George Hobbs 1816098 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Navigator I: Fg Off. William Ewart Vaughan J24199 RCAF Age 30. PoW * (1)

Navigator II: Flt Lt. Ayton Richardson Whitaker 100053 RAFVR Age 27. PoW * (2)

Wireless Op/ Air Gnr: WO. Herbert Fuller 1515746 RAFVR Age 23. PoW ** (3)

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. G. Fallon 3041124 RAFVR Age? PoW **(4)

Air Gnr (Rear): WO1. Frederick William ‘Teddy’ Campbell R65080 RCAF Age 29. KiA

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

** Stalag Luft 7, Bankau nr. Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia, now called Bąków nr. Kluczbork in Poland.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 23rd December 1944 27 Lancasters and 3 Mosquitoes of 8 Group were detailed to attack the Gremberg railway yards in Cologne (Köln), Germany of which 17 Lancasters were from the 582 Squadron.

The force was split into 3 formations, each lead by an Oboe equipped Lancaster with an Oboe Mosquito as a reserve leader. During the inbound flight, two (2) Lancasters from 35 Sqn collided over the French coast and their crews were all killed.

On approaching the target, it was found that the cloud which had been forecast had cleared and it was decided to allow the bombers to break formation and bomb visually This move was made because the formation would have been very vulnerable to Cologne’s Flak defences during the long straight Oboe approach.

Unfortunately the order to abandon the Oboe run did not reach Sqn Ldr. Palmer, who was the Master Bomber, which was Lancaster III PB371 from 582 Sqn, and he continued on with the designated role, even though the aircraft was already damaged by Flak.

German fighters, who were directed to intercept an American bomber force, also appeared and attacked the Lancasters and Mosquitoes.

Of the total of seven (7) Lancasters lost on this operation PB141 was one of five (5) aircraft from the Squadron that failed to return:

The other four (4) were:

Lancaster III PB120 6O:P : Hit by Flak and then shot up by Bf109s before crashing 7 km SE from the city centre of Cologne (Köln) (5 KiA, 2 PoW);

Lancaster III PB558 6O:A : Damaged by Flak and came under sustained fighter attacks. The entire crew baled out successfully over Allied held territory and returned to RAF Little Staughton on the 27th February 1945;

Lancaster III PB371 6O:V : Master Bomber. Shot down by Flak in the target area. Sqn Ldr. R.A.M. Palmer DFC and Bar was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his outstanding valour (6 KiA, 1 PoW);

Lancaster III PB141 6O:F : Shot down by German fighters. Two of the crew became trapped in the spinning aircraft but both miraculously survived after the aircraft fell 20,000 ft and crashed onto the marshalling yard. (6 PoW, 1 Mur).

Above: The Book “HEROIC ENDEAVOUR The Remarkable Story of One Pathfinder Force Attack, A Victoria Cross and 206 Brave Men” by Sean Feast. The book is in two parts, the first the gripping narrative, the second the retrospective reactions of the survivors.

PB523 was heavily damaged by Flak during the run-in to the target and then attacked by multiple Fw190s which set the port inner engine ablaze and a fire broke out in the fuselage. They cleared the target area and headed west harassed by fighters. They jettisoned their bombs and eventually Flt Lt. Thomas gave the order to bale out.

The JG26 War Diary records (Ref 1 p.391) that Ofhr. Helmut Heuser from 6./JG26 claimed a Lancaster west of Cologne (Köln) at 13:00 hrs but contemporary records do not attribute PB523 as the Lancaster in question just that the bomber was either from 415 sqn of 582 sqn. However, Ref 2 p.73 claims that Ofhr. Helmut Heuser was credited with PB523.

Fg Off. Vaughan confirmed that he baled out and landed near Krefeld so as Flt Sgt. Hobbs, Flt Lt. Whitaker and WO. Fuller became PoWs it can be presumed that they also baled out around the same area. It has been reported that Flt Sgt. Hobbs also baled out but tragically he was killed when his parachute failed to open properly.

Krefeld is some 50½ km (32 mls) NW of Cologne.

The aircraft flew on and crashed at Opitter, 4 km (2½ mls) SE of Bree and 64¼ km (40 mls) east of Brussels in Belgium with Flt Lt. Thomas at the controls.

The following is a statement made by Fg Off. Robert P. Terpening 424312 RAAF from 582 Sqn Lancaster III PB558:

"At about 13:15 hrs on the 23rd December, after parachuting into the village of Oppiter, near Bree in Belgium, I was taken by American troops to a crashed aircraft about 2 miles from the village. I identified the aircraft as a Lancaster and the squadron letters for 582. The aircraft was badly smashed and burnt out. The Americans told me of two bodies which had been found in the crash but which were too badly mangled to be identified.

They also handed me an identity disc and a small medal found on one of the bodies. The disc belonged to R65080 WO. F.W. Campbell. No other bodies had yet been found in the vicinity. Arrangements were made for the bodies to be buried in the village. churchyard at Oppiter. One grave marked Campbell and the other "Unknown British airman".

(1) Fg Off. Vaughan was captured near Krefeld on the night of the 23rd December and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 27th December. On the 6th January 1945 he was moved to the transit camp at Wetzlar and then transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang on the 9th January 1945.

Above: Courtesy of The Toronto Star, dated 13th February 1945

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 (SAO), 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 into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States. Fg Off. Vaughan was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.

William Ewart Vaughan was born on the 11th December 1914 in Toronto, Ontario. He was employed as a salesman prior to enlisting in the RCAF on the 8th April 1942. Wiiliam passed away on the 27th March 1989 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Above: Courtesy of The Burlington Spectator, dated 30th March 1989

(2) Flt Lt. Whitaker was captured by a German soldier west of Cologne on the 23rd December and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel arriving there on the 25th December 1944. On the 31st December he was moved to the transit camp at Dulag Luft, Wetzlar. On the 3rd January 1945 he was transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang arriving there on the 7th January.

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 (SAO), 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 into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States. Flt Lt. Whitaker was interviewed on the 11th May 1945.

Ayton Richardson Whitaker was born on the 26th May 1916 in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He was a Theatrical Manager in Surrey prior to enlisting in the RAFVR in July 1940. Ayton passed away in the 3rd Qtr of 1999 in Islington, Greater London.

His parents, John Richardson and Jessie Blanche (née Gray) Whittaker, were drowned at sea on the 24th April 1917. They were aboard the SS ABOSSO which was torpedoed and sunk 180 miles NW of Fastnet, Ireland by the German submarine U-43. They were amongst the sixty-three (63) souls, (forty-one (41) Passengers and twenty-three (23) Crew) who drowned when three (3) of the lifeboats were lowered before the order was given and were immediately swamped.

Above: Courtesy of The Times, dated 4th May 1917

Ayton was just 11 months of age and was raised by his Grandmother in Bournemouth, Hampshire

(3) WO. Fuller was captured near Cologne on the 23rd December and after the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag Luft 7, Bankau nr. Kreuzburg arriving there on the 6th January 1945.

On the 19th January 1945, 1,500 prisoners were marched out of the camp in the bitter cold. They crossed a bridge over the river Oderon the 21st January, reached Goldberg on 5th February and were loaded onto a train.

On the 8th February they reached Stalag 3Alocated about 52 km (32 mls) south of Berlinnear Luckenwalde, which already held 20,000 prisoners, consisting mainly of soldiers from Britain, Canada, the US and Russia. On the 22nd April 1945 as the Russians approached the camp the guards fled leaving the prisoners to be liberated by the Red Army.

Stalag 3A was turned over to the Americans on the 6th May at which time the Senior American Officers (SAO) took over the running of the camp until all the PoWs were evacuated. WO. Fuller was interviewed on the 23rd May 1945.

Herbert Fuller was born on the 29th July 1921 Ormskirk, Lancashire. He was a Dairy Roundsman in Southport prior to the RAFVR 12th December 1941. Herbert passed away in the 4th Qtr of 1986 in Sefton North, Merseyside.

(4) Sgt. Fallon successfully baled out and was captured on the out skirts of Erkelenz. After the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel. He was transferred to Stalag Luft 7 in Bankau (Baków) nr. Kreuzburg.

On the 19th January 1945, he was amongst the 1,500 prisoners who were marched out of the camp in the bitter coldheading to Goldberg (Złotoryja) in Poland some 240 km (150 mls) to the NW. Early in the march Sgt. Fallon dropped out of the column feigning unconsciousness. He was loaded onto a truck with twenty-two (22) other ‘sick’ PoWs which transported them to Schurgast (Skorogoszcz) where they were refused admission to the local hospital.

At this point their guards deserted so Sgt. Fallon and his fellow PoWs persuaded the civilian driver to leave them at the Schloss in Lossen, about 9 km (5½ mls) to the NW of Schurgast (Skorogoszcz).

The Schloss is believed to be named Pałac w Łosiowie.

It was here that an Obergefreiter (Acting Cpl) Emmerick Krumpöck who was guard of a small French Kommando(work party) sheltered the PoWs. He did not report their presence to higher authority. He informed anyone inquiring about their presence that they were under his charge. Although he was ordered to leave his post and withdraw to Germany he choose to remain with the PoWs and await his fate.

The PoWs took Krumpöck with them and headed SE towards Katowice where they were liberated by the Russians. (Ref 2, pp 145-146)

He was not listed in the Squadron Operational Record Book (ORB) as having returned to operations nor that he was posted from the Squadron strength between January and May 1945. From this it can be assumed that he did not return to the Squadron.

Note: Some reference material confuses Flt Sgt. James Anthony Fallon 1572092, the Flight Engineer from 582 Sqn Lancaster III NE130 with Sgt. G. Fallon 3041124, the Air Gunner from this aircraft.

Burial details:

Flt Lt. Thomas DFC and Plt Off. Campbell were initially buried in the Opitter Roman Catholic Cemetery, Flt Lt. Thomas DFC as an “Unknown airman”, and both were laid to rest at the Heverlee War Cemetery and Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery respectively in November 1945. Flt Sgt. Hobbs was initially buried in the Hochneukirch Civil Cemetery and laid to rest in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 24th November 1947.

Flt Lt. Peter Alfred Thomas DFC. Heverlee War Cemetery 6.D.21. Grave Inscription: ’IN MOST SINCERE, EVERLASTING AND LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF OUR OWN DEAREST PETER’. Born during 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire. Son of Alfred Nicholas and Dorothea May Thomas, of North Cheam, Surrey, England.

Acting Flt Lt. Thomas was awarded the DFC whilst with 582 Sqn. London Gazette 1st June 1945.

Flt Sgt. Vivian George Hobbs. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 30.E.18. Grave Inscription: ‘HIS DUTY DONE. HE GAVE ALL, HIS UNFINISHED LIFE. SADLY MISSED’. Born during the 2nd Qtr of 1924 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire. Son of George William and Gwendoline Florence Hobbs, of Cyncoed, Cardiff, Wales.

Above: Initial grave marker for Plt Off. Frederick W. Campbell

Plt Off. Frederick William Campbell. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery XVII.B.7. Grave inscription: ‘ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO HIM, O LORD; MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE’. Born on the 1st January 1915 in Highland Village, Nova Scotia. Son of William True Campbell and Bertha Lillian (née Tomlinson) Campbell, of Pembroke, Hants Co., Nova Scotia. Husband of Dorothy Eleanor Francis (née Glennon) Campbell of Acton, London, England. They were married on the 8th December 1944.

WO1. Campbell was posthumously commissioned and promoted to J94493 Plt Off. on the 22nd December 1944.

Researched by Ralph Snape for aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Nov 2023). Reviewed and updated with new PoW information (Jul 2025).

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. The JG 26 War Diary – Volume Two 1943 – 1945 by Donald Caldwell. ISBN 1-89697-86-8.

2. HEROIC ENDEAVOUR “The Remarkable Story of One Pathfinder Force Attack, A Victoria Cross and 206 Brave Men” by Sean Feast. IBSN 1-904943-51-9.

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