Operation: Harburg, Germany

Date: 4th/5th April 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 7 Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: NG229

Code: MG:S

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Location: Harburg, Germany

Pilot: Flt Lt. Barry Simpson Herridge Wadham DFC, 179945 RAFVR Age 21. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Fg Off. Stavros Constantinos Haralambides DFC, 187235 RAFVR Age 33. KiA

Nav: Flt Lt. Ralph Callister Halkyard DFC, 409694 RAAF Age 24. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Herbert William Ellis 1395466 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. Harold Thomas Evans 419168 RAAF Age 23. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Uper): Plt Off. Edward Kenneth Coyne DFC, J94267 RCAF Age 21. KiA (2)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Henry Minns 1893981 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Above: Flt Lt. Barry S.H. Wadham DFC (Courtesy of Barry Groves), Flt Lt. Ralph C. Halkyard DFC (from his Service Record)

Above: Fg Off. Harold T. Evans (from his Service Record), Plt Off. Edward K. Coyne Evans (from his Service Record), Flt Sgt. Henry Minns (Courtesy of Steve Paull)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster NG229 took off from Oakington at 19:55 hours with a highly decorated crew led by Flt Lt. Wadham, a veteran at the age of 21 of more than fifty-three (53) missions.

One of a formation of 327 aircraft comprised of 277 Halifaxes, 36 Lancasters and 14 Mosquito’s detailed to attack the massive Rhenania Ossag oil refining facility at Harburg on the outskirts of Hamburg. The massive plant, capable of processing 450,000 tons of crude annually into gasoline, lubricating oil base and asphalt, was a key component in the fueling of the German war machine.

By all accounts the target was well identified and severely damaged although later analysis generally showed that most of the key structures were well fortified and not substantially put out of action. Damage to other processing plant components was quickly repaired by PoW’s and other slave labour from the nearby concentration camps enabling production to be resumed with the minimum of delay.

Four aircraft failed to return, two Lancasters and two Halifaxes with the loss of eighteen airmen. Ten (10) airmen became PoWs and one evaded capture.

NG229 was hit by Hamburg Flak and exploded in mid-air with the wreckage crashing down on Elbdeichstraße 9 at Harburg at 23:00 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January 1945 - 3 May 1945) Part 6 - Theo Boiten).

An MREU report pinpointed the location of the crash over which the wreckage fell over an area of 500 square yards on the north bank of the Elbe river near the main Hamburg to Harburg railway bridge.

Investigators, in 1946, found the remains of the burnt out hulk of the fuselage still on site where it had crashed in flames to earth. Positive identification of the aircraft was determined from the discovery of a serial number plate from the port outer engine confirming that it was from NG229.

Herr Karl Lohmann, who was working for the railway on the track at the time of the raid, later stated to investigators that four of the crew were found scattered amongst the wreckage and two still in the remains of the fuselage. The body of P/O. Coyne was found some distance away apparently after attempting to bale out of the stricken craft.

(1) Barry Groves writes:



"Barry Simpson Herridge Wadham DFC. - born in Cowes in 1923, educated at Crewkern School, Somerset. Enlisted October 1941 and trained in Canada as Lancaster bomber pilot. Commissioned in July 1944 Number 179945. Joined 7th Squadron as Flight Lieutenant. Shot down over Germany on 5th April 1945 aged 21. Buried in Becklingen War Cemetery. 

I was named after him when I was born in 1946 as both my mother and father worked for the Wadham family and they had all been very kind to them. My father worked for Sim Wadham and A.E. and S.C. Wadham Estate Agents and my mother worked for Mr. Wadham who lived at 155 Park Road as a relief housekeeper when Miss Batt had to have time off."

(2) Edward Kenneth Coyne enlisted in the RCAF in December of 1942 and graduated with the rank of Sergeant from No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School, McDonald, Manitoba, in October of 1943. Arriving in England that November, he completed his first tour and was appointed to his commission in March 1945.

He was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) effective April 3rd, just two days prior to his last mission.

Citation: "This warrant officer has completed, as air gunner, numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty"

Coyne Lake in the North West Territories is named after Plt Off. Coyne.

Burial details:

Flt Lt. Barry Simpson Herridge Wadham DFC. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 11 C 9. Grave inscription: "ON WINGS OF SILVER I HAVE TOUCHED THE FACE OF GOD". Born on the 3rd May 1923 in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Son of Simpson Charles and Georgina Ellen (née Batt) Wadham of Cowes, Isle of Wight, England.

Fg Off. Wadham was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 7 Sqn. (London Gazette 22nd May 1945).

Fg Off. Stavros Constantinos Haralambides DFC. Hanover War Cemetery Grave 10 D 4. Son of Constantinos and Sofia Haralambides. Husband of Katina S. Haralambides of Kaimakli, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Flt Lt. Ralph Callister Halkyard DFC. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 11 C 7. Grave inscription: "LIFE MORE ABUNDANT". Born on the 29th December 1920 in Calcutta, India. Son of Edward Francis and Alice Halkyard of Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.

Flt Lt. Halkyard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 7 Sqn. (London Gazette 22nd May 1945). Citation: “Flight Lieutenant Halkyard has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty”.

Flt Sgt. Herbert William Ellis. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 11 C 11. Grave inscription: "APRIL COMES WITH DEEP REGRET FOR ONE WE LOVED BUT CAN'T FORGET". Born in the 1st Qtr of 1923 in Hackney, Greater London. Son of Oliver William and Amelia Eleanor Ellis of Tottenham, Middlesex, England.

Fg Off. Harold Thomas Evans. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 11 C 10. Born on the 9th September 1921 in Morwell, Victoria. Son of Harold and Leonora Marie Evans of Morwell Victoria, Australia.

Plt Off. Edward Kenneth Coyne DFC. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 11 C 8. Born on the 28th December 1923 in Toronto, Ontario. Son of William Percy and Gertrude Elizabeth (née Bachus) Coyne of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Henry Minns. Hanover War Cemetery Grave 10 D 2. Grave inscription: "PEACE, PERFECT PEACE, MY DEAREST ONE". Born in the 1st Qtr of 1925 in London. Son of Henry and Edith Emily (née Richards) Minns of Sidcup, Kent, England.

Researched by Colin Bamford, the Canadian researcher for Aircrew Remembered, page is dedicated to all the relatives of the crew (Aug 2011). With many thanks to Barry Groves for photo of Mr. Simpson Wadham and housekeeper, Miss Batt, and for photo of Flt Lt. Wadham (Feb 2020). Thanks to Steve Paull for the photograph of Flt Sgt. Minns, who was his father’s cousin. Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2025).

Other Sources listed below:

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