Operation: Bremerhaven

Date: 18/19th September 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: 57 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: NG126

Code: DX:L

Base: RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire

Location: Schiffdorf, Germany

Pilot: Fg.Off. Robert John Waugh 175910 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Flt.Eng: Sgt. Basil John Cooper 575301 RAFVR Age 21. Missing

Nav: Sgt. Allan Thomas Rogers 1616108 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Bmr: Sgt. Phillip Lunt 1684477 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. A.A. D’Oyley 1803479 RAFVR PoW No: 52825 Camp: Stalag Muhlhausen/Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreuzburg (Klucsbork, Poland)

Air Gnr: Fg.Off. James George Louis Martin DFM. 654745 RAFVR Age ? Missing

Air Gnr: Sgt. Howard Shakespeare 1545432 RAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18:27 hrs. from East Kirkby.

Probably due to anti aircraft fire crashing at 22:06hrs. at Schiffdorf on the Eastern outskirts of Bremerhaven.

Of those who died, four rest in Becklingen War Cemetery, while Sgt. Cooper and Flt.Sgt. Martin are commemorated on the Runnymede memorial, the last named having flown a previous tour with 630 Squadron.

Navigator of this aircraft, Sgt. Allan Thomas Rogers. The photo on the left, taken during a leave in May 1944. (courtesy Pat Hammonds)

Above: LAC Robert John Waugh with his wife Rita. (Courtesy Mike Waugh)

After the war, Flight Sergeant D’Oyley wrote to the relatives of Sergeant Rogers:

Burial details:

Fg.Off. Robert John Waugh. Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave 20.B.4. Husband to Rita Waugh. His brother, Philip Louis Waugh, also served in the RAF. No further details as yet.

Sgt. Basil John Cooper. Runnymede Memorial Panel 227. Son of John Henry and Kathleen Lilian Cooper of Colchester, Essex, England.

Sgt. Allan Thomas Rogers. Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave 20.B.2. Further Information: Born in April 1923 he was the only son of Rupert Allan (served in the RAMC in the Middle East in WW1, receiving the Military medal) and Bessie (Headge Hackett) Rogers and brother of Freda, Ruby Mavis and Jean Agnes Rogers of New Bradwell, Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, England. Attended New Bradwell boys school and at thirteen passed a scholarship to attend Wolverton Technical College where he became a popular boy with lots of friends. He was a very able athlete and sportsman, excelling at sprinting in which he won lots of local events and also played football for Stony Stratford. After doing well at school he started as an electrical apprentice at the local railway works, a reserved occupation and was very keen to enlist but his grandfather insisted that he finish his higher national certificate first. He went on to pass his national and higher national certificates in electrical engineering. Finally volunteered for bomber command and started his training at Newquay, as a Navigator, as he preferred the challenges and planning involved in this role.

His death was a devastating loss and was to affect all of his family. On his birthday the family would meet up and would spend the day quietly remembering him and his mother always ensured that fresh flowers were kept by his photograph. Both of his parents died in September 1970, near to the date of Allan’s death and a few words of remembrance to Allan were inscribed on their headstone.

Sgt. Phillip Lunt. Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave 20.B.3. Son of John and Ann J Lunt of Liverpool, England.

Fg.Off. James George Louis Martin DFM. Runnymede Memorial Panel 234. No further details as yet - are you able to assist?

DFM awarded as a Flt.Sgt. Martin whilst with 630 Sqn, Gazetted 11th February 1944.

Sgt. Howard Shakespeare (shown left). Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave 20.B.5. Further Information: Howard was the only son of Frederick and Roseannah (née Smith) Shakespeare of 12, Heath Gap Road, Blackford, Cannock, England. The grandson of the late Councillor William Smith J.P. of Bloxwich. A part time student at the Cannock Mining College, Howard was indentured with the Electrical and Engineering Company of Robust Works, Walsall. He also served as a despatch rider in the Home Guard at Cannock. Howard volunteered for the Royal Air Force in September 1941 and served as an electrical armourer for 2 years. He then trained as an air gunner obtaining his wings in January 1944.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Special thanks for the photos and information on Allan Rogers to Pat Hammonds, daughter of Freda Rogers and the Rogers family. Thanks also to Graeme Clark for photo and information on Sgt Shakespeare. Thanks to Mike Waugh for the image of his uncle LAC Robert John Waugh with his wife Rita.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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