Operation: Gardening

Date: 26th/27th August 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 44 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: NE138

Code: KM:Z

Base: RAF Dunholme Lodge

Location: Not known

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. James Ernest White DFC 66581 RAF Age? PoW, Unknown Camp (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Arthur John Rickeard 1863568 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Nav: Plt Off. Roy Cyril Morgan Jones 179429 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Tom Edward Jenkins 1585758 RAFVR Age 31. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Leonard Frederick Arthur Marston 157900 RAFVR Age 22. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Walter McGregor Halliday Burnett 1550824 RAFVR Age 28. MiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Douglas Haig Watts 815235 RAFVR Age 25. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

41 Lancasters leaving on Gardening operations to Konigsberg, Danzig and Gydnia - Lancaster NE138 to drop its mines in the Gulf of Danzig area departing RAF Dunholme Lodge at 20:24hrs.

This made a return journey of some 1,790 miles - the maximum range of the Lancaster. 166 Squadron, also on mine laying operations, lost two aircraft over Denmark as a result of Luftwaffe night fighters but no claims were made for this aircraft - listed as lost without trace! The aircraft had flown just a total of 261 hours.

(1) Sqn Ldr. White awarded was awarded the DFC whilst with 44 Sqn. London Gazette 17th October 1944. Citation: "Squadron Leader White has completed much operational flying during which he has attacked a variety of targets in Germany and France. In August, 1944, he piloted an aircraft on a minelaying mission. Despite intense opposition and being illuminated by searchlights he made a determined attack and succeeded in placing his mines accurately. Squadron Leader White has completed many sorties and has displayed the highest standard of skill and devotion to duty".

Burial details:

Sgt. Arthur John Rickeard. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 237. Son of Reginald Sim and Dorothy Gladys Burnett of Worthing, Sussex, England.

Plt Off. Roy Cyril Morgan Jones. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 211. Son of Albert Lewis Howe jones and Florence Agnes Jones.

Flt Sgt. Tom Edward Jenkins. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 219. Son of Evan and Sarah Ann Jenkins of Brixton, London, England.

Plt Off. Leonard Frederick Arthur Marston. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 208. Son of Walter George and Florence maud Marston of South Benfleet, Essex, England.

Flt Sgt. Walter McGregor Halliday Burnett. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 216. Son of William and Catherine (née Halliday) Burnett and husband of Margaret Burnett of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Flt Sgt. Douglas Haig Watts. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 223. Son of Samuel Alfred and Mary Ann Watts of Radford, Nottinghamshire, England.

Researched for Aircrew Remembered by Linda Ibrom and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Thelma Leitch (niece) of Flt Sgt. Burnett (May 2017). Thanks to John Jones for the additional information for Sqn Ldr. White (Oct 2022).

Other sources listed below:

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