Operation: Friedrichshafen, Southern Germany

Date: 27th/28th April 1944 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 7 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JB676

Code: MG:K

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Location: Reichenbach near Schwarzwald, Germany

Pilot: Wg Cdr. William Guy Lockhart DSO, DFC and Bar, 112728 RAFVR Age 27. KiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. John Elliot Johnson 1591067 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Nav: Sqn Ldr. John Lionel Martin DFC and Bar, 106968 RAFVR Age 30. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Lt. Leslie Dennis Goldingay DFC, 130244 RAFVR Age 26. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: WO1. William Walter Bigoray DFM, R93566 RCAF Age 25. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sqn Ldr. George Ryle DFC, 79219 RAFVR Age 35. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Frank Wells Shields 1675802 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Wg Cdr. Lockhart and Sqn Ldr. Martin (Courtesy Paul Guttridge)

WO1. Bigotry (Courtesy Francois Dutil), Sqn Ldr. Ryle and Sgt. Shields (Courtesy Paul Guttridge)

Above: George Ryle giving away his sister Elizabeth 'Betty’ Ryle at her wedding to Robert Cooper in 1st qtr of 1942 at Newcastle upon Tyne (Courtesy of Peter Roberts)

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Lancaster Mk III

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster JB676 took off from RAF Oakington at 22:26 hrs on an operation to bomb factories in Friedrichafen. Part of a large force of 322 Lancaster that took off on this operation. The target area was very deep in Southern Germany which made this operation even more dangerous.

All the aircraft reached the target area without any losses, but the German night fighters arrived during the raid. Wg.Cdr. Lockhart and crew were shot down by a German night fighter and crashed at Reichenbach, 2km ESE of Lahr/Schwarzwald.

Hptm. Ernst Wallner from Luft Beo. St.7 (NJG6) claimed JB676, his 1st claim, over Reichenbach, 2km ESE of Lahr at 6,100m at 01:19 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

The total loss for this operation was 18 aircraft. This operation was classed as very successful with much damaged being caused to factories and the town itself.

Burial Details:

Wg Cdr. William Guy Lockhart DSO, DFC and Bar. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Son of William Bruce and Grace Peta Lockhart. Husband of Ruby Olivia Silvia Judith Lockhart of Whetstone, Middlesex.

William Guy Lockhart was granted a short service commission as Acting Plt Off. wef 21st October 1935 and was posted to No. 6 Flying School, Netheravon 19th Oct 1935. William was then posted to 65 (F) Squadron, Hornchurch 31st August 1936 and confirmed in the rank of Plt Off. on the 21st October 1936. Plt Off Lockhart was then posted to 87 (F) Squadron, Tangmere on the 22nd March 1937. Further training took place at the Armament Training Camp. North Coates Fitties in April 1937. Having resigned his commission William gave a lecture at the West Suffolk Aero Club in April 1939 and flew his first solo while at Strathtay Aero Club in Lincolnshire August 1939. He re-enlisted and while serving with 74 Squadron in July 1941 Sgt. Lockhart was shot down over Herly, Pas-de-Calais, France and was first reported missing, but this was later changed to being safe. For further information (see Spitfire W3317)

William Guy Lockhart was granted a commission as Acting Plt Off. on the 26th Nov 1941 and was awarded the DFC on the 5th June 1942 whilst as an acting Flt Lt. with 161 Squadron. The citation reads "This Officer recently completed 3 operations involving much preparations and difficult organisation. Flt Lt. Lockhart worked hard to achieve success and surmounted many difficulties with great skill and initiative". Awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) in October 1942 whilst as an acting Sqn Ldr. with 161 squadron. The citation reads "Squadron Leader Lockhart has participated in many operational sorties and the success gained can be attributed largely to his careful organisation and planning. He has, at all times, displayed courage, skill and fortitude which have been in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force". In 1943 Flt Lt. Lockhart was promoted to Sqn Ldr. and was also awarded the Bar to his DFC in 1944 whilst as a Wg Cdr with 692 Squadron. Citation reads: "In February 1944 this officer was posted to form and command 692 Squadron. Since then he has shown outstanding ability and his leadership been largely responsible for the fine record set up of the squadron. Wg Cdr. Lockhart has also continued to operate against the enemy with unremitting keenness and zeal, and has taken part in many operation sorties with success".

Sgt. John Elliot Johnson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Son of John Henry Johnson and of Nellie Pretoria Johnson of Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne

Sqn Ldr. John Lionel Martin DFC and Bar. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Son of Christopher John and Inez Martin. Husband of Margaret Martin of Lydiate, Lancashire.

Born in Australia Sgt. 903334 John Lionel Martin was granted short service commission as Acting Plt Off. (106968) on the 4th September 1941 and was awarded the DFC in 1942 while serving as acting Fg Off. with 7 Squadron. Promoted to the rank of Flt Lt. on the 2nd August 1942 and was promoted to the rank of acting Sqn Ldr. on the 26th November 1942. Awarded a Bar to his DFC in 1943.

Flt Lt. Leslie Dennis Goldingay DFC. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Son of Leslie and Ada Goldingay of Wallasey, Cheshire.

Sgt. 968161 Leslie Dennis Goldingay (130244) was promoted to the rank of temp. Flt Sgt. on the 1st May 1942 and was granted a short service commission as Plt Off. on probation on the 1st November 1942. Awarded the DFC in 1943 and a Bar to his DFC while serving with 7 Squadron on the 21st April 1944. Whilst as a Sgt. he had been involved in a flying accident in January 1941 For further information see Wellington R1244

Plt Off. William Walter Bigoray DFM. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Born in Redwater, Alberta, Canada on 13th September 1918, the son of John and Nasta (née Krickay) Bigoray of Redwater, Alberta, Canada. (His mother predeceased him)

At the time of his loss, two younger brothers, Nicholas Peter and Anthony were serving in the RCAF. Enlisted on the 15th March 1941 in Edmonton. Awarded the DFM on the 29th December 1942. Flt Sgt. William Walter Bigoray, RCAF "for great gallantry, fortitude and devotion to duty in exceptionally hazardous circumstances". Further details of this award here.

Posthumously commissioned and promoted to Plt Off (J89731) with effect 26th April 1944.

(Above Memorial marker for Sqn Ldr. Ryle; Courtesy Paul Guttridge)

Sqn Ldr. George Ryle DFC. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 10-13. Son of Henry and Amy Ryle. Husband of Peggy M. Ryle of Kensington, London

George Ryle was granted a commission as acting Plt Off. on probation 18th May 1940 and was confirmed as Plt Off. on the 18th May 1941. Promoted to the rank of Fg Off. on the 15th June 1941. Acting Sqn Ldr. George Ryle RAFVR from 7 Squadron was awarded the DFC , London Gazette 18th January 1944.

Sgt. Frank Wells Shields. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. Coll. Grave 8. K. 9. Born on the 24th June 1924 in Fife, Scotland. Son to Daniel and Winifred (nee Griffin) Shields of Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Frank Wells Shields is remembered on the Stainforth War Memorial.

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. Thanks to Tracy Shields, the niece of Sgt. Shields, for the update to his details. Many thanks to Peter Roberts for sponsoring this page. Also to Dave Champion for providing additional details on the DFM award and personal details on WO1. William Bigoray - we have now added an additional page to him with the data compiled by the great researcher, Hugh Halliday. Also to Francois Dutil for Bigoray Photo. Thanks to Paul Guttridge for the aircrew photographs and memorial marker. Update to include Plt Off. Bigoray commissioning information. (Jan 2022). Tracy Lockhart, daughter of the pilot and Sue Higginson. Thanks to Peter Roberts for the photograph of George Ryle (Peter’s great uncle) giving away his younger sister 'Betty' at her wedding (May 2023).

Other sources listed below:

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