Archive Report: Allied Forces

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10/11.08.1943 57 Squadron Lancaster III ED992 DX:O Flt Lt. Wilson

Operation: Nurnberg

Date: 10/11th August 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: 57 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ED992

Code: DX:O

Base: RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

Location: Rummelsberg, Nr. Nuremberg, Germany

Pilot: Flt Lt. Robert Hay Wilson 120627 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Pilot 2: Plt Off. Robert James Ratcliffe 413032 RAAF Age 29. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. George Pettefar 1499191 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Plt Off. Aaron Burns 155579 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Raymond Kenneth Garment 1320205 RAFVR Age ? Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Alan St. John Floyd 1384586 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. Gordon Cecil Major 1336854 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. John Frank Broadbent 52829 RAF Age? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 21:42 hrs from RAF Scampton Lincolnshire to bomb Nuremberg with 653 aircraft (318 Lancasters, 216 Halifaxes and 119 Stirlings)

Left: Plt Off. Robert James Ratcliffe Right: Informal group portrait of aircrew members taken at South Cerney? on the day they were posted. Identified in this group are: 414027 Arthur William Heap RAAF; 32274 Clive Alexander (Alec) Pickup RAAF; 'Knobby' Clark RAF; 412853 Jack Smithers RAAF; 413032 Robert James Ratcliffe RAAF (5th from left); 413357 Allan John Davey RAAF; 409383 Donald Frank Constable DFC, RAAF; 413049 Alfred Newton Vidler RAAF; 413452 Stanley George Townsend DFM, RAAF; and 'Darkie' Davis. Positions within the group unknown. Of the men pictured, whose full identity is known, only Plt Off Townsend was to survive the war. (Credit: Robert Ratcliffe)

The raid was considered as a success resulting in housing and industrial property damaged with 577 people killed on the ground. The allies lost 24 aircraft during this operation with 76 aircrew killed, 42 made PoW, 2 evading capture with a further 21 being injured.

No claims have been identified for shooting down Lancaster ED992 but it is known to have come down in the village of Rummelsberg shown on map.

Burial details:

Grave photographs kindly supplied by David Franklin - sadly during his visit 3 of the crew headstones were removed for renovation. The CWGC kindly place a marker at each position in case a relative happens to be visiting during that period. As shown below.

Flt Lt. Robert Hay Wilson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 6.K.2. Born on the 10th June 1922 in Paddington, Greater London. Son of Dr. William and Margaret Dunlop (née Hay) Wilson from Bayswater, London, England.

His father was Canadian and they came to the UK in September 1938 (when he was 16) and lived at 44 Porchester Terrace, London W2 with his mother whilst he was studying.

Plt Off. Robert James Ratcliffe. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 6.K.1. Born on the 12th April 1914 at Alpine, NSW, the son of Joseph Richard Leonard and Louisa Ratcliffe, of Alpine, New South Wales, Australia. Grave inscription reads: "HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE EVER REMEMBERED".

Sgt. George Pettefar. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 6.K.3. Son of William and Nora May Pettefar, of Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England. Grave inscription reads: "TREASURED MEMORIES ALWAYS".

Plt Off. Aaron Burns. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 6.K.4-8. Son of Aaron and Mary Emma Burns, of Barnsley, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Raymond Kenneth Garment. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 6.K.4-8. No further details currently available - await contact from relatives.

Sgt. Alan St. John Floyd. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 6.K.4-8. Son of Algynon Leicester Floyd and of Elsie Katherine Floyd (nee Jackson), husband of Margaret Floyd (née Martin), of Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England.

Sgt. Gordon Cecil Major. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 6.K.4-8. Son of Cecil H. Major and Doris Major, of Golders Green, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. John Frank Broadbent. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 6.K.4-8. From Sanderstead, Croydon, Surrey, No further details currently available - await contact from relatives.

Researched for Quentin Ginever (great nephew of Sgt. George Pettefar) and for all relatives of the crew. With thanks also to Robert Ratcliffe - nephew of Plt Off. Ratcliffe. Thanks to Anthony Cox for the NoK details for Flt Lt. Wilson (Apr 2021). Further sources as quoted below.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

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