Operation: Karlsruhe

Date: 02/3rd February 1945 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 44 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: PA195

Code: KM-V

Base: RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire.

Location: South East of Karlsruhe, Germany.

Pilot: F/O. Charles Worrall 160210 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. William John Wilson 1796601 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Nav: Sgt. James Roe Fuller 1804431 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. John Anthony Clements 1396078 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Watt 1567734 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Jack Edward Judd 1609235 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. George Edward Maidment 1880668 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster I PA195 KM-V left RAF Spilsby at 20:05 for an operation to Karlsruhe.

Originally issued to 1661 HCU on 30th December 1944, this aircraft joined 44 Squadron on 28th January 1945. It was among 250 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes from No 5 group. Cloud cover over the target caused the raid to be a complete failure.

14 Lancasters were lost, PA195 was to be one of two 44 squadron Lancasters lost on this operation.

It is thought possible that this Lancaster was shot down by Hptm. Gerhard Friedrich (1) of Stab 1./NJG6 at 3,500 metres south east of Karlsruhe at 23:31 hrs.

The other SW251 KM-X - Flown by Fl/Lt Thomas Edward Gallivan J/11351 RCAF the 22 year old Canadian pilot from Nova Scotia, Canada, together with the other 6 crew members were killed.

(1) This was Hptm. Gerhard Friedrich's 21st confirmed claim of the war (Two on this night alone). He went on to claim a total of 30 kills before he was himself killed on the 16/17th March 1945 near Stuttgart after a collision with a 576 Squadron Lancaster PB785 UL-L2. The pilot of that aircraft 22 year old, Fl/Lt. Frank Dotten J/12642 RCAF from Nova Scotia, Canada, killed with all 7 crew. (6 Canadians and 1 British)

Burial details:

Crew graves at Durnbach War Cemetery (courtesy David Franklin who has provided us with permission to release high resolution copies of these to any relative who contacts us)

F/O. Charles Worral. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.6 Son of Enid Millicent Boby of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. Grave inscription reads: ‘We Giving All, Gained All.’

Sgt. William John Wilson. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.3. Son of Robert G. and Mary J. Wilson of Banbridge, Co.Down, Northern Ireland. Grave inscription reads: ‘Not My Will But Thine Be Done.’

Sgt. James Roe Fuller. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.4. Son of James Roe and Rita Maud Fuller of New Cross, London, England. Grave inscription reads: ‘Our Dear Son. Ever In Our Thoughts. Absent From The Body. Present With The Lord.’

Fl/Sgt. John Anthony Clements. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.7. Son of Charles and Alice Clements of Southall, Middlesex, England. Grave inscription reads: ‘Press On Regardless.’

Fl/Sgt. James Watt. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.1. Son of John and Agnes Watt of Glasgow, Scotland. Grave inscription reads: ‘Loved In Life And Living Yet In The Hearts Of Those Who Can’t Forget.’

Sgt. Jack Edward Judd. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.5. Further information: Son of John Henry and Elsie Beaton Judd of Shirley, Southampton, England. Jack was the eldest of eleven brothers and two sisters. Grave inscription reads: ‘Britons Shall Not Be Slaves.’

Fl/Sgt. George Edward Maidment. Son of William J and Sarah Kate Maidment, husband of Margaret Ivy Maidment (née Wheeler) of Ilford, Essex, England. Father of Mary and Brian. Winifred, his sister and Charles her husband. Grave inscription reads: ‘God’s Greatest Gift, Remembrance.’

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Photo credits to Richard and Graham Judd. Thanks also to Frances Corck, relative of Flight Sergeant Maidment, Mary Malin (nee Maidment) who contacted us in December 2016 and corrected some details on her father Fl/Sgt. George Maidment. Other sources as quoted below.