Date: 27th April 1942
Unit: No. 97 Squadron
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: L7572
Coded: OF-L
Location: Kaldadammen, Norway
Pilot: Fl/Lt. John Goodsir Mackid D.F.C. 14042 R.A.F. Age; 28, Killed
Co/pilot: P/O. Ronald Benjamin Underwood 104507 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 31, Killed
Nav: P/O. Thomas Neville Tree 104537 R.A.F.V.R. Age; ?, Killed
Air/Gnr(front): Sgt. Eric McDermott 990443 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 25, Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Keay Falconer Marshall 1375102 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 26, Killed
Air/Gnr(Tail): Sgt. Frederick Bennett 615915 R.A.F. Age; ?, Killed
Air/Gnr(Mid): Sgt. Raymond Day 628069 R.A.F. Age; 20, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Lossiemouth. Hit by flak and crashed in the vicinity of Kaldadammen-Austvannet-Skjellstadmark-Trondeleg, Norway. Fl/Lt was a Canadian serving in the R.A.F. and was a pre-war graduate from the University of Washington.
No further details are known of this loss and we would be very interested in hearing from any relatives / friends who are able to assist with this research.
Michael Harrison has also contributed to this loss article in that it is known that the aircraft reached the target area during the first phase of the attack. Eyewitnesses watched as the aircraft was totally engulfed in flames and crashed. A memorial stone stands close to where the aircraft crashed and has all the names of the crew carved on it as well as the crew of a HalifaxW1020 TL-K from 35 squadron which also crashed near the same spot on the same night.
Details of Fl/Lt. John Goodsir Mackid D.F.C.:
"Awarded as per London Gazette dated 23 January 1942. Born in Calgary, 1914; home there; educated in Victoria, University of Alberta and University of Washington, specializing in aeronautical engineering. Appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation, RAF, 20 August 1938 and served as a flying instructor. Royal Air Force Quarterly (June 1942) has citation (with S/L John Seymour Sherwood, awarded Bar to DFC): Name Goodsir ? Missing in action, 27 April 1942. Air Ministry Bulletin 6124 refers.
In December 1941, Squadron Leader Sherwood and Flight Lieutenant Mackid participated as leaders of formations of aircraft in a daylight attack on the battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst at Brest. Extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and opposition from enemy fighters was encountered, but although Squadron Leader Sherwood's aircraft was hit several times by shell fire he skilfully kept his formatioon together and finally an accurate run was made over the target.
Flight Lieutenant Mackid admirably supported Squadron Leader Sherwood and pressed home a successful attack with great determination. Throughout the operation, which demanded a high degree of skill and courage, both these officers played a conspicuous part and contributed materially to the success obtained."
Seated (left to right) Sgt Henley, Flying Officer Mackid, Flying Officer Hallows, Pilot Officer Pickering, Flying Officer Rodley, Unknown. Standing - (extreme left) Sgt Cutting, (4th from left) Sgt Cummings. Others unknown.
Air Gunner Sgt. Raymond Day
Burial Details:
John Goodsir Mackid Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.3.
Son of L. Stewart and Ada Hammond Mackid, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. B.Sc. (University of Washington)
Ronald Benjamin Underwood Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery Joint grave, A IV. British. H.2.
Son of Thomas William and Lavinia Underwood; husband of Alvey Marjorie Winford Underwood, of Old Coulsdon, Surrey.
Thomas Neville Tree Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.1.
No further details available at present.
Eric McDermott Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery Joint grave, A IV. British. J.3.
Son of George and Charlotte McDermott, of Blackpool, Lancashire.
William Keay Falconer Marshall Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. H.1.
Son of John Albert and Maud Barbara Bryce Marshall, of Edinburgh.
Frederick Bennett Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. H.3.
No further details available at present.
Raymond Day Trondheim (Stavne) War Cemetery A IV. British. J.6.
Son of William and Mary Day, of Beswick, Yorkshire.
