Date: 11th July 1942 (Saturday)
Unit: No. 97 Squadron
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: R5696
Coded: OF-H
Location: Target area.
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Charles William Miller D.F.C. 36270 R.A.F. Age 24. Killed
Co/pilot: Sgt. John Forsyth 1007363 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
Obs: Sgt. Alan Thomas Grossmith 1280705 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Joseph Norman Eslick 106076 R.A.F.V.R. Age 30. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Robert John Westgate J/15812 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Norman Lindsay Smith 401251 R.A.A.F. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Alden Ernest Nickerson R/64786 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 16.42 hrs from Woodhall Spa. Fl/Lt Charles William Miller D.F.C. was a New Zealander serving in the Royal Air Force. Details of this loss are still being researched by the Aircrew Remembrance Society and we welcome any assistance on this and all our articles on our website.
Following this appeal a relative Leanne Saunders of Sgt. Norman Smith has come forward and we are awaiting further information from her.
Another aircraft Lancaster I L7543 EM-Z from 207 Squadron was also lost on this raid. Flown by Fl/Sgt. George Duke who, along with his 6 other crew members were also killed. (see "HERE")
Left - Pilot - Fl/Lt. Charles William Miller D.F.C. Center - Observer of B5696 Sgt. Alan Thomas Grossmith Right: Fl/Sgt. Alden Ernest Nickerson
Sgt. Norman Lindsay Smith (Courtesy Leanne Saunders)
Crew graves (archive)
Burial Details:
Charles William Miller D.F.C. Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
Son of Charles Fraser Miller and Elizabeth Johnson Miller (formerly McIntosh), of Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand.
John Forsyth Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
Son of John and Margaret M. Forsyth, of Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Alan Thomas Grossmith Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
Son of Thomas John and Maud Evelyn Grossmith, of Stoke Newington, London.
Joseph Norman Eslick Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
Son of Arthur and Olivia Eslick; husband of Kathleen Clarice Eslick, of Plymouth.
Robert John Westgate Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
No further details as yet.
Norman Lindsay Smith Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
No further details as yet.
Alden Ernest Nickerson Marlbork Commonwealth War Cemetery (Poland) Coll. grave 3. B. 12-14.
Son of George Wesley Nickerson and Kathleen Marion Nickerson, of Anagance, King's Co., New Brunswick, Canada.
Research by David King (A.R.Society) Additional photographs by Mike Harrison and Leanne Saunders.
