Date: 30/31st May 1942
Unit: No. 1652 C.U.
Type: Halifax I
Serial: L9605
Code: GV-Y
Base: Marston Moor (Tockwith - changed name to avoid confusion with R.A.F. Topcliffe) Yorkshire
Location: Weert, Holland
Pilot : F/Lt. S. G. Wright P.O.W. No: 387 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria
Fl/ Eng: Sgt. Hugh Percival Lowman 570626 R.A.F. Age 25 P.O.W. No: 431 Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug (1)
Obs: F/O. D.G. Cookson 404532 R.N.Z.A.F. P.O.W. No: 401 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. R.J. Tavener 964024 P.O.W. No: 447 Stalag Kopernikus
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth James Arthur Manley 951350 R.A.F.V.R Age 23. Killed
(1) During the last weeks of the war Sgt. Hugh Percival Lowman - Later made W/O, was killed on the 19th April 1945 when allied fighter bombers strafed the prisoner of war column in which he was marching.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 23.59 hrs. from Marston Moor, Yorkshire to bomb Cologne (Köln) on a thousand bomber raid made up of 602 Wellington's, 131 Halifax's, 88 Stirlings, 79 Hamden'd, 73 Lancaster's, 43 Manchester's and 28 Mosquitoes. (1,047 aircraft.)
868 aircraft are said to have bombed the main target others bombing other targets. Huge losses were incurred on this raid with 41 aircraft lost which was classed as acceptable at the time!
Halifax L9605 was shot down by a German night fighter ace from Stab I./NJG1 Oblt. Reinhold Knacke at 02.04 hrs at a height of 4,500 mtrs. The area of combat was reported as 3 km. East South East of Weert.
Sgt. Kenneth James Arthur Manley (Courtesy Tony Cantlow)
Lt. Knacke became a night fighter ace with over 44 kills. He was killed on the 3/4th February 1943 from return fire from a Stirling near Achterveld/Ede 
Marston Moor 1998 (Courtesy Tony Cantlow)
(Courtesy Tony Cantlow)
Above left: Jonkerbos War Cemetery. Right: Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery (C.W.G.C)
Burial details:
Sgt. Kenneth James Arthur Manley.Jonkerbos War Cemetery. Grave 16. H. 3.
Son of Frederick George and Minnie Louisa Manley; husband of Margaret Hilda Manley, of Lockwood, Huddersfield.
Sgt. Hugh Percival Lowman. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Grave 11 . N. 11.
Son of Percival Rodd Lowman and Maud Mary Lowman, of Paignton, Devon.
With assistance from Tony Cantlow. Thanks also to Theo Boiten - "Nightfighter War Diaries" Vol. 1. Bill Chorley "Bomber Command Losses" Vol. 3.
