Date: 5/6th March 1943
Unit: No. 49 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ED431
Code: EA-M
Base: Fiskerton, Lincolnshire.
Location: Off Texel, North Holland
Pilot: Sgt. James Myles Thom D.F.M. 1368871 R.A.F.V.R. Age 29. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. David Gow Fairlie 632330 R.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. John Henry Prior D.F.M. 1375981 R.A.F.V.R. Age? Killed
Air/Bmr: W/O. II Alexander Manson Horne D.F.M. R/76770 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Bolton 989205 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Stuart Bratt 1546821 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank Harry Liddon Vines 1316193 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 1920 hrs. from R.A.F. Fiskerton, Lincolnshire to attack the Krupps works in Essen. 442 aircraft took part (157 Lancaster's, 131 Wellingtons. 94 Halifaxes, 52 Stirlings, 8 Mosquitoes) Of this 56 aircraft had to return because of technical difficulties and during the raid a total of 14 aircraft were lost.
The damage reported showed 160 acres of destruction with 53 buildings within the Krupps works hit. A local report states that 3,018 houses were destroyed and a further 2,166 seriously damaged. Reports of deaths on the ground range between 457 and 482 killed, 10 of these fireman. Aircrew losses amounted to 75 killed, 18 made P.O.W. 3 more injured and 1 crew member evaded capture.
Lancaster ED431 was claimed to have been shot down by Lt. Rolf Bussmann 11./NJG1 over the North sea 15 km west of Texel, Northern Holland at a height of 500 mtrs. at 22.48 hrs. However the kill was also claimed by Lt. Robert Denzel 12./NJG1 20 km west of Texel at a height of 3,500 mtrs at 22.02 hrs.
Lt. Rolf Bussmann Survived the war with 21 kills, whilst Lt. Robert Denzel (7-9 kills) was killed on the 25/26th May 1943 during a combat with 141 Squadron Beaufighter V8744 crew: F/O. H.C. Kelsey and sgt. E.M. Smith.
Above left: W/O. II Alexander Manson Horne D.F.M. (A.R.S archives) Right: The Horne Memorial at the renamed "Horne Lake" at Alberta, Canada.
(With thanks to: Airman's Memorial Cairns Committee, Royal Canadian Legion, McGrane Branch No 28, Lac La Biche, Alberta and also to Geographical Names Board of Canada)
Sgt. James Myles Thom D.F.M. (courtesy of Mike Harrison)
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Burial details:
Sgt. James Myles Thom D.F.M. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 167
Son of Robert Nichol Thom, and of Catherine Cook Thom, of St. Andrews, Fife.
Sgt. David Gow Fairlie. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 149
Son of John Fairlie and of Margaret Fairlie (nee Gow), of Stenhousemuir, Stirlingshire.
Fl/Sgt. John Henry Prior D.F.M. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 138
No further details as yet available.
W/O. II Alexander Manson Horne. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 138
No further details as yet available.
Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Bolton. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 135
No further details as yet available.
Sgt. Douglas Stuart Bratt. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 143
No further details as yet available.
Sgt. Frank Harry Liddon Vines. Runnymede War Memorial. Panel 168
Son of F. M. Liddon Vines, and of Marie S. Vines, of Haywards Heath, Sussex.
Researched by: David King and Kelvin T. Youngs (A.R.S. 2009) With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 3", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.
