Date: 27/28th August 1943
Unit: 12 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: DV187
Coded: PH-A
Location: Michelau im Steigerwald
Pilot: W/O. Leonard Wilson Aspden 1336697 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22, Klled
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Kenneth Jack Bevis 1171184 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 22, Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Edward Kelloway R/115923 R.C.A.F. Age; 20, Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. Graham King 134722 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 26, Killled
W/Op: Sgt. Ronald Williams Dobbins 1178204 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 23, Killed
Air/Gnr(Upper): Sgt. Eric Wilfred Clayton 1006016 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 36, Killed
Air/Gnr(Rear) Sgt. Norman Alfred Pinxton Chew 1810131 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 35, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 21.28 from Wickenby as part of a 674 aircraft raid. Sgt Chew replaced the usual rear gunner, Sgt.D.W.J Butler (reason as yet unknown). The crew were posted as a complete crew from 1662 Heavy conversion Unit at Blyton. The aircraft for unknown reasons crashed between Nuremberg and Schweinfurt at approximately 20 - 30 km South East of Schweinfurt.
Further research has failed to identify the German Night Fighter pilot claiming a kill for DV187, however from the reports it had been a very fierce battle over the target zone and a total of 33 allied aircraft were lost during this raid. According to a German Journalist it was shot down by German night fighter ace, Hptm. Ludwig Meister - please see the link to the article reprinted below:
Left to right above: Leonard Wilson Aspden, Kenneth Jack Bevis, Eric Wilfred Clayton
Left to right above: Norman Alfred Pinxton Chew, Original grave marker, Edward Kelloway
Crash area shown as it is today.
Shown above Oblt. Ludwig Meister of 1./NJG4 the German night fighter ace who shot down DV187. For the German newspaper reports sent by Norbert Vollmann to Shaun McGuire click onto the link here.
The Aircrew Remembrance Society would like to express their gratitude to Shaun McGuire for providing us with this extensive information.
Burial Details:
Leonard Wilson Aspden Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 11. K. 10-14
Son of Wilson Birwell Aspden and Martha Aspden of Letchworth, Hertfordshire
Kenneth Jack Bevis Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 11. K. 10-14
Son of Frederick John and Caroline Bevis, of Weymouth, Dorsetshire.
Edward Kelloway Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 11. K. 10-14
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Kelloway of Port Arthur, Ontario
Graham King Durnbach War Cemetery. 11. K. 8
Son of Francis William and Agnes Lily, of Watford, Hertfordshire; husband of Molly
Ronald Williams Dobbins Durnbach War Cemetery. 11. K. 9
Son of William Henry and Maud Dobbins, of Wolverley, Worcestershire.
Eric Wilfred Clayton Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 11. K. 10-14
Son of James Martin and Minnie Emily, husband of Bessie Nora Clayton, of Hull.
Norman Alfred Pinxton Chew Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. grave 11. K. 10-14
Son of Ernest Alfred and Catherine Chew; husband of Dorothy Annie Chew, of Pinner, Middlesex.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 3", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries Vol 2", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.
