Date: 12/13th May 1943
Unit: No. 51 Squadron
Type: Halifax II
Serial: DT645
Code: MH-B Bar
Base: Snaith, Yorkshire
Location: Achlum, Friesland, 5 km SE of Harlingen, Holland
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. David Crofton Smith 1239555 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Edward Frederick Kinerman 1213091 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Nav: Sgt. Eric Wilson Thomson 1313414 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Barnard Angus Bunting 1384948 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
W/Op: Sgt. Charles Lionel King 1382661 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Murray Hudley Nesbitt R/70337 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. William John Merrigan 1398030 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
Relatives of 51 Squadron who would like us to put them into contact with the 51 Squadron Society please do not hesitate to contact us.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 23.22hrs from Snaith joining 238 Lancasters, 141 other Halifaxes, 112 Wellingtons, 70 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitos. 572 aircraft in all. 34 aircraft were lost - 10 Lancasters, 10 Wellingtons, 9 Halifaxes and 5 Stirlings - 5.9% of the total force.
DT645 came down at 02.02hrs near Achlum in Friesland, 5km SE of Harlingen, Holland.
For details of the raid please see "HERE".
Harlingen General Cemetery (Courtesy C.W.G.C.)
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. Smith - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 3, Grave 11.
Son of Harry Watson Smith and Olive Watson Smith of Tibshelf, Derbyshire.
Sgt. Kinerman - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 3, Grave 13.
Son of Frederick and Louisa Maud Kinerman of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Sgt. Thomson - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 4, Joint grave 9-10.
Son of Richard Sangster Thomson and Dorothy Elizabeth Thomson of Dorset, Ontario, Canada.
Sgt. Bunting - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 4, Joint grave 9-10.
Son of Angus and Beatrice A. Bunting, husband of Margaret Bunting of Southall, Middlesex.
Sgt. King - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 3, Grave 12.
Sgt. Nesbitt - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 3, Grave 14.
Sgt. Merrigan - Harlingen General Cemetery, Plot E, Row 3, Grave 15.
Son of James Merrigan and Hannah Merrigan of West Ealing, Middlesex.
Researched by our volunteer Jeremy Nicholson for the Aircrew Remembrance Society with assistance from 51 Squadron History Society.
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The superb work of the C.W.G.C
