Date: 27/28th August 1943
Unit: 207 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ED627
Coded: EM-N
Location: Schwäbisch
Pilot: P/O. Arthur Marcus Fitzgerald 148128 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 20, Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Sydney James Mitchell 1503006 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 38, Killed
Nav: Sgt. Cyril Herbert Pratt 1314020 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 20, Killed
W/Op/A/Gnr: Sgt. William Walter George Addison 1313919 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed
Air/Bmr/Nav: Sgt. Henry Albert Toomey 1383991 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 22, Killed
Air/Gnr/upper: Sgt. Stephen Preston 1541030 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed
Air/Gnr/rear: Sgt John Goodwin 1603332 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Langarn, Nottinghamshire at 21.30 hrs on route to Nürnberg with another 673 bombers. 33 were lost on this attack. weather for the raid was clear with a starlit sky - not good as far as attacks from the German night fighter were concerned. However to assist the allied bombers as soon as the first wave hit Nürnbeg "window" was dropped to jam the commentary by the German controllers on the ground and in addition the R.A.F sent four PPF Mosquito's to make a harassing raid on Duisberg. This was timed badly as the Mosquito's dropped their bombs some two hours before the main force attacked. Most of the bombers that did not return were attacked during the run in and five were lost on the return trip. Ten German night fighters were shot down during a fierce battle over the bombing area which lasted over thirty minutes.
Oblt. Ludwig Meister of 1./NJG4, already a German ace, shot down ED627 at 01.35 hrs at a height of around 15.000 ft and the aircraft crashed at Market Hohenberg, Wolperthausen with the loss of all on board.
The Aircrew Remembrance Society are indebted to Shaun McGuire who had studied this loss and also contributed some superb photographs and other documents to support his research. Shaun is also the cousin of the pilot P/O. Fitzgerald. Please have a look at his website (Via our links page) and sign his guest book. He has also researched other losses and we are pleased to confirm that he will contribute further to our website as we are also assisting with his.
Crew of the Lancaster ED627 when they were flying Wellington's later joined by Steve Preston shown below and Sydney Mitchell. Left to right back row: William Addison, Henry Toomey, Cyril Pratt and in front Arthur Fitzgerald and John Goodwin
Shown above Oblt. Ludwig Meister of 1./NJG4 the German night fighter ace who shot down ED627. For the German recovery report of the crash inspection and to read the touching letters sent by Ludwig Meister to Shaun McGuire in 2003 please click onto the link here.
Burial Details:
Arthur Marcus Fitzgerald Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.22.
Son of Gerald Fitzgerald, and Harriet McGuire.
Sydney James Mitchell Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of James H. Ruby A. M. Mitchell, of Higher Broughton, Salford, Lancashire.
Cyril Herbert Pratt Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of Charles William Payne and Maud Lily Pratt, of Caversham, Reading, Berkshire.
William Walter George Addison Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of William and Ellen May Addison, of Bitterne, Southampton.
Henry Albert Toomey Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of Henry Valentine and Edith Margaret, of Marble Arch, London; husband of Beryl Elsie Toomey.
Stephen Preston Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of Stephen and Ellen Preston, of Lamberhead Green, Lancashire.
John Goodwin Durnbach War Cemetery. 9.J.23-28.
Son of John and Alice Lilian Goodwin, of Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire.
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.
