Date: 10/11th April 1943
Unit: No. 115 Squadron
Type: Lancaster II
Serial: DS604
Coded: KO-B
Location: Le Thour, France
Pilot: Sgt. Arthur Brinley Thomas 1312656 R.A.F.V.R. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Milford Alexander Lambert R/70699 R.C.A.F. Age; 31, Killed
Nav: Sgt. Valentine Robertson Wilson 1389001 R.A.F.V.R Age; 28, Killed
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Douglas Seymour Andrew 1335131 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed
W/Op: W/O. Campbell Murray Smith R/84121 R.C.A.F. Age; 22, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edward Victor Hudson 1393093 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 21, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Leonard Charles Fitt 1332433 R.A.F.V.R. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from East Wretham, Thetford, Norfolk at 00.50hrs to join 502 aircraft to attack Frankfurt. The raid was a complete disaster - very low cloud base and the only damage done was to a paper store and some neighbouring houses. The R.A.F. however suffered badly with 21 aircraft lost. DS604 has been claimed to have been shot down by Oblt. Kurt Fladrich 1./NJG1 - 1 km North of Le Thour, Ardennes, France at 02.28hrs. Kurt Fladrich became an ace with 15 kills and survived the war.
Lancaster II DS604 (Aircraft code changed at a later date) (Courtesy of Sheila Thomkins)
Burial Details:
Arthur Brinley Thomas Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave 8.
No further details as yet.
Milford Alexander Lambert Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave 1.
Son of Robert and Sarah A. Lambert, of Welwyn, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Valentine Robertson Wilson Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave Joint 4-5.
Son of Valentine and Nellie; stepson of Christine of Portadown, Co. Armagh, N. Ireland.
Douglas Seymour Andrew Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave Joint 4-5.
Son of Seymour Amos and Mildred Andrew, of Staines, Middlesex
Campbell Murray Smith Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave 2.
Son of John and Isabel Smith. of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Edward Victor Hudson Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave 6.
Son of Cecil Victor and Edith Hudson, of Westminster, London
Leonard Charles Fitt Le Thour Communal Cemetery. Grave 3.
No further details as yet.
Research by Kelvin T. Youngs (Aircrew Remembrance Society March 2009) With thanks to Theo Bolton for the information of Luftwaffe night fighter claims and to the C.W.G.C. for the burial details.
