Date: 25th June 1943
Unit: No. 12 Squadron
Type: Lancaster Type III
Serial: ED968
Code: PH-P Bar
Base: Wickenby, Lincolnshire
Location: Stenigot, 5 miles south of Louth, Lincolnshire
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Howard Garfield Yeo, 409268 R.A.A.F. Age 22. Killed
Flt. Engr: Sgt. Charles William Robinson, 578359 R.A.F. Age 19. Killed
Nav: Sgt. Maurice Robert Aston, 1394397 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Bmr: Fl/Sgt. George Adam Hiddleston, 656250 R.A.F. Age 27. Killed
W/Op/Air Gnr: Sgt. Reginald Sneesby, 1381732 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Paul Soluk, R/130819 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Stanley Rennick, R/99592 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS
Delivered to 12 Squadron in May of 1943, ED968 took part in a series of raids to Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Essen, Bochum and Oberhausen before being lost on a flying test on the afternoon of June 25, 1943. The aircraft reportedly broke up in mid air and dived into the ground possibly due to some structural damage inflicted and undetected during a previous bombing operation. Fate lent a cruel hand to Sgt. Reginald Sneesby as he was not a regular member of this crew but was standing in for another airman who was unavailable to fly that day. Sergeants Aston, Soluk and Rennick were all buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery while the other members of the crew were claimed by relatives for burial in their hometowns.
Top Left: Sgt. Reginald Sneesby Right: Sgt. John Rennick (Courtesy Tom Forbes and Wickenby register)
Sgt. Reginald Sneesby shown far left with his usual crew with LM321 HW-K - This aircraft later lost on 10/11th June 1944 (Courtesy Tom Forbes and Wickenby register)
Burial Details:
Fl/Sgt. Howard Garfield Yeo. Watford Cemetery Sec. M. Cons. Row 3. Grave 421
Son of Richard James Garfield Yeo and Elizabeth Ellen Yeo, of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia.
Sgt. Charles William Robinson. Thorne Cemetery Grave Ref. 866.
Son of Charlie and Florence Lily Robinson, of Thorne, Yorkshire.
Sgt. Maurice Robert Aston. Cambridge City Cemetery Grave Ref. 14535.
Son of George Melbourne Aston and Elsie Aston, of Crouch End, Middlesex.
Fl/Sgt. George Adam Hiddleston. Renfrew (Arkleston) Cemetery Grave Ref. Sec. A. Row D. Grave 70.
Son of Adam and Annette Hiddleston; husband of Hilda Mary Hiddleston, of Renfrew, Renfrewshire.
Sgt. Reginald Sneesby. Hannover War Cemetery Grave Ref. 5436
Son of Arthur William and Emily Sneesby, of Selby, North Yorkshire.
Sgt. Paul Soluk. Cambridge City Cemetery Grave Ref. 14536
Son of Dymetro and Franciska Soluk, of Sawdy, Alberta, Canada.
Sgt. John Stanley Rennick. Cambridge City Cemetery Grave Ref. 14534
Son of Stanley and Ada M. Rennick, of Bright, Ontario, Canada.
Researched by Colin Bamford for the A.R. Society and for the relatives of the crew members.
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following (Purchase them "HERE"): Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses". The superb work of the C.W.G.C. The Wickenby Register
