Date: 22/23rd March 1944.
Unit: No. 7 Squadron P.F.F. (8th Group)
Base: Oakington
Type: Avro Lancaster Mk III
Serial: JA964
Coded: MG-P
Location: Rheinberg, Germany
Pilot: F/O Kenneth Hinde R.A.A.F. 413382 P.O.W (D.O.B. 19/11/1919, Bolton, England. Interred in camp L1 - POW No: 3820)
Nav: F/O John Henry Wyborn R.A.F.V.R. 124519 Age: 28, Killed
Crew: P/O. Harry Stevenson McMaster R.A.A.F. 422659 P.O.W (D.O.B. 27/02/1924. Woollahra New South Wales. Interred in camp L1 - POW No: 3829
Sgt. A. I. Love R.A.F. P.O.W (Interred in camp L6/L4 - POW No: 3277)
Fl/Sgt. Jack Lambert R.A.A.F. 421229 Age: 22, Killed
A/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Edward Bullivant R.A.F.V.R. 1805873 Age: 20, Killed
A/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Gordon Eben Hamilton R.N.Z.A.F. 424979 Age: 20, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Left Oakington at 1858 hrs to attack Frankfurt (The third attack on this City in a week). Part of a huge force of 816 aircraft, made up from 620 Lancaster's, 184 Halifaxe's, 12 Mosquito's. To create confusion an indirect route was employed, crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying due south to Frankfurt. The city suffered another heavy blow and half of the city was without gas, water and electricity for what is described as a "long period". In this raid 948 people were killed on the ground, 346 seriously injured and 120.000 people were without homes.
One of the results of these heavy raids was that recently captured R.A.F. crews often had to be protected by their guards from the assaults of angry civilians when they passed through Frankfurt to reach the nearby Oberursel Interrogation and transit camp.
Shot down over Rheinberg - it is believed by a Uffz. Robert Koch 6./NJG1 Attacked 7 Squadron JA964 at 22.40 hrs at a height of 5.500 Mtrs. Aircraft engaged at or near Traben Trarbach.
Robert Koch had a total 7 night kills to his credit. He was shot down on the 7/8th October 1944 by a RAF Mosquito from 409 Squadron and baled out over Peer, Belgium. He was then subsequently captured and became a prisoner of war. It is understood that he did survive the war.
John Wyborn was a former policeman stationed in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England. He joined the R.A.F.V.R. and trained at Carlstrom Field in Florida, U.S.A. as a pilot and qualified for his wings, although he flew with the Lancaster as a navigator. P/O. Harry McMaster was tragically killed in a Motorcycle accident near Sidney, Australia just after the end of the war.
F/O John Henry Wyborn L -R As a police officer in 1935, in uniform and in civilian clothes during his R.A.F.V.R. war service.
Photographs taken during F/O John Wyborn training in Florida U.S.A. The press cutting is a publicity shot with John surrounded by girls and the other nice catch was taken during his training whilst on R & R.
Crew of JA 964 During the "Sterling" period John, 2nd from the left sitting in the Sterling aircraft door.
John on the right by the Sterling rear turret The Scroll.
John is 3rd from the right - back row - now with the Lancaster. On the 2nd picture John on the far right - can you assist in identification of any of these crew members in order?
John pictured 3rd from the right on this shot. Is this P/O Hinde at the controls? (Note the Kangroo painted on the side).
Burial Details:
The four crew members that were killed are all buried at the Rheinberg cemetery, Germany.
F/O John Henry Wyborn: 8. A. 14
Son of Frederick George and Jessie Maria Wyborn - husband of Elizabeth Alice Wyborn of Wolverton, Buckinghamshire.
Fl/Sgt. Jack Lambert: 8. A. 15
Son of George Victor and Vera Evelyn Lambert of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Fl/Sgt. Gordon Eben Hamilton: 8. A. 16
Son of Gordon Freeman Hamilton and Alice Constance Hamilton of Siverdale, Auckland, New Zealand.
Sgt. Albert Edward Bullivant: 8. A. 17
Son of Alfred and Flora Bullivant, of Nunhead, London.
Fl/Sgt. Gordon Eben Hamilton Rheinberg cemetery, Germany
Picture of Fl/Sgt. Hamilton kindly supplied by Mike Harrison. With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 4" Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The Commonwealth Graves Commission
