Date: 24/25th February 1944
Unit: No. 100 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: JB604
Coded: HW-S
Location: Marly, France
Pilot: F/O. Vernon Llewelyn Bowen Jones 133632 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 22, Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. K.E.J. Head R.A.F.V.R. P.O.W. (Camp: 357, No:1188)
Nav: F/O. R.T. Garlick R.N.Z.A.F. P.O.W. (Camp: L3, No:3530)
Air/Bmr: P/O. John Carter Grindrod 172155 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 33, Killed
W/op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Henry Sullivan 1294908 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 23, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Patrick Anthony Turner 1661472 R.A.F.V.R. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Maurice Herbert Messenger 1351107 R.A.F.V.R. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
JB604 took off from Grimsby, Lincolnshire at 18.16hrs to join a massive attacking force of 734 aircraft made up from 460 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes and 11 Mosquitoes to attack the German main production area of ball bearings. The plan was to split the force into two halves separated with a 2 hour interval.
This did work with 22 aircraft being lost on the first raid but half that number on the second and the majority of losses on the second wave were caused by flak. 362 People were killed on the ground from this raid and one from the previous night by American bombers. A total of 33 R.A.F. aircraft were lost with 3 from 100 Squadron alone.
JB604 was on the first wave and although some reports state that it was shot down by flak, we have further information that it is possible (Indeed claimed) that it was shot down by a German night fighter ace, Hptm. Eckart-Willhelm von Bonin of II./NJG1 over Marly at a height of 6.000m. This attack occurred at 21.48hrs. Hptm. Bonin survived the war with a total of 35 kills to his score.
Pilot of JB604 F/O. Vernon Llewelyn Bowen Jones
Eckart-Willhelm von Bonin
Shown left: Local children visit the grave "Heros Allies"
Burial Details:
Vernon Llewelyn Bowen Jones Marley Communal Cemetery Grave 4.
From Pontardawe district, Breconshire / Glamorgan
John Carter Grindrod Marley Communal Cemetery Grave 1.
Son of John and Emily Beatrice, husband of Bessie Mary, of Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Joseph Henry Sullivan Marley Communal Cemetery Grave 2-3 (Collective).
Son of Joseph and Evelyn Mary, of Rainham, Essex.
Patrick Anthony Turner Marley Communal Cemetery Grave 2-3 (Collective).
No further details as yet.
Maurice Herbert Messenger Marley Communal Cemetery Grave 2-3 (Collective).
No further details as yet.
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.
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