Date: 24/25th February 1944
Unit: No. 408 Squadron R.C.A.F.
Type: Lancaster II
Serial: DS844
Code: EQ-X
Base: Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.
Location: Schweinfurt
Pilot: P/O. Harry Sherlock, DFC 162517 R.A.F.V.R. Age 24. Killed
Pilot/Nav: F/O. James Gordon Hillman J/21914 R.C.A.F. Age 27. Killed (1)
Flt/Engr: Sgt. Henry George Basten 1399763 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Air/Bmr: P/O .Henry Norman Cunliffe 168961 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Reginald Sydney Nurse 1496525 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Armour John Emerson R/192677 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Walter Walker 960863 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS
DS844 took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 20:48 hours, part of a major raid consisting of 734 aircraft destined for the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt. The weather for this time of the year was clear and enabled the crew to identify the targets visually on the banks of the River Main. In addition, the targets were indicated by Pathfinders which in some cases were still burning from a U.S.A.A.F. daylight raid the previous day.
It is believed that DS844 was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighter, possibly that of Oblt. Hans Raum, crashing into the River Main south of Schweinfurt. This aircraft DS844, a Hercules powered Lancaster, was transferred to 408 Squadron from 432 Squadron after which it participated in raids on Berlin and Leipzig before being lost.
From The London Gazette April 1944 on the award of his DFC:
“Pilot Officer Harry Sherlock (162517), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron. This officer has displayed skill, courage and resolution of a high order. He has completed many sorties and throughout has shown the utmost determination to press home his attacks His fine record includes 12 attacks on the capital of the German Reich.”
Back row L to R: F/Sgt. Reginald Sydney Nurse, P/O Harry Sherlock, DFC, Sgt. Henry George Basten, P/O Henry Norman Cunliffe
Front row L to R: Sgt. Walter Walker, F/O James Gordon Hillman, Sgt. Armour John Emerson (Courtesy William Hillman)
Crew pictures (Courtesy William Hillman)
Durnbach War Cemetery Durnbach, Germany (Courtesy C.W.G.C.)
Runnymede Memorial (Courtesy C.W.G.C.)
(1) Hillman Island, Saskatchewan, Canada has been renamed after F/O James Gordon Hillman
Burial Details:
P/O Harry Sherlock, DFC. Runnymede Memorial Panel 212.
Son of William Edward and Emma Pallister Sherlock, of West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
Sgt. Henry George Basten. Durnbach War Cemetery Durnbach, Germany. Grave 7.A.13.
Son of Henry and Ellon A. Basten, of Peckham, London.
P/O Henry Norman Cunliffe. Durnbach War Cemetery Durnbach, Germany. Grave 7.A.14.
Son of Stanley G. Cunliffe and Laura A. Cunliffe, of Llangollen, Denbighshire.
(Photo courtesy William Hillman)
F/O James Gordon Hillman. Runnymede Memorial Panel 246.
Son of Robert Boswell Hillman and Jane Hillman, of Elrose, Saskatchewan, Canada.
F/Sgt. Reginald Sydney Nurse. Runnymede Memorial Panel 221.
Son of Sidney Alfred and Elsie Kate Nurse, of Swinton, Lancashire.
Sgt. Armour John Emerson. Durnbach War Cemetery Durnbach, Germany. Grave 7.A.16.
Son of P.B. Emerson and Mary Louise Emerson, of Smithers, British Columbia, Canada.
Sgt. Walter Walker. Durnbach War Cemetery Durnbach, Germany. Grave 7.A.15
Son of Richard Henry and Mary Walker, of Nottingham; husband of Irene Elizabeth Walker, of Nottingham.
Researched by William Hillman relative of F/O James Gordon Hillman. Article prepared by Colin Bamford for the Aircrew Remembrance Society
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The Commonwealth Graves Commission.
