REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 15.25 hrs from Kirmington, Lincolnshire (Now Humberside International Airport) to attack the town of Ludwigshafen. 382 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes took part of which 6 Lancasters were lost (3 from 166 Squadron alone) with 56 crew members killed, 3 more being made P.O.W.
The raid destroyed or damaged 900 homes but also the railway yards were seriously damaged and one of the Rhine bridges was hit by 2 bombs and was temporary closed. 25 people were killed on the ground and a further 6 injured. The lack of casualties on the ground suggest that the town had been evacuated or were well protected with shelters.

It is thought that Lancaster ME648 was shot down by either (or even both, as the combat occurred at the same time in the same area) German night fighters Hptm. Helmuth Schultze or Oblt. Peter Spoden. The combat took place at between 3,500 - 4000 mtrs. at around 19.34 hrs over Bruchsal, Germany. Both were night aces (25 claims Spoden and 23 claims Schulze) and both survived the war.

     
Above left: Fl/Lt. Edward Spankie D.F.C Right: The Spankie Memorial at the renamed "Spankie Lake" at Alberta, Canada.
(With thanks to: Airman's Memorial Cairns Committee, Royal Canadian Legion, McGrane Branch No 28, Lac La Biche, Alberta and also to Geographical Names Board of Canada)


     
Above left: Oblt. Peter Spoden and right: Hptm. Helmuth Schultze (Photo courtesy of P. Spoden collection)

We are working very closely with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Manitoba geographical names project and the Saskatchewan Tourism Parks, culture and sports department to show with the aid of Google maps where many of the WW2 Aviators are being remembered. If you are also able to assist by sending other information please "Contact Us". To see the Google map locations for others "Click Here"

     
Above left: Stained glass window for 166 Squadron at the St. Helen church, Kirmington and Humberside airport today.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Edward Spankie D.F.C. Rheiberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 8. E. 3-6
Son of James and Helen Spankie; husband of Dorothy E. Spankie, of Stettler, Alberta, Canada.
Sgt. Raymond Stennett. Rheiberg War Cemetery Grave 8. E. 2
Son of George Hammond Stennett and Helen Stennett, of Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Fl/Lt. John Edward Shannon D.F.C. Rheiberg War Cemetery Grave 8. E. 1
Son of John Patrick Shannon, and of Margaret Mary Agnes Shannon, of Hampstead, London.
Fl/Sgt. Hugh Henry Teggart. Rheiberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 8. E. 3-6
Son of James and Elizabeth Teggart, of Killough, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
Fl/Sgt. Alexander McIvor. Rheiberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 8. E. 3-6
Son of Alexander and Helen McIvor, of Brodie, Morayshire.
Fl/Sgt. James Pirie Brown. Rheiberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 8. E. 3-6
No further details as yet
P/O. Francis Alma Coombs. Rheiberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 8. E. 3-6
Son of Bertram John and Hannah Coombs; husband of Edith L. T. Coombs, of Rosemary, Alberta, Canada.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The superb work of the C.W.G.C.

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