Date: 4/5th January 1945
Unit: No. 619 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: ND728
Code: PG-N
Base: Strubby, Lincolnshire
Location: ?
Pilot: F/O. Dean Gray 417746 R.A.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Arrol Johnson 1595131 R.A.F.V.R. Age 25. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Eric Andrew Morley 1581491 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Howard Insley 1507972 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Leslie James Symonds 424572 R.A.A.F. Age 24. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Brown 1595165 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Howard Bartholomew 1898551 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Injured (1)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF Scrubby, Lincolnshire at 01.22 hrs to attack the German garrison town. 347 Lancaster's and 7 Mosquitoes took part in the controversial attack. The town was under siege at the time by French Resistance force commandeered by the Free French officers appointed by De Gaulle. The French without artillery had little effect on the German troops but the German commander offered the civilian inhabitants of the town to leave but many preferred to stay in order to look after their homes. Around 2,000 civilians remained.
Bomber Command was ordered to attack to soften up the German forces after the French assured S.H.A.E.F. (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) that the only civilians left in the town were collaborators. A last minute cancellation due to some "doubts" about the report was not received by Bomber Command and the raid took place.
The attack was carried out in two waves in good visibility conditions in the early hours of 5th January. 1,576 tons of high-explosive bombs were dropped on the town. Resulting in between 85-90% of the town being destroyed with the civilian death toll estimated as up to 800. German casualties were given as around 35 - 50 killed.
Many repercussions followed this raid with Bomber Command being totally cleared whilst the American Officer from S.H.A.E.F. was removed from his command, a French General committed suicide. The Germans did not surrender the town until the 18th April.
Many versions are reported about this raid - we may never know the real truth.
4 Lancaster's were lost on the raid and a further 2 were lost after colliding behind Allied lines in France. 33 Crew members were killed and another 1 injured.
Lancaster ND728 Crashed with the loss of all the crew. (1) Sgt. William Howard Bartholomew is thought to have survived but died a few days later. No other bodies were recovered from the crash site. Information is being sought where this actually was.
W/O. Leslie James Symonds Courtesy Matty Leigh - relative, it is hoped that a better quality photograph will shortly be available)
Burial details:
F/O. Dean Gray No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 283
No further details as yet available.
Sgt. Arrol Johnson. No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 272
Son of Frederick and Agnes Johnson, of Middleton St. George, Co. Durham.
Fl/Sgt. Eric Andrew Morley. No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 275
Son of Andrew Charles and Elsie May Morley, of Bulwell, Nottinghamshire.
Fl/Sgt. Howard Insley. No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 271
No further details as yet available.
W/O. Leslie James Symonds. No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 284
Son of James Garfield Symonds and Ida Ruth Marguerite Symonds, of Willow Tree, New South Wales, Australia
Sgt. Ronald Brown. No burial site - commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Panel 274
No further details as yet available.
Sgt. William Howard Bartholomew Soulac-Sur-Mer Olivess) Communal Cemetery Sec Z. Grave 15
No further details as yet available.
Researched by: Kelvin T. Youngs (A.R.Society November 2009) For Matty Leigh - relative of W/O. Leslie James Symonds
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.
