Date: 5/6th March 1945
Unit: No. 431 Squadron
Type: Lancaster X
Serial: KB858
Code: SE-G
Base: Croft, North Yorkshire
Location: Siegen, Germany
Pilot : F/O. Stanley Arthur Reid J/38869 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Fl/ Eng: Sgt. William Arthur Salisbury 2222106 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Nav: F/O. Henry Johns Feldhans J/41496 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. Herbert John Beaton J/42250 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. Colin Bruce MacDonald J/95362 R.C.A.F. Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. Howard Roger Harris J/95280 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. Hinrik Guttormson 395367 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 16.35 hrs from Croft airfield in Yorkshire. Joining 760 aircraft to bomb Chemnitz in Germany as part of operation Thunderclap. Chemnitz (Later named Karl Marx City) Targets included factories producing military goods, an oil refinery was also situated in the area. The bombing left most of the city in ruins but not without cost to the allied bombers. 9 aircraft were lost shortly after take off due to very icy conditions and a further 22 aircraft were lost on the raid itself.
Lancaster KB858 was claimed by two Luftwaffe night - fighters. Maj. Hubert Rauh (1) from Stab II./NJG4 at 20.22 hrs also Oblt. Kurt Matzak (2) Stab IV./NJG1 at 20.30 hrs over Objekt Siegen.
(1) Survived war with 32 kills
(2) Survived war with 19 kills
F/O. Henry Johns Feldhans (A.R.Society archive)
Hannover War Cemetery (Courtesy C.W.G.C)
Maj. Hubert Rauh (1) from Stab II./NJG4 (Source unknown)
Burial details:
F/O. Stanley Arthur Reid Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
Son of Andrew Wilson Reid and Sarah Jane Reid, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Sgt. William Arthur Salisbury Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
No further details as yet
F/O. Henry Johns Feldhan Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
Son of Henry W. and Elizabeth Feldhans, of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
F/O. Herbert John Beaton Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
No further details as yet
P/O. Colin Bruce MacDonald Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
Son of Peter Robinson MacDonald and Nettie Amelia MacDonald, of Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada.
P/O. Howard Roger Harris Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 4. J.8-10
No further details as yet
P/O. Hinrik Guttormson Hannover War Cemetery Collective grave 2. J.8-10
No further details as yet
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following (Purchase them "HERE"): Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries", Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt "Bomber Command War Diaries". The superb work of the C.W.G.C.
