Date: 21/22nd February 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)
Unit: No. 408 (Goose) Squadron R.C.A.F.
Type: Halifax VII
Serial: NP711
Code: EQ-O
Base: Linton-On-Ouse
Location: Target area?
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Donald McWilliam Sanderson J/29724 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. James Wilson 1822188 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
Nav: F/O. Reginald Bertram Smith J/38711 R.C.A.F. Age 33. Killed
Air/Bmr: F/O. William James Gilmore J/37870 R.C.A.F. Age 33. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. William Wallace Wagner J/95503 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. Nels Peter Helin Andersen C/95210 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed (1)
Air/Gnr: P/O. Donald Edison Sherman J/95492 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Linton-On-Ouse at 17.14 hrs to attack the main railway station in Worms.
A total of 334 heavy bombers were used including 288 Halifax's, 3 Lancaster's and 25 Mosquitoes. The raid caused massive destruction to the town with 39% of the towns built up area totally destroyed. 1,116 tons of high explosive was dropped killing 239 people on the ground and 35,000 people were bombed out of their homes (Population: 58,000).
A total of 11 aircraft were lost together with 33 aircrew deaths and a further 16 being made P.O.W's.
Most were shot down by German night fighters and such was the ferocity of the air battles on this and other raids taking place this night not a single German claim was possible by the crews - for this night alone the allies lost a total of 42 aircraft!
Part of the crew of Halifax VII NP711 - probably taken during training at O.T.U as only six people shown. P/O. Donald Edison Sherman known to be front left, but others remain unidentified - can you assist further? (Courtesy of Kingsville Historical Park)
A relative of P/O. William Wagner has contacted us and feels that the chap standing on far right is Billy Wagner but unable to clarify this - yet.
Same group with a Hurricane - probably used for fighter affiliation. Note the chequered control van on left. (Courtesy of Kingsville Historical Park)
Top left: P/O. Donald Edison Sherman J/95492 R.C.A.F. (Courtesy of Kingsville Historical Park) Right: P/O. Nels Peter Helin Andersen (Courtesy Cecil Pittman via Mike Harrison)
Rheinberg War Cemetery (C.W.G.C)
(1) Anderson Lake was named after him on 16th December 1994
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Donald McWilliam Sanderson. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
From Haileybury, Ontario, Canada. No further details as yet.
Sgt. James Wilson. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G
Son of Thomas Wilson, and of Janet K. Wilson, of Douglas, Lanarkshire.
F/O. Reginald Bertram Smith. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
Son of Thomas B. Smith and Catherine Monica Smith, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
F/O. William James Gilmore. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
Son of William James Gilmore and Faith Clark Gilmore; husband of Helen Neal Gilmore.
P/O. William Wallace Wagner. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
Son of Robert H. Wagner and Beryl Wagner, of Napanee, Ontario, Canada.
P/O. Nels Peter Helin Anderson. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
Son of Hans Peter and Hulda Andersen, of Woodside, Manitoba, Canada.
Donald Edison Sherman. Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective grave 18. G.2-5
From Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. No further details as yet.
With thanks to the Kingsville Historical Park of Canada for the use of some of these pictures.
Further information from 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.
