ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 159257
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 24 September 1944 |
| Time: | 22:53 |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 97 (The Straits Settlements) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | PB409 |
| MSN: | OF-F |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 4 km West of Burgsteinfurt. -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Coningsby |
| Ladbergen - Dormund-Ems Kanal |
Took off from RAF Coningsby at 19:20.
There are two claims for this aircraft.
Ofw Heinrich Breitenfelder 5/NJG2 - North West of Munster: 4,300m at 22:53.
Hptm Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Stab IV/NJG1 - 40km West of Munster (JP): 4,200m at 22:56.
Also claimed by Flak of 1, 2&5/schw Flat Abt 443 and 6 & 8/schw Flak Abt 324
(“Lancaster Ladbergen 4,400m 22:52”)
WO Tiller RAAF was part of Trupp 40. He arrived at Bankau on 21 October 1944.
Crashed about 4 km West of Burgsteinfurt.
Those who perished were initially buried in isolated communal grave at Leer Dorsten Tannen.
Reinterred 28 March 1947.
Plt Off Black awarded DFC whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 6 June 1944.
Sgt Chalmers awarded DFM whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 27 June 1944.
Sgt Cowan awarded DFM whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 8 August 1944.
Plt Off Higgs awarded DFC whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 10 March 1944.
Citation
As captain of aircraft, Pilot Officer Higgs has completed many sorties against well defended targets in-Germany, including 6 attacks on Berlin. He has invariably displayed great skill and courage and his determination to complete his missions successfully has won high praise.
Fg Off Williams awarded DFC whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 15 August 1944.
Fg Off Williams awarded MiD. Gazetted 1 January 1945.
WO Tiller awarded DFM whilst with 44 Squadron. Gazetted 30 June 1944.
Citation
This airman has completed many successful sorties, seven of these being against Berlin. In January 1944, he was mid upper gunner in an aircraft detailed for an attack on Magdeburg. While making the bomb run his aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt 109. Flt Sgt Tiller’s accurate shooting and excellent directions, enabled his captain to frustrate the attacker. This airman is a very efficient
air gunner, whose fine fighting spirit and courage have made him a valuable asset to his squadron.
Crew
Pilot: 53148 Sqn Ldr Richard Marcellus Higgs DFC - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 24 Row E Grave 15.
Flight Engineer: 1803789 Flt Sgt John Edward Cowan DFM - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 24 Row E Grave 13.
Navigator: 187030 WO Thomas Herbert Gibson - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 24 Row E Grave 12.
Bomb Aimer: 168636 Fg Off Thomas Wilson Black DFC - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 24 Row E Joint Grave 10-11.
Wireless Operator: 169155 Fg Off Victor George Williams DFC - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Plot 24 Row E Joint Grave 10-11.
Mid Upper Gunner: A/417677 WO Henry Stanley Tiller DFM RAAF - PoW/Stalag Luft VII Bankau near Kreuzburg Upper Silesia/Stalag IIIA Lückenwalde/PoW Number 1046. 40
Rear Gunner: 984297 Flt Sgt David Chalmers DFM - Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 24 Row E Grave 14.
Sources:
Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 4 - Theo Boiten
CWGC
Bomber Command Losses 1944 - W R Chorley
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 22 March 1944 | JB731 | 97 (The Straits Settlements) Sqn RAF | 7 | North Sea |  |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Aug-2013 06:12 | JINX | Added |
| 01-Nov-2018 14:59 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator] |
| 22-Dec-2019 09:36 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation