Great photo, thanks for posting. A little history of 61 Squadron...... The Royal Air Force - History Section
That is a fantastic photo. Given the date I wonder if they flew any more missions over Germany following that photo. When did bomber Command fly their last bombing raid?
When did bomber Command fly their last bombing raid? The last bombing raid of WW2 carried out by Bomber Command was on on Kiel on 2/3 May 1945. By that date there had been no offensive operations by Bomber Command since 26/27 April. It was feared that the Germans were assembling ships at Kiel to transport troops to Norway in order to carry on the war there.
That's a great photo - is a section of one of those enormous panoramic photos? Yes, Paul, it is about three feet long. You see only two of the four engines and the crews go out at least three feet past the end of the wings of the Lanc. If you folks would like, I will run it through the scanner in sections and post it.
I got to wondering what was the last operational loss attributed to 61 Squadron during WW2 and came up with the following........ 9 April 1945 Lancaster I RF121 QR-J Op: Hamburg. Crew. F/L. A P. Greenfield DFC. RAAF + F/O. W J. Fraser pow F/O. W J A. Gibb + F/S. W J. Haddon + W/O. V P. Smith + F/S. J R. King + F/S. S D P. Goodey pow Took off 1445 hrs from Skellingthorpe to bomb oil-storage tanks. Those who perished now rest in Becklingen War Cemetery. F/L. Greenfield DFC RAAF had flown somewhere in the region of 32 operational sorties. BCL Vol.6 W R. Chorley. So near, yet so far.
'Military Cross' - thanks for adding the rest of the photo and the other details. All fascinating stuff.
A good friend of mine had a Great Uncle who served with 61 Squadron during WW2. His name was Gordon Edward Heasman and he died when his Lancaster was shot down over Holland in Jan 1944. At my friends request, I trawled the internet and came up with the following info. (See Word Doc.) All the best, Paul..............
"Military Cross" thanks for the photos, do you have any on 61 Squadron taken late march early April 1944, I am researching my uncle Flt/EngA.B.Woodvine who was KIA shot down by a nightfighter on return from Ops over Aachen 11/4/44 in Lancaster JA 695 QN-W Any photos of that aircraft and its crew would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
No doubt you've already got this info from Googling the Lost Bombers site, but you may not have found the earlier incident... 61 Squadron Lancaster Serial Number: W4830. Squadron Code: QR-E. Operation: Gelsenkirchen. 25th/26th June 1943 W4830 was delivered to 9 Squadron in December 1942, and joining No.61 Sqdn on 23rd January 1943. W4830 took part in the following Key Operations: With No.9 Sqdn as WS-D, None. With 61 Sqdn as QR-E, Dusseldorf 27/28 Jan 43; Hamburg 30/31 Jan 43; Lorient 13/14 Feb 43; Nuremburg 25/26 Feb 43; Berlin 1/2 Mar43; Nuremburg 8/9 Mar 43 (aborted); Berlin 29/30 Mar 43 (aborted); Essen 3/4 Apr 43; Stettin 20/21 Apr 43; Dortmund 23/24 May 43; Dusseldorf 25/26 May 43; Dusseldorf 11/12 Jun 43; Gelsenkirchen 25/26 Jun 43 (Lost on return). Airborne at 22:59 on 25 Jun 43 from Syerston. Badly damaged by flak and on return the Lancaster was abandoned at 04:30 near Baston, 9 miles south west of Spalding, Lincolnshire. The two airmen who died were taken to their home towns for burial. Sgt D.H. Pearse; Sgt A.B. Woodvine; Sgt H.W. Beasley (KIA); Sgt R.C. Everett; Sgt J. Robson; Sgt K. Lloyd (KIA) and Sgt J. Penswick Name: BEASLEY, HERBERT WILLIAM. Rank: Sergeant (Nav.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force). Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 31. Date of Death: 26/06/1943. Service No: 846474 Additional information: Son of Albert Edward and Florence May Beasley, of Lincoln. Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. F. Grave 310B. Cemetery: NEWARK-UPON-TRENT CEMETERY Name LLOYD, KENNETH. Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 19. Date of Death: 26/06/1943. Service No: 1816030 Additional information: Son of William Samuel and Margaret Lloyd, of Godreaman, Aberdare. Grave/Memorial Reference: Cons. Grave X/7116. Cemetery: ABERDARE CEMETERY, Glamorganshire 61 Squadron Lancaster Serial Number: W4830. Squadron Code: QR W. Operation: Aachen. 11/12 April 1944 JA695 was initially issued to 57 Squadron in June 43, and joined 61 Squadron ex 5 MU in March 44. JA695 with No.57 Sqdn took part in the Key Operation against Cologne 3/4 Jul 43. No Key Ops with 61 Sqdn When lost this aircraft had a total airtime of 23 hours. Airborne 20:48 11 Apr 44 from Coningsby. Those killed were taken to Antwerpen-Deurne. They have been subsequently re-interred in the Schoonselhof Cemetery. Sgt Woodvine came from Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. F/O E.A. Williams DFC KIA; Sgt A.B. Woodvine KIA; F/Sgt D.R. Beesley KIA; F/Sgt A.D.M. Anderson PoW; Sgt J.L. Parker KIA; Sgt S.A.G. Gardner KIA and F/Sgt E. Parry KIA. F/Sgt A.D.M. Anderson was interned in Camps L6/357. PoW No.3522. Name: WILLIAMS, ERIC ALBERT. Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot). Awards: D F C Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 23. Date of Death: 11/04/1944. Service No: 157067 Additional information: Son of Albert and Charlotte Louise Williams, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: IVa. C. 15. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY Name: WOODVINE, ARTHUR BRADLEY. Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 21. Date of Death: 11/04/1944 Service No: 778204 Additional information: Son of Arthur and Helen Woodvine, of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. Grave/Memorial Reference: IVa. C. 12. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY Name: BEESLEY, DOUGLAS RICHARD. Rank: Flight Sergeant (Nav./Bomber) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 22. Date of Death: 11/04/1944. Service No: 1391522 Additional information: Son of Ernest Richard and Norah Beesley; husband of Margharita Sybil Beesley, of Scotby, Cumberland. Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave IVa. C. 16-18. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY Name: PARKER, JOHN LEWIS. Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 23. Date of Death: 11/04/1944. Service No: 1146642 Additional information: Son of Bertram and Sarah A. Parker, of Whitehaven, Cumberland. Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave IVa. C. 16-18. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY Name: GARDNER, SPENCER ARTHUR GRAFTON. Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 20. Date of Death: 11/04/1944. Service No: 1324764 Additional information: Son of Albert Arthur and Helen May Gardner, of East Dulwich, London. Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave IVa. C. 16-18. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY Name: PARRY, EDWARD. Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 24. Date of Death: 11/04/1944. Service No: 1052458 Additional information: Son of Samuel and Elizabeth Parry, of Burnley, Lancashire. Grave/Memorial Reference: IVa. C. 6. Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY
Hi Looking for photo of my uncle & his mates. KIA 11/04/1944. Spencer Arthur Grafton Gardner. Sergeant ( Air Gnr ) 61 Sqdn No 1324764 Lancaster JA695. out from Coningsby to Aachen on return attacked by nightfighter crashed at Kievermont village Belgium . Any Help Please....Tony....
