Remembering Today: Flying Officers J. W. Lowrie DFC RAFVR, G. Hill, J. K. Turner and Sgt W. E. Range

Wellington NC607 failed to return from a reconnaissance mission Maasnell-Kruchten 23rd January 1945.

Flying-Officer G. Hill (aged 34), Flying-Officer J. K. Turner (23), Sergeant W. E. Ranger (22) of 69 Squadron and Flying-Officer J. W. Lowrie DFC RAFVR (22) of 140 Squadron listed as a 'passenger' but serving as a volunteer Navigator, were killed.

Flying-Officer K. G. Booth and Flight-Sergeant C. G. Broad of 69 Squadron were wounded and taken prisoner.

A surviving member of the crew reported that having assessed their first observation run over the Maasneil area of Roermond was not as they required, they went round again at about 1000 feet despite the intensity of the ground fire. This action was typical of their generation: showing great valour and devotion to duty. It is believed Wellington NC607 crashed after it was hit in the tail, causing lost of rudder and elevator control. It was a tragic end to a mission so bravely tackled.

Sixty-five years later, having found the wreckage of NC607, it was deeply moving to make a pilgrimage to stand near to the place where the courageous life of my boyhood friend John Lowrie had ended in the company of brave RAF comrades. He had truly served 'Through Adversity to reach the Stars'.

Joe Brown.

 

Thanks for sharing Joe. They are not forgotten.

 

LOWRIE, JOHN WILLIAM Rank: Flying Officer Trade: Nav./Bomber Service No: 158987 Date of Death: 23/01/1945 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 69 Sqdn. Awards: D F C Grave Reference Plot 23. Grave 12. Cemetery ROERMOND (KAPEL IN 'T ZAND) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY Additional Information:
Son of George and Mary Lowrie, of Peebles.


HILL, GEORGE Rank: Flying Officer Trade: Nav./Bomber Service No: 179368 Date of Death: 23/01/1945 Age: 34 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 69 Sqdn. Grave Reference Plot 23. Grave 11. Cemetery ROERMOND (KAPEL IN 'T ZAND) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY Additional Information:
Son of Walter and Ruth Elizabeth Hill, of Sandbach, Cheshire.

TURNER, JOHN KEITH Rank: Flying Officer Trade: Nav./Bomber Service No: 175060 Date of Death: 23/01/1945 Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 69 Sqdn. Grave Reference Plot 23. Grave 10. Cemetery ROERMOND (KAPEL IN 'T ZAND) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY Additional Information:
Son of John Pater Turner and Hilda Beatrice Turner, of Lowestoft, Suffolk.


RANGER, WILLIAM EDWARD Rank: Sergeant Service No: 1895135 Date of Death: 23/01/1945 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 69 Sqdn. Grave Reference V. C. 9. Cemetery VENRAY WAR CEMETERY Additional Information:
Son of George and Emily Ranger, of Chiswick, Middlesex.

 

Killed in action 23 January 1945

Flying Officer
John William Lowrie DFC
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Personal Number 158987
born 25th June 1922
Son of George and Mary Lowrie

62 Northgate, later at Mon Abri, Cross Street
Peebles, Peeblesshire


http://www.john-lowrie.com/

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/38178-69-squadron-wellington-nc607-23-january-1945/

 

CL1.

Thank you for kindly and thoughtfully adding to the Remembrance Tribute to John Lowrie and his valiant Comrades. I have missed him all these years. We lived next door to each other and played together as toddlers. That friendship grew stronger as we became young men and as my web tribute records we last saw each other when he took the trouble to get across country to visit me in Morecambe to be with me and celebrate my 'first pip' in April 1943.

Your regular postings are fine Acts of Remembrance, reminding us of the debt we own to so many.

Thanks, too, and warm regards to Amberdog45.

Joe

 

Hi Joe, do you think the attached is John's father George?

Hope you are well today. Regards - Maria

 

It may well have been. However, from the early 1920s he resided next door to where I lived in Peebles. He was a carpenter and joiner and survived a few years after John was killed. Sadly his Mother died very soon after the news, having lost her only child, her beloved Son.

I am fine, preparing to move to France this Spring. My daughter and son-in-law have recently retired and moving there where they have had a holiday home for about eight years. The village I am going to has a good broadband service and will be able to keep up my computer activities. I have five websites which I maintain as well as dealing with all the queries about the two War-time Battalions of The Royal Scots in which I had the honour to serve, generally giving more information to loved ones seeking to know more about their grandfather or father.

With warm regards,

Joe