Re: Canadian Aircrew Crew Losses - WW2 Files
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:04 am
Stirling III BE472 HA-D RAF 218 Squadron RAF Downham Market Norfolk
Operation: Hannover Germany 27/28th September 1943
Stirling BE472 took off at 20:00 hours on Monday 27th September 1943,on an operation
to bomb targets at Hannover. In the vicinity of the German village of Bothfeld it was seen
flying at a medium height on a course of approximately 045 degrees,when it was hit by anti
aircraft fire.The aircraft then went into a steep dive,and just before it touched the ground it,
straightened out and skidded for about 200 metre's before hitting a tree.The force of impact
caused a large explosion, which was so great,that the aircraft was blown apart with its crew
still on board.The wreckage was strewn over a wide area. The time of the crash was between
22:00 hours and midnight,but no later.
After the crash members of a local flak battery arrived and were detailed to guard the crash
site until a Luftwaffe salvage unit arrived from Vahrenwald the next day.The salvage unit
then removed all the wreckage. The remains of the crew were handled by a firm of under-
takers from Lautenbach who arranged for the subsequent burial.
Source: Australian National Archive, Australian War Memorial,BCL 1943 W.R. Chorley,
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Crew:
F/Lt. K.T. Balding D.F.C. R.A.A.F
Sgt. E. Otter R.A.F.
Sgt. G.A. Lawrenson R.A.F.
P/O. G.G. Hurst D.F.C. R.A.F.
F/O. W.N. Hamilton R.C.A.F.
Sgt. S.J. Harris R.A.F.
Sgt. J. McGovern R.A.F.
All the crew rest in Hannover War Cemetery,Germany.
Operation: Hannover Germany 27/28th September 1943
Stirling BE472 took off at 20:00 hours on Monday 27th September 1943,on an operation
to bomb targets at Hannover. In the vicinity of the German village of Bothfeld it was seen
flying at a medium height on a course of approximately 045 degrees,when it was hit by anti
aircraft fire.The aircraft then went into a steep dive,and just before it touched the ground it,
straightened out and skidded for about 200 metre's before hitting a tree.The force of impact
caused a large explosion, which was so great,that the aircraft was blown apart with its crew
still on board.The wreckage was strewn over a wide area. The time of the crash was between
22:00 hours and midnight,but no later.
After the crash members of a local flak battery arrived and were detailed to guard the crash
site until a Luftwaffe salvage unit arrived from Vahrenwald the next day.The salvage unit
then removed all the wreckage. The remains of the crew were handled by a firm of under-
takers from Lautenbach who arranged for the subsequent burial.
Source: Australian National Archive, Australian War Memorial,BCL 1943 W.R. Chorley,
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Crew:
F/Lt. K.T. Balding D.F.C. R.A.A.F
Sgt. E. Otter R.A.F.
Sgt. G.A. Lawrenson R.A.F.
P/O. G.G. Hurst D.F.C. R.A.F.
F/O. W.N. Hamilton R.C.A.F.
Sgt. S.J. Harris R.A.F.
Sgt. J. McGovern R.A.F.
All the crew rest in Hannover War Cemetery,Germany.