NAME

POSITION

AIR-FORCE

COMMENTS

F/O Howells.F.J. DFC

Pilot

RAAF

Posted to 463 Sq 8.11.44. KIA 3/4.3.45.

F/S Bates.D.

Engineer

RAF

F/S Barlow.P.T.

Navigator

RAF

F/S Foreman.

Bomb Aimer

RAAF

F/S Elliott.O.B.

Wireless Operator

RAAF

Sgt Billard.C.R.

Gunner MU

RAF

Sgt Millar.J.M.H.

Gunner Tail

RAF

DATE

TARGET FOR TONIGHT

AIRCRAFT

COMMENTS

16.11.44.

F/O Howells F.J. 2nd pilot with F/O McKern.G.

26/27.11.44

Munich

ED765

4/5.12.44

Heilbronn

PB688 JO.M

6/7.12.44

Giessen

PB688 JO.M

18/19.12.44

Gdynia

ED733 

21/22.12.44

Politz

ED733 

27.12.44

Rheydt

ED733 

30/31.12.44

Houffalize

NG194 JO.J

4/5.1.45

Royan

PB845 JO.C

5/6.1.45

Houffalize

PB845 JO.C

7/8.1.45

Munich

PB845 JO.C

13/14.1.45

Politz

PB845 JO.C

14/15.1.45

Merseburg Leuna 

PB845 JO.C

2/3.2.45

Karlsruhe

PD330 JO.F

14/15.2.45

Rositz

NG469 JO.D

19/20.2.45

Bohlen

NG469 JO.D

21 .22.2.45

Gravenhorst

NG469 JO.D

24.2.45

Ladbergen

NG469 JO.D

3/4.3.45

Dortmund Ems Canal/ Ladbergen

NG469 JO.D.M

14/15.1.45. In the attack on Merseburg Leurna in LL865, all went normally until approximately half way round in the supporters run, when LL865 was hit by heavy flak putting the hydraulics out of action and the rear and front turrets. We carried on, and on the bombing run we were hit again, setting the port inner engine on fire. It was feathered and the fire went out but the bomb doors would only partly open. Then we were attacked by a FW19O fighter who opened fire from approximate 200 yards hitting the pilots altimeter and air speed indicator. The mid uppers fire drove him off and he wasn't seen again. We jettisoned the bombs and turned for base when LL865 was hit again holing a starboard fuel tank. We then set course for Jouvencourt after a lot of difficulty, and using the air bottle to get the flaps and undercarriage down, landed at 00.05 hrs.

After returning to Waddington and completing 6 more ops they were shot down in the attack on Dortmund Ems Canal/Ladbergen 3/4.3.45. P/O Howells, F/S Elliott, and Sgt Billard were KIA. RAF members are not listed in our casualty lists. The crew had completed 19 ops.