P/O Frank Shepherd RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1944
Failed to Return – 26/27th April 1944 – Avro Lancaster III – ND847 – Op Essen.
Frank Shepherd and crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds early April 1944. Sadly they were lost on their first operation. See below
26-Apr-44 – Essen – Lancaster – ND847 – P/O F Shepherd – FTR - Flak victim. Crashed at Strump, Germany.
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P/O Frank Shepherd RAFVR – Pilot – 103 Sqn – Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Henry Greenfield RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 103 Sqn - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
F/S Arthur Leslie Nichols RAFVR – Navigator - 103 Sqn - Son of William Andrew and Henriette Fredrica Nichols - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Duncan Neilson Bell RAF – Air Gunner - 19 - 103 Sqn - Son of Allan and Helen Ann Bell of Broughty Ferry, Angus - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
W/O Donald Grant Leask RCAF ( pictured below ) – Air Bomber - 103 Sqn - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany
F/S Bernard Moxham RAAF – 20 - 103 Sqn - Son of Leo Austin Moxham and Alice Moxham of Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Francis Patrick Morgan Quinn RCAF ( pictured below ) – Air Gunner - 25 - 103 Sqn - Son of William Morgan Quinn and Rose Anne Quinn of Philipsburg, Province of Quebec, Canada - Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
For more info and a photo of Frank Shepherd see the Culford Roll of Honour website here.
W/O Donald Grant Leask RCAF
F/S Francis Patrick Morgan Quinn RCAF
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26-Apr-44 – Essen
103 Squadron detailed 14 aircraft for this attack on the German industrial city of Essen. Two aircraft were unable to take off owing to crew sickness and due to jammed elevators just prior to take off. Crews report condensation trails over the target forming cloud but the markers were clearly seen and bombed. The concentration was considered very good and it would seem the attack was a success. Bombing was carried out from between 22000 ft to 24500 ft. Searchlights at the target were working in small cones with the usual movement. Flak was reported as slight. P/O Shepherd is missing from this operation. All other aircraft landed safely at base.
For this attack on Essen Bomber Command detailed a total of 493 aircraft - 342 Lancasters, 133 Halifaxes, 18 Mosquitos - from all groups except No 5. 7 aircraft - 6 Lancasters, 1 Halifax - lost, 1.4 per cent of the force. The Bomber Command report states that this was an accurate attack on this already devastated city which was based on good Pathfinder ground-marking.
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Lancaster – ND847
This machine was lost on its 7th operation.
09-Apr-44 - Gdynia Bay – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
10-Apr-44 – Aulnoye – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
18-Apr-44 – Rouen – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
20-Apr-44 – Cologne – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
22-Apr-44 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
23-Apr-44 - Borholm & Pomeranian Bay – Lancaster – ND847 – F/S FG Brownings
26-Apr-44 – Essen – Lancaster – ND847 – P/O F Shepherd – FTR - Flak victim. Crashed at Strump, Germany.
Item compiled by David Fell with photos from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
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