F/O Milton A Mathieson RAAFR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1944/45
Failed to Return – 7/8th January 1945 – Avro Lancaster III – NF999 – Op Munich.
Milton Mathieson was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds from Heavy Conversion Unit 11 Base around October 1944. The exact date is not recorded. This crew were lost on their 15th operation. See below :-
06-Nov-44 – Gelsenkirchen – Lancaster – PD236 – P/O MA Mathieson RAAF
09-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel – Lancaster – NG173 – P/O MA Mathieson RAAF
11-Nov-44 – Dortmund – Lancaster – LM295 – P/O MA Mathieson RAAF
16-Nov-44 – Duren – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
21-Nov-44 – Aschenaffenburg – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
27-Nov-44 – Freiburg – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
06-Dec-44 – Leuna – Lancaster – NN758 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
12-Dec-44 – Essen – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
15-Dec-44 – Ludwigshafen/Oppau – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
17-Dec-44 – Ulm – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
22-Dec-44 – Koblenz – Lancaster – NN758 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF - Bad weather at base. All aircraft diverted to Langham.
29-Dec-44 - Scholven Buer – Lancaster – LM295 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
02-Jan-45 – Nuremberg – Lancaster – ME698 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
05-Jan-45 – Hanover – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
07-Jan-45 – Munich – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF – FTR - Probable night fighter victim. Crashed in Germany.
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F/O Milton Alexander Mathieson RAAF – Pilot – 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of Milton Montague Mathieson and Ethel Mathieson of Waratah, New South Wales, Australia. - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Eric Walter Evans RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of Robert Victor and Alice Evans of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.
P/O John William Bickerton RAFVR – Air Bomber – 20 – 103 Sqn - West Ham London – Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
F/S Hugh Francis Stephens RAFVR – Navigator – 103 Sqn - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
P/O Clifford Thomas Pollard RAAF – 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of William Wallace Pollard and Winifred May Pollard of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Sgt Donald Sleep RAFVR – Air Gunner – 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of William James Sleep and Mary Sleep of Haswell, Co. Durham - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Robert Alfred Marett RAFVR – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.
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07-Jan-45 – Munich
103 Squadron detailed 17 aircraft for this attack on Munich. All aircraft took off safely in good weather but this soon deteriorated and over France aircraft were flying in cloud and snow showers, several experiencing icing troubles. F/O Stepharnoff and F/O Hart returned early with engine trouble and S/L Butler returned early with navigational aids unserviceable. On arrival the target was found covered with 10/10ths cloud and while some crews bombed Wanganui flares the others bombed on H2S radar and it is feared the attack was somewhat scattered. Bombing took place from between 16500 ft to 18500 ft. Defences were quite active. There was a heavy flak barrage and searchlights illuminated the clouds for fighters which were quite numerous. The return journey was similar to the outward. F/O Mathieson and P/O McArthur are missing from this operation. All other aircraft landed safely at base.
For this attack on Munich Bomber Command detailed a total of 645 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 Groups to Munich. 11 Lancasters lost and 4 more crashed in France. Bomber Command claimed a successful area raid, with the central and some industrial areas being severely damaged. This was the last major raid on Munich.
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Lancaster – NF999
This machine was lost on its 27th operation. See below :-
05-Sep-44 - Le Havre – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evans
06-Sep-44 - Le Havre – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evans - Aborted by Master Bomber due to cloud cover over target.
08-Sep-44 - Le Havre – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evan - Aborted by Master Bomber due to cloud cover over target.
10-Sep-44 - Le Havre – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evans
12-Sep-44 – Frankfurt – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evans
17-Sep-44 – Leeuwarden – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O RA Evans
23-Sep-44 – Neuss – Lancaster – NF999 – P/O PJR Cartwright
24-Sep-44 – Calais – Lancaster – NF999 – P/O RA Dobson - Hit by light flak. Landed away.
30-Oct-44 – Cologne – Lancaster – NF999 – F/L LJC Remy
31-Oct-44 – Cologne – Lancaster – NF999 – F/L JE Holland
02-Nov-44 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O L Dale
04-Nov-44 – Bochum – Lancaster – NF999 – P/O AJ Mosley RAAF
06-Nov-44 – Gelsenkirchen – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O WW Alderdice
09-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel – Lancaster – NF999 – F/L AH Murton RCAF
16-Nov-44 – Duren – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
18-Nov-44 - Wanne Eikel – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O PM Picot - Bad weather at base. Diverted
21-Nov-44 – Aschenaffenburg – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
27-Nov-44 – Freiburg – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
29-Nov-44 – Dortmund – Lancaster – NF999 F/L AH Murton RCAF
04-Dec-44 - Urft – Lancaster – NF999 – F/L JE Holland
12-Dec-44 – Essen – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
15-Dec-44 – Ludwigshafen/Oppau – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
17-Dec-44 – Ulm – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
21-Dec-44 - Stettin Bay – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O PJR - Cartwright - Bad weather at base. All aircraft diverted to East Fortune
24-Dec-44 – Cologne/Nippes – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O GW Henry - Bad weather at base. All aircraft diverted to Old Buckenham
05-Jan-45 – Hanover – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF
07-Jan-45 – Munich – Lancaster – NF999 – F/O MA Mathieson RAAF – FTR - Probable night fighter victim. Crashed in Germany.
Item compiled by David Fell
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