F/S Andrew Joseph Kirk RAFVR and crew – 576 Sqn - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944
Failed to Return – 19/20th February 1944 – Lancaster I – DV386 – Op Leipzig.
Andrew Kirk and has crew were posted to 576 Squadron mid January 44. Kirk flew his first operation on the 28/29th January 1944 as co-pilot in the crew of W/O C C Rollins and crew to Berlin in ND385,
Kirk took his own crew on their first operation together on the 15/16th February to Berlin which they completed successfully. They were lost on their second operation together 4 nights later.
15/02/1944 - Berlin - ND362 - Sgt AJ Kirk
19/02/1944 - Leipzig - DV386 - F/S AJ Kirk - FTR - Lost without trace.
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F/S Andrew Joseph Kirk RAFVR - Pilot - 21 - 576 Sqn - Son of Sidney and Lorna Duncan Kirk of Moortown, Leeds, Yorkshire - Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Walter Moores RAFVR – 576 Sqn - Son of George and Edith May Moores of Miles Platting, Manchester - Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Eric Macpherson Howard RAFVR ( pictured below ) - 23 – 576 Sqn - Son of James and Christine Howard of Hunt's Cross, Liverpool - Runnymede Memorial.
F/S Royston Laurence Smith RAFVR - 21 – 576 Sqn - Son of Edwin and Margaret Smith of Merton Park, Surrey - Runnymede Memorial.
F/S William Kitson RAFVR – 576 Sqn - Runnymede Memorial.
F/S Maurice Churchman RAFVR - 23 – 576 Sqn - Son of Thomas William and Annie Churchman of Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire - Runnymede Memorial.
Sgt Thomas Finnerty RAFVR - 35 – 576 Sqn - Son of Thomas and Alice Finnerty of Grappenhall, Cheshire - Runnymede Memorial.
Above - 2 photos of Eric Howard who was a former constable with the Birmingham City police force before he enlisted
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19 Feb 44 – Leipzig – Germany - Night – Operations on. 15 aircraft detailed. Combats were frequent. 1 aircraft, A2, claims to have destroyed 1 fighter and damaged another. Could conditions again prevented crews obtaining ground details on their photographs. F/S Kirk and crew failed to return.
( 823 aircraft. Cloud cover resulted in a disappointing attack. This was complicated by the winds being not as forecast. Defences were strong throughout )
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Lancaster DV386
This machine was lost on its first operation.
Item compiled by David Fell. Photos courtesy of W Scheer.
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