F/S Eric George Hart RAFVR and crew – 576 Sqn - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944
Failed to Return – 28/29th January 1943 – Lancaster III – ND386 – Op Berlin
Eric Hart and his crew were amongst the new arrivals in late December 1943 early January 1944 just after 576 Squadron was formed. I know nothing of their background or from where they came. They completed 1 op to Berlin in January 1944 on their 2nd op, also to Berlin, on the 28/29th January 1944
14/01/1944 - Brunswick - JA868 - S/L MR Attwater - Second Pilot - Hart E G F/S
27/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 - F/S EG Hart
28/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 - F/S EG Hart - FTR - Crashed in Germany.
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F/S Eric George Hart RAFVR – Pilot – 22 – 576 Sqn - Son of John George and Rosemary Hart of North Harrow, Middlesex – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt William Fergus Ledingham RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 19 – 576 Sqn - Son of Charles and Christina Ledingham of Glasgow – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
W/O Joseph Alphonse Leon Martel RCAF ( pictured below ) – Air Bomber – 576 Sqn – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
F/S WD Grant RCAF – 576 Sqn – POW – Camp L6/357 - POW No 884
Sgt Alan Thompson RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 21 - 576 Sqn - Son of James and Mary Thompson, of Blyth, Northumberland – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Walter Ronald Owen RAFVR – Air Gunner - 22 – 576 Sqn - Son of Alfred and Florence Owen, of Wantage, Berkshire - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Ronald Victor Fairley RAFVR – Air Gunner - 21 - 576 Sqn - Son of Maude Fairley, and stepson of Harold Charles Matthews, of Hull; husband of Isabel Vera Fairley. – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
W/O Joseph Alphonse Leon Martel RCAF
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28 Jan 44 – Berlin – Germany - Night – 10 aircraft detailed. Sgt Puttock and crew failed to take off due to Unserviceability of aircraft while F/O Shearer returned early due to engine trouble. F/S Hart and crew are missing from this operation. All other crews returned safely to base. Only cloud and fire tracks were recorded on the bombing photos due to cloud over the target.
( 677 aircraft. Cloud cover over the target was broken and some ground marking was possible. The western and southern districts of Berlin were hit as were many places outside the city. Many industrial firms hit again and 180,000 people bombed out. )
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Lancaster ND386
This Lancaster was one a new machine which was allocated tpo 576 Sqn when the Squadron was formed. It had completed 5 ops with by the time it was lost on its 6th. Four of these were with F/S H M C Thomas who went on to complete his tour
576 Squadron Sorties
05/01/1944 - Stettin - ND386 - F/S HMC Thomas
14/01/1944 - Brunswick - ND386 - F/S HMC Thomas
20/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 - F/S HMC Thomas
21/01/1944 - Magdeburg - ND386 - F/S HMC Thomas
27/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 - F/S EG Hart
28/01/1944 - Berlin - ND386 - F/S EG Hart - FTR
Item compiled by David Fell. Martel photo courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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