F/L Frank S Barnsdale RAFVR and crew – 576 Sqn - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1944
Failed to Return – 10/11th April 1944 – Lancaster I – LL830 – Op Aulnoye.
Frank Barnsdale and crew were posted to 576 Squadron from 12 Squadron around late January early February 1944. They must have been an experienced crew.
They completed 9 operations with the Squadron being lost on their 10th.
See tour details below :-
15/02/1944 - Berlin - ND402 - F/O FS Barnsdale
19/02/1944 - Leipzig – LM439 – F/O FS Barnsdale
20/02/1944 – Stuttgart – LM439 – F/O FS Barnsdale
24/02/1944 – Schweinfurt – ND402 F/O FS Barnsdale
25/02/1944 – Augsburg – ND402 – F/O – FS Barnsdale.
22/03/1944 – Frankfurt – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
24/03/1944 – Berlin – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
26/03/1944 – Essen – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
30/03/1944 – Nuremberg – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale - Combat with single engined night fighter. No hits claimed. Aircraft undamaged
10/04/1944 – Aulnoye – LL830 – F/L FS Barnsdale – FTR - Crashed between Cambrai and Solesmes, France.
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All the crew were killed and rest at the Cambrai Route de Solemes Comunal Cemetery in France.
F/L Frank Sharpe Barnsdale RAFVR - Pilot – 23 – 576 Sqn – Son of George Frederick and Susan Crown Barnsdale of Donington, Lincolnshire – Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France
Sgt James Torode RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 24 – 576 Sqn – Son of Frederick Henry Torode and Violet Adeleaide Torode of Beauchamp Roding, Essex - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France
Sgt Ernest Charles Edwards RAFVR – Air Bomber – 20 – 576 Sqn – Son of Charles and Winifred Maggie Edwards of Winchester - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France
W/O Alexander Grant Campbell RCAF ( pictured above ) – Navigator - 21 – 576 Sqn - Son of The Revd. Harvey Campbell D.D., B.A., and Grace Grant Campbell of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. His brother Robert Roy also died on service - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France
Sgt Kevin Joseph Willett RAFVR - Wireless Operator – 576 Sqn - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt Clifford Clamp RAFVR – Air Gunner - 23 – 576 Sqn – Son of Edward and Ethel Clamp of Upper Ettingshall, Bilston, Staffordshire - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France.
Sgt Grenville Malcombe Morris RAFVR – Air Gunner - 20 – 576 Sqn – Son of William Henry and Elizabeth Morris Clamp of Nottingham - Cambrai Route de Solesmes Communal Cemetery, France.
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10 April 44 – Aulnoye – France - Railway Yards – Night. 14 aircraft were detailed. 10/10ths cloud was encountered over |England dispersing gradually over the Channel and the route across France was clear of cloud. At the target crews reported haze and patches of this drifting cloud.
The TIs were well concentrated but due to weather conditions results of the raid were difficult to observe.
Little opposition was encountered from defences in the target area and very light flak. Fighter activity was mainly around the target area and homeward route and crews reported considerable trouble nearing the target area from both searchlights and light flak of the coastal defences.
F/S Thorpe and crew cancelled from this operation due to swinging on take off. F/L Barnsdale and crew failed to return. All the rest reached the primary and returned safely to base, F/S Hordal and crew were attacked by an Me 110 in the target area but received no damage and no hits were claimed on the enemy aircraft.
( 147 aircraft. A successful attack on the railway yards which were hit by nearly 300 bombs )
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Lancaster LL830
This machine completed 6 operations being lost on its 7th
15/03/1944 - Stuttgart - LL830 – F/S WA Scheerboom
18/03/1944 – Frankfurt – LL830 – F/S AR Young
22/03/1944 – Frankfurt – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
24/03/1944 – Berlin – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
26/03/1944 – Essen – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale
30/03/1944 – Nuremberg – LL830 – F/O FS Barnsdale - Combat with single engined night fighter. No hits claimed. Aircraft undamaged
10/04/1944 – Aulnoye – LL830 – F/L FS Barnsdale – FTR - Crashed between Cambrai and Solesmes, France.
Item compiled by David Fell. Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
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