P/O R E Johnstone RCAF - 576 Sqn - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1943/44 - Air Bomber.
Failed to Return - 30/31st January 1944 - P/O E H Childs and crew - Lancaster I - W4245 - Op Berlin.
Ron Johnstone was Air Bomber in the crew of P/O E H Childs RAFVR ( pictured below ) who were shot down on the 30th Jan 1944 Berlin. This was their second sortie the first being 2 days before also to Berlin in ED888
Ted Childs RAFVR
P/O Edward Horace Childs RAFVR – Pilot – 576 Sqn – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt V E T White RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 576 Sqn - POW - Camp L6/357 - POW No 2101
F/S Ronald Elliott Johnstone RCAF ( Picture below ) – Air Bomber – 26 – 576 Sqn - Son of A. E. Johnstone and Macil Johnstone, of Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan, Canada - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
W/O Eric Bardsley RAFVR – Navigator – 34 – 576 Sqn - Son of David and Mary Bardsley; husband of Frances M. Bardsley, of Paisley, Renfrewshire - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
This airman died in captivity on the 19th April 1945 when the column with which he was marching was strafed by friendly aircraft
Sgt Herbert Reginald Bowles RAFVR – Wireless Operator – 21 – 576 Sqn - Son of Ernest Walter and Jessie Mary Bowles, of Eastleigh, Hampshire - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Clifford Moore Brewster RAFVR - Air Gunner – 20 – 576 Sqn - Son of Thomas and Annie Elizabeth Brewster, of Howden, Yorkshire - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
Sgt Clive Allan Giffard RAFVR – Air Gunner – 576 Sqn - Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.
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P/O Edward Horace Childs RAFVR
P/O Childs was a former London Metropolitan Police Officer
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30 Jan 44 – Berlin – Germany - Night – 11 aircraft detailed. Sgt Murray and crew returned early with engine trouble. P/O Childs and crew are missing. All other crews reached their objective and returned safely to base. No ground detail is recorded due to cloud over the target.
( 534 aircraft. Target cloud covered but was effectively sky-marked with encouraging results. Much damage and destruction within the city boundaries. )
Item compiled by David Fell. Photos courtesy of the Johnstone and Childs families. Also Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
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