16/17 June 1943 – 460 Squadron RAAF, RAF Binbrook – Avro Lancaster I – W5007 - Sgt David J D Strath RAFVR – Op Cologne.
Location – In the vicinity of or on the airfield at RAF Elsham Wolds.
This aircraft crashed on return from an operation to Cologne in a seriously damaged condition whilst attempting to land at RAF Elsham Wolds. Details are shown below and are taken from the excellent RAAF Bomber Losses 460 Sqn record on SCRIBD.
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Date of Death : 17 June 1943
Source: AWM 64 (1/293) AWM 64 (1/294) NAA : A705, 166/32/131
Aircraft Type: - Lancaster
Serial number: - W 5007
Radio call sign: -AR – O
Unit: - 460 Sqn RAAF
Summary
Lancaster W 5007 took off from RAF Binbrook at 2302 hours on the night of 16 June 1943 detailed to attack Cologne, Germany. Bomb Load 1 x 4000lb, 3 x 500lb, and 1 x 500lb bombs, 48 x 30lb, 480 x 4lb and 30 x 4lb incendiaries. W 5007 which was one of eighteen aircraft from the squadron to take part in the raid, failed to return to base. The aircraft called up Binbrook to say that the hydraulic system had been shot away and they were very badly shot up. Shortly after at 0445 hours on 17 June, W 5007 crashed at Elsham Wolds, UK.
All the crew were killed. 5 rest in the local Brigg Cemetery and the other 2 in their hometowns.
Sgt David John Duthie Strath RAFVR - Pilot – 21 – 460 RAAF Sqn - Son of David Murray Strath and Alexia M. M. Strath, of Banchory - Banchory Ternan Parish Churchyard, Banchory, Scotland
F/S John Clement Plummer RAAF ( pictured below ) – 32 – 460 RAAF Sqn - Son of James Wallace Plummer and Martha Plummer; husband of Alice Mae Viola Plummer, of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia - Brigg Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
F/S Leslie Maxwell McDonnell RAAF – 22 – 460 RAAF Sqn - Son of Edward and Margaret Mary McDonnell; husband of Daphne May McDonnell, of Casino, New South Wales, Australia. - Brigg Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Sgt Donald Samuel Gent RAFVR - Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 21 - 460 RAAF Sqn – Son of Samuel Lee Gent and of Miriam Lucy Gent (nee Bendy) - Brigg Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Sgt Ronald Thomas Harman RAFVR - Flight Engineer – 460 RAAF Sqn - Teddington Cemetery.
F/S Noel Oliver Flitcroft RAAF – 30 – 460 RAAF Sqn - Son of John Thomas Flitcroft and Gertrude Flitcroft, of Warwick, Queensland, Australia; husband of Elspeth Flitcroft, of Warwick, Queensland. Brigg Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Sgt William Brodie RCAF – Air Gunner – 25 – 460 RAAF Sqn - Son of James and Jessie Brodie, of Verdun, Province of Quebec, Canada. - Brigg Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
F/S John Clement Plummer RAAF
Plummer grave
Brodie grave
I know of no further details or anything about the crew other than what is shown on the CWGC website. If anyone can add anything to that I shall be most interested to hear from them.
Item compiled by David Fell with thanks to the RAAF Bomber Losses 460 Sqn record. Photos from my own archive apart from the Plummer pic which is courtesy of the Virtual War Memorial Australia.
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