Avro Lancaster I (PB894 LE-) on a mission Gardening 1945-01-01
On Sunday, 31 December 1944, (a part of) the aircraft of the 630 squadron (RAF), took off for a mission to Frisian Islands in Netherlands from a station (airfield) in or near East Kirkby.
One of the crew members was Flight Sergeant J H Jones. He departed for his mission at 16:20.
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, with serial PB894 and code LE-). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Monday, 01 January 1945.
Operation: Gardening
Date: 31/01st January 1945 (Sunday/Monday)
Unit: No. 630 Squadron
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: PB894
Code: LE-?
Base: RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire
Location: North Sea, 50 km. North West Hanstholm, Denmark
Pilot: W/O. Edward Ainsley Thomas 132619 RAFVR Age 26. Missing
FI/Eng: Sgt. David Daniel Jones 1404691 RAFVR Age 31. Missing
Nav: Fl/Sgt. William Henry McDonald Marshall 1564879 RAFVR Age 23. Missing
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Eric Leese 1579463 RAFVR Age 23. Missing
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Henry Jones 1316189 RAFVR Age 23. Missing
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Bernard John Phillips 1897422 RAFVR Age 30. Missing
Air/Gnr: Sgt. George Rex Boden 16953052 RAFVR Age 22. Missing
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 16:20 hrs. from RAF East Kirkby for operations over the Kattegat. 26 aircraft took part in this magnetic laying operation during 20:12 hrs and 22:28 hrs. Only one aircraft was lost, Lancaster PB894 intercepted at 2.800 mtrs. and shot down by Hptm. Eduard Schröder (1) of 3./NJG3. The aircraft crashed at 21:00 hrs into the North Sea some 50 km. North West of Hanstholm.
More info at: http://aircrewremembered.com/thomas-edward.html
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