Squadron: 44 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-03-24
Completion Date: 1944-03-25
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Berlin Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Dunholme Lodge
Take Off Time: 19:02
Squadron Code: KM-A
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Netherlands
Crash Specifics: De Flaes Swamp, Lage Mierde, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Oberleutnant Josef Nabrich of the 3/NJG 1
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group March 24/25, 1944

23 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 48,000 lbs of high explosives and 409,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, there was severely high winds and the attack was scattered. This was another terrible night as 72 crews failed to return due to being blown off course and over heavy flak defenses. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)


44 Rhodesia Squadron (Fulmina Regis lusta) RAF Dunholme Lodge. Lancaster BI aircraft ME 672 KM-A was Homeward-bound, the aircraft was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Josef Nabrich of the 3/NJG 1, who was flying a Heinkel He 219 from Venlo airfield, Netherlands while engaged in an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. The Lancaster crashed in the De Flaes Swamp, Lage Mierde, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Sergeant KL Radcliffe (RCAF), Sergeant JM Ella (RAFVR), Pilot Officer BM Hayes (RAFVR), Sergeant WG Perrie (RAFVR), Sergeant WK Walker (RAFVR) and Sergeant RHJ Wellfare (RAFVR) were all killed in action

FS M Fedoruk (RCAF survived and became an Evader, sheltering in Holland until Liberated by Canadian troops 1944-04-09

unvetted Source Results

unvetted Source Aviation Safety Network

unvetted Source 44 Squadron Lancaster I ME672 KM-A P/O. Hayes, RAF Dunholme Lodge...

unvetted Source Lancaster III ME672 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database]...

General RAF Commands