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Broemeling, Alvin John (Flight Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1943-January-16

Birth Date: 1922-November-15 (age 20)

Born: Provost Alberta

Son of Stephen and Mary Broemeling, of Provost, Alberta.

Home: Cadogan, Alberta

Service
RCAF
Unit
467 Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)
Recidite Adversarius Atque Ferociter Your opponents will retreat because of your courageous attack
Base
RAF Normanton
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/1219014
Prev: R/121901

Lancaster Mk.I/III ED360

Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-January-15 to 1943-January-16

467 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Bottesford, England
Delivered to No. 467 Australian Squadron (Recidite Adversarius Atque Ferociter) in Dec 1942. RAF Bottesford Lancaster I aircraft ED 360 on a raid to Berlin, Germany. Rear gunner FS AJ Broemeling (RCAF) failed to respond on the intercom and was found unconscious, probably due to failure of his oxygen mask. His issued mask was found to be faulty and he was given the spare mask carried aboard instead. The spare mask was an older version prone to freezing and it is believed to have malfunctioned at the 19,000 ft altitude and temperatures about -50C that the aircraft was flying. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Thiele RNZAF, quickly dived to a lower altitude then put the bomber on auto pilot while still in the target area to assist in pulling Flight Sergeant Broemeling out of his turret, but despite continuous artificial respiration being applied by the rest of the crew (Sergeant Bovis RAF, Sergeant Metcalfe RAF, Sergeant Sheekey RAF, Sergeant Gillman RAF and Sergeant Everard RAF). The aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire several times but managed to limp back to Botteford. FS Broemeling was declared dead when the aircraft landed (A. Storr). Lancaster I ED 360 was shot down six months later, flying with 106 Sqn, on July 9, 1943.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapCadogan, Alberta
Target
Google MapBerlin Germany
Burial
Google MapLong Bennington Cemetery
Grave A1

Lancaster ED360

Flight Sergeant Broemeling, Alvin John (RCAF)
Wireless Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1943-January-16
Long Bennington Cemetery, Lincolnshire, UK

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

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last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.I/III ED360

Delivered to No. 467 (Australian) Sqn Dec 1942. During its time with 467, there was one fatality, RCAF Flight Sergeant Alvin J. Broemeling, rear gunner, who died as a result of faulty oxygen equipment on 16 Jan 1943. Transferred to No. 106 Sqn Feb 1943. Crashed near Wisbech on operation to Cologne 9 Jul 1943. Mason says on return from the sortie, RAF Commands website suggests that the aircraft may have been in trouble after setting out (took off 2225 8 July from Syerston. Crashed 0140 9 July). 354 operational hours.

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