Took off from Bourn at 22:30 in Lancaster Mk III (Sqn code OF-R Bomber Command) on an operation to Nuremberg Germany.

Out-bound shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Münchholzhausen, 5km ESE of Wetzlar, Germany.

Killed includes Craig: F/Sgt Eric Hill RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. E. 1-5. F/Lt Leonard Victor Hyde DFC RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. E. 1-5. F/Lt Eric Hewett Palmer DFC RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. E. 1-5. P/O Maurice Emerson Putt RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. E. 1-5. P/O Richard Taylor DFC RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery Coll. grave 8. E. 1-5. F/O Richard James Weller DFM RAF KIA Hanover War Cemetery grave 8. E. 6.

Clear skies allowed fighters to be very active during this operation, picking off bombers at will. Lancaster ND 640 was one of 95 Allied aircraft shot down on this night with 72 being shot down on the outbound leg

Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.97 Squadron - Award effective 24 May 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1444/44 dated 7 July 1944. The citation reads - "This officer has taken part in numerous sorties against German targets including nine against Berlin. An excellent air bomber, by his determination in the face of heavy enemy opposition he has played no small part in the successful completion of many missions. On several occasions his aircraft has been damaged by fire from the enemy defenses." Detail provided by H Halliday, Orleans, Ontario

Detail from: https://aircrewremembrancesociety3.com/Aircraft-Losses/Royal-Air-Force-Losses/Royal-Air-Force-Losses-1944/31.03.1944_No.97_Squadron_RAF_Lancaster_III_ND640_F_Lt_Hyde_location_Munchholzhausen_5_km_ESE_of_Wetzlar_Germany./

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

International Bomber Command Centre

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Winnipeg, Manitoba (parents)

Target
Nuremberg Germany

Burial
CWG Cemetery, Germany
grave 8 E 7

Crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND640

Flying Officer Craig, James (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Killed in Action
Age: 22
CWG Cemetery, Hanover, Germany - grave 8 E 7

Flying Officer Weller, Richard James (RAF)
Navigator
Killed in Action
Age: 22
CWG Cemetery, Hanover, Germany - 8 E 6

 Serial Groups  Specifications 

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

Lancaster Bomber

Wikipedia

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:

RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)

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

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Lancaster Mk.III ND640

Delivered from No. 32 MU to No. 97 Sqn (OF-F) 29 Feb 1944. Missing on operation to Nuremburg 30-Mar 1944. 42 flying hours