Williston, Albert Alexander
Killed in Action 1944-01-22
Birth Date: 1917
Born:
Son of John H. Williston and Katherine MacLeod Williston, of Sydney, Nova Scotia. His brother David Archibald Williston had also served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and died on August 4, 1943.
Home: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
514 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nil Obstare Potest Nothing can withstand
Base
RAF Waterbeach
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Flight Sergeant
Service Numbers
R/176589
Home
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Target
Magdeburg Germany
First Burial
Berlin War Cemetery, Charlottenburg, Germany
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
International Bomber Command CentreLancaster Mk.II LL672
Bombing Magdeburg Germany 1944-January-21 to 1944-January-22
514 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Outbound shot down from 21000 feet over Perleberg Germany
Lancaster aircraft LL 672 was shot down by German Major Heinrich Wittenstein flying a JU-88 aircraft while engaged in a night trip to Magdeburg, Germany. Sergeantt P McQueeny (RAF) was also killed. Two Canadians, Flight Lieutenant JM Bourke, Flying Officer EJ Clare, and three RAF members of the crew were taken Prisoner of War.
Major Wittenstein had shot down 83 four engine aircraft, at night, using the upward firing cannons. After the war, Earl James Clare of Port Credit, Ontario said, Our aircraft was attacked twice by a night fighter and was on fire as five of us baled out. I can't tell you what happened to Al Williston, whether he hit the tailplane or if it exploded before he got out. The JU-88 got caught in the explosion and it also was on fire. Major Wittenstein was killed but his radar operator baled out. The radar operator reported that they were hit by machine gun fire from the Lancaster and were on fire.
Lancaster LL672
Avro Lancaster
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 Lancaster LL672 Mk.II - Bombing Magdeburg Germany - 1944-01-21 to 1944-01-22
6 Bomber Group January 21/22, 1944
45 Lancasters from 408, 426 and 432 squadrons were joined by 69 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Magdeburg. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 290,000 lbs of high explosives and 454,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was scattered with little damage. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Outbound shot down from 21000 feet over Perleberg Germany
Lancaster aircraft LL 672 was shot down by German Major Heinrich Wittenstein flying a JU-88 aircraft while engaged in a night trip to Magdeburg, Germany. Sergeantt P McQueeny (RAF) was also killed. Two Canadians, Flight Lieutenant JM Bourke, Flying Officer EJ Clare, and three RAF members of the crew were taken Prisoner of War.
Major Wittenstein had shot down 83 four engine aircraft, at night, using the upward firing cannons. After the war, Earl James Clare of Port Credit, Ontario said, Our aircraft was attacked twice by a night fighter and was on fire as five of us baled out. I can't tell you what happened to Al Williston, whether he hit the tailplane or if it exploded before he got out. The JU-88 got caught in the explosion and it also was on fire. Major Wittenstein was killed but his radar operator baled out. The radar operator reported that they were hit by machine gun fire from the Lancaster and were on fire.