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Bourke, Joseph Michael John (Flight Lieutenant)

Prisoner of War 1944-January-22

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Service
RCAF
Unit
514 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nil Obstare Potest Nothing can withstand
Base
RAF Waterbeach
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
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
Service Numbers
J/20220
PoW: 3344

Lancaster 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.

Operations Record Book January 21 1944 Operations Record Book

Took off from Waterbeach at 20:01 in Lancaster Mk II (Sqn code AC-C2 Bomber Command) on an operation to Magdeburg Germany.

Out-bound shot down by a night fighter from 21000 feet over Perleberg Brandenberg Germany.

Killed: Sergeant Peter McQueeney RAF KIA Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery grave: 8. K. 2. Flight Sergeant Albert Williston RCAF R/176589 KIA Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery grave 8. K. 1.

POWs: F/Lt Joseph Michael John Bourke RCAF J/20220 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant Jack Brewer RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. Flying Officer James Earl Scott Clare RCAF J/22620 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant Sidney Edward Cuttler RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. Sergeant Ronald Leslie Smith RAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria.

Target
Google MapMagdeburg Germany

Lancaster LL672

Male Head

Flight Lieutenant Bourke, Joseph Michael John (RCAF)

Prisoner of War
1944-January-22
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer Clare, James Earl Scott (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Prisoner of War
1944-January-22
cemetery unknown

Flight Sergeant Williston, Albert Alexander (RCAF)
Air Gunner
Killed in Action
1944-January-22
Berlin War Cemetery, Charlottenburg, Germany

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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General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

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

Lancaster Mk.II LL672

A2RAF RoundelC
With No. 15 Sqn (A2-C). Missing on operation to Magdeburg 21/22 Jan 1944

Operations Record Book January 21 1944 Operations Record Book



Operations Record Book January 21 1944 Operations Record Book




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