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Mathers, Barcroft Melrose DFC (Squadron Leader)

Prisoner of War 1944-August-13

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date (age )

Decorations: DFC


Distinguished Service Cross
Service
RAF
Unit
582 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Pre Volamus Designantes (We fly before marking)
Base
RAF Little Staughton
Rank
Squadron Leader
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
Navigator
Service Numbers
44634

Lancaster Mk.III ND969

Bombing Russelsheim Germany 1944-August-12 to 1944-August-13

582 Pathfinder Squadron RAF (Praevolamus designates) RAF Little Staughton. The crew of Lancaster BIII aircraft ND 969 6O-F was intercepted and shot down by a night fighter on their 44th mission, returning from an operation against targets in Russelsheim, Germany

The Lancaster was probably shot down by Fw Erwin Egeler of the 12/NJG1 and and crashed near Papiermuhle, Dhron Bernkastel, Germany

FS RT Broad (RAFVR), FS WRC Parfitt (RAFVR) and FS K Archibald (RAFVR) were all killed in action

F/L EJ Trotter DFC,DFM,CD,CM (RCAF), S/L BM Mathers DFC (RAF)(Australia) and FS J Rawcliffe (RAFVR) survived and all were taken as Prisoners of War

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Lancaster ND969 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces...

General Lancaster ND969 - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

General RAF Pathfinder Crew, 1944, 582 Squadron, Little Straughton - ...

Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 354

Crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND969

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

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

Wkikpedia Wikipedia

General 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

Lancaster Mk.III ND969

With No. 582 Sqn (6O-F). Missing on operation to Russelsheim 12/13 Aug 1944. 222 flying hours.


582 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF) Pre Volamus Designantes

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