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Mercer, Laurence John (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1945-March-31

Birth Date: 1925 (age 20)

Service
RAFVR
Unit
431 (B) Sqn- Squadron
The Hatiten Ronteriios Warriors of the Air: Iroquois
Base
RAF Croft
Rank
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
Flt. Engineer
Service Numbers
1893245

Lancaster Mk.X KB859

Bombing 1945-March-31 to 1945-March-31

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

469 aircraft - 361 Lancasters, 100 Halifaxes, 8 Mosquitoes - of I, 6 and 8 Groups attempted to attack the Blohm & Voss shipyards, where the new types of U-boats were being assembled, but the target area was completely cloud-covered. The local report describes 'considerable damage' to houses, factories, energy supplies and communications over a wide area of southern Hamburg and Harburg. 75 people were killed.

8 Lancasters and 3 Halifaxes were lost, a number being victims of an unexpected intervention by the Luftwaffe day-fighter force. This was Bomber Command's last double-figure aircraft loss of the war from a raid on one city.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Lancaster aircraft KB 859 was shot down near Hittfeld, Germany during daylight operations, a raid against Hamburg, Germany. F/Os M. Hartog, F.R. Alty, P.B. Dennison, J.J. Casey, Pilot Officer A. Dorey, and Sergeant L.J. Mercer (RAF) were killed. One Canadian, Flight Lieutenant Hurley, was taken Prisoner of War.

May have been shot down by Me262 of JG7, which claimed several Lancasters in that area at that time. ORB refers to attack by jets. (see also KB869).

Burial location of crew KB859
crew of KB859
Target
Google MapHamburg Germany

Lancaster KB859

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