12 Squadron (Leads The Field). Lancaster aircraft RE 182 missing during night operations over Lutzkendorf, Germany. F/Ls W.D. Smith and W. Kroeker were also killed. Four of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed. Flying Officer Modeland and this same crew had served with 433 Squadron and had been in a forced landing on January 5, 1944 at Kalmar, Sweden, when returning from a trip to Stettin, Germany. The entire crew was interned in Sweden for awhile and then returned to the United Kingdom on September 25, 1944.
Modeland, Clarence Edward (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1945-April-05
Birth Date: 1921-April-13
Born: Winnipeg, Greater Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Son of Sewood Harold Modeland and Vera Constance (nee Vicary) Modeland, of Vancouver British Columbia
Home: Vancouver, British Columbia
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RCAF
Unit
12 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Leads the Field
Base
RAF Wickenby
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Bomb Aimer
Service Numbers
J/25071
Target
Lutzkendorf Germany
Temporary Burial
Cemetery at Braunsbedra, Germany
Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
International Bomber Command Centre
www.findagrave.comCrew or Other Personnel
Lancaster RF182
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Mission
Lancaster Mk.I/III RF182
Bombing Lutzkendorf Germany 1945-April-04 to 1945-April-05
12 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Wickenby
12 Squadron (Leads The Field) RAF Wickenby. Lancaster BI aircraft RF 182 PH-P was lost, most likely to flak, during an operation to bomb a synthetic-oil refinery Lutzkendorf, Germany. The Lancaster crashed near the small town of Braunsbedra some 10 km South-West of Merseburg, Germany with the loss of the entire crew
Flight Lieutenant W Kroeker (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant C E Modeland (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant W D Smith (RCAF), Flying Officer G T Wood (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant C Brooks (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant J F Woodcherry (RAFVR) and Flying Officer C W G Biddlecombe (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Six members of this crew: Flight Lieutenant Kroeker, Flight Lieutenant Modeland, Flight Lieutenant Smith, Flying Officer Wood, Flight Sergeant Brooks and Flight Sergeant Woodcherry had previously been interned prisoners in Sweden after having survived the forced-landing of their 12 Squadron Lancaster BIII aircraft ND 324 PH-E 1944-01-06. They were returned safe, to the UK 1944-09-24
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
RAF Wickenby's War Over Europe - Aircraft Airfields and Airshows
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Lancaster serial: RF182
Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
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
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Unit Desciption
12 (B) Sqn Leads the Field ()
No 12 Squadron RFC was formed at Netheravon on 4th February 1915. From 1916 to 1918 it was employed in a ground support role. It was part of the Army of Occupation at the end of WWI and was then disbanded at Bickendorf, Germany in July 1922. It was re-formed at Northolt, Middlesex in April 1923 as a bomber squadron flying DH 9A's. In 1924 it received Fairey Fawn aircraft, and later these were replaced with Fairey Foxes. From October 1935 until August 1936 it was based at Aden to reinforce RAF Middle East Command. On returning to England it re-equipped with Hawker Hinds and was based at Andover, Hampshire, until May 1939, by which time it was equipped with Fairey Battles.
From May 1939 until the outbreak of WWII the squadron was based at Bicester, Oxfordshire, the moved to France in September of 1939. It was based at a number of airfields in France, successively Berry-au-Bac, Amifontaine, Echemines and Souge. It returned to England in July 1940. During its stay in France, the squadron formed part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. During the German invasion of Belgium and France in May 1940, the squadron attacked the German invading forces, principally by trying to destroy bridges which could be used by the invading forces. On one such attack, F/O D.E. Garland (pilot) and Sgt T. Gray (observer) attacked a bridge over the Albert Canal. They were shot down and perished, but their attack appeared to have been successful and they were both awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses, the first VCs awarded to the RAF in WWII. It was clear from the heavy losses of the Fairey Battle squadrons that the aircraft was hopelessly outclassed as an effective weapon of war.
After withdrawing from France, the squadron spent a month at Finningley, Yorkshire, before moving to Binbrook, Lincolnshire in early July 1940. It was used to attack shipping in the German-held Channel ports, where shipping was being collected for the invasion of Britain, operation SEALION. During the period August-September 1940 it operated from Thorney Island, Hampshire and Eastchurch, Kent: it returned to Binbrook in September 1940. In November, the squadron began to re-equip with Vickers Wellingtons. It now flew as part of No. 1 Group of Bomber Command in its strategic bombing of Germany. It remained at Binbrook from September 1940 to September 1942, with a short diversion to Thruxton in June-July 1942. In September 1942 the squadron settled into its final home of WWI, Wickenby in Lincolnshire, where it remained until September 1945, when it returned to Binbrook.
The squadron later continued to fly bomber aircraft, namely Avro Lincoln and English Electric Canberra before being disbanded in July 1961. It was later reinstated as part of the V-bomber force, flying Avro Vulcans.Read More ....
Lancaster RF182 Mk.I/III - Bombing Lutzkendorf Germany - 1945-04-04 to 1945-04-05
Squadron: 12 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1945-04-04
Completion Date: 1945-04-05
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Lutzkendorf Germany
Target Specific: synthetic oil refinery
Base: RAF Wickenby
Take Off Time: 20:54:00
Squadron Code: PH-P
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: near Braunsbedra some 10 km South-West of Merseburg
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group April 4/5, 1945
90 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack on the Rhenania oil facilities at Harburg. The crews were over the target at between 16,500 and 19,000 feet, releasing 712,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.
While the Halifaxes went to Harburg, 93 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427,428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg. The crews were over the target at between16,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 568,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.
15 Lancasters from 424, 427, 429, and 433 Squadrons were ordered a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at 10,000 feet, sowing 84@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
12 Squadron (Leads The Field) RAF Wickenby. Lancaster BI aircraft RF 182 PH-P was lost, most likely to flak, during an operation to bomb a synthetic-oil refinery Lutzkendorf, Germany. The Lancaster crashed near the small town of Braunsbedra some 10 km South-West of Merseburg, Germany with the loss of the entire crew
Flight Lieutenant W Kroeker (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant C E Modeland (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant W D Smith (RCAF), Flying Officer G T Wood (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant C Brooks (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant J F Woodcherry (RAFVR) and Flying Officer C W G Biddlecombe (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Six members of this crew: Flight Lieutenant Kroeker, Flight Lieutenant Modeland, Flight Lieutenant Smith, Flying Officer Wood, Flight Sergeant Brooks and Flight Sergeant Woodcherry had previously been interned prisoners in Sweden after having survived the forced-landing of their 12 Squadron Lancaster BIII aircraft ND 324 PH-E 1944-01-06. They were returned safe, to the UK 1944-09-24
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
RAF Wickenby's War Over Europe - Aircraft Airfields and Airshows