Case, William Robert (Sergeant)
Prisoner of War 1943-September-01
Birth Date: unkown date
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Aurora, Ontario
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
214 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Ultor In Umbris Avenging in the shadows
Base
RAF Chedburgh
Rank
Sergeant
Position
Service Numbers
R/184772
PoW: 222579
Aurora, OntarioCrew or Other Personnel
Stirling EE970
Mission
Stirling EE970
Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-August-31 to 1943-September-01
214 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Chedburgh
6t2 aircraft- 331 Lancasters, 176 Halifaxes, 106 Stirlings, 9 Mosquitoes. 47 aircraft- 2 Halifaxes, 17 Stirlings, IO Lancasters - lost, 7·6 per cent of the force. The Stirling casualties were 16·0 per cent! Approximately two thirds of the bombers lost were shot down by German fighters operating over or near Berlin. The use of 'fighter flares', dropped by German aircraft to 'mark' the bomber routes into and away from the target, was noted for the first time in Bomber Command records.
This raid was not successful. There was some cloud in the target area; this, together with difficulties with H2S equipment and probably the ferocity of the German defences, all combined to cause the Pathfinder markers to be dropped well south of the centre of the target area and the Main Force bombing to be even further away. The main bombing area eventually extended 30 miles back along the bombers' approach route. 85 dwelling-houses were destroyed in Berlin but the only industrial buildings hit were classed as damaged, 4 severely and 3 lightly. The only important public buildings hit were the headquarters of the Berlin inland canal and harbour system, the state police hospital and some market halls. 66 civilians and 2 soldiers were killed, 109 people were injured and 2,784 bombed out.
After this raid, Gauleiter Goebbels ordered the evacuation from Berlin of all children and all adults not engaged in war work to country areas or to towns in Eastern Germany where air raids were not expected.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Stirling EE970 took off from Chedburgh at 20:42 in Stirling Mark III (Sqn code: BU-B Bomber Command) on an operation to Berlin Germany.
The aircraft was hit by flak, caught fire, and while going down in flames the pilot ordered the crew to bail outThe aircraft was hit by flak, caught fire, and while going down in flames the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. Crashed at Charlottenfelde Germany
Killed: Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway Houghton RAF KIA Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery grave 6. D. 4. Pilot Officer Kenneth John Simpson RAAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 191.
POWs includes Case: Sergeant John Evan Chisholm RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant George Daulby RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant Harold Melvyn Diebel RCAF R/161427 POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant John Alec Emanuel Giblin RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe).
Stirling EE970 - Bombing Berlin Germany - 1943-08-31 to 1943-09-01
Squadron: 214 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-08-31
Completion Date: 1943-09-01
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Berlin Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Chedburgh
Take Off Time: 20:42
Squadron Code: BU-B
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: 5km north east of Neukloster.
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group August31/September 1, 1943
48 Halifaxes from 419, 427,428 and 434 Squadrons were joined by 11 Lancasters from 426 Squadron on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 88,000 lbs of high explosives and 115,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. There was many night fighters operating, most of the crews falling to their guns. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
6t2 aircraft- 331 Lancasters, 176 Halifaxes, 106 Stirlings, 9 Mosquitoes. 47 aircraft- 2 Halifaxes, 17 Stirlings, IO Lancasters - lost, 7·6 per cent of the force. The Stirling casualties were 16·0 per cent! Approximately two thirds of the bombers lost were shot down by German fighters operating over or near Berlin. The use of 'fighter flares', dropped by German aircraft to 'mark' the bomber routes into and away from the target, was noted for the first time in Bomber Command records.
This raid was not successful. There was some cloud in the target area; this, together with difficulties with H2S equipment and probably the ferocity of the German defences, all combined to cause the Pathfinder markers to be dropped well south of the centre of the target area and the Main Force bombing to be even further away. The main bombing area eventually extended 30 miles back along the bombers' approach route. 85 dwelling-houses were destroyed in Berlin but the only industrial buildings hit were classed as damaged, 4 severely and 3 lightly. The only important public buildings hit were the headquarters of the Berlin inland canal and harbour system, the state police hospital and some market halls. 66 civilians and 2 soldiers were killed, 109 people were injured and 2,784 bombed out.
After this raid, Gauleiter Goebbels ordered the evacuation from Berlin of all children and all adults not engaged in war work to country areas or to towns in Eastern Germany where air raids were not expected.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
Stirling EE970 took off from Chedburgh at 20:42 in Stirling Mark III (Sqn code: BU-B Bomber Command) on an operation to Berlin Germany.
The aircraft was hit by flak, caught fire, and while going down in flames the pilot ordered the crew to bail outThe aircraft was hit by flak, caught fire, and while going down in flames the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. Crashed at Charlottenfelde Germany
Killed: Flight Sergeant Douglas Conway Houghton RAF KIA Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery grave 6. D. 4. Pilot Officer Kenneth John Simpson RAAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 191.
POWs includes Case: Sergeant John Evan Chisholm RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant George Daulby RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant Harold Melvyn Diebel RCAF R/161427 POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant John Alec Emanuel Giblin RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe).
