Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 339
Lamb, Robert Lionel (Flight Lieutenant)
Prisoner of War 1944-February-20
Birth Date: unkown date
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
35 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Uno Anima Agimus We Act with One Accord
Base
RAF Graveley
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Position
Air Gunner
Service Numbers
82718
PoW: 3490
Target
Leipzig Germany
Crew or Other Personnel
Halifax HX325
Mission
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX325
Combat Leipzig Germany 1944-February-19 to 1944-February-20
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) RAF Graveley
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX325 TL-J was shot down by a Ju88 night fighter flown by Felwebel Frank of NJG3 on February 21, 1944 while engaged in an operation against targets in Leipzig, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Beedenbostel, Germany
Knight was killed by the night fighter. Sale, although wounded during the action, stayed at the controls so his crew could bale out, crash-landed his aircraft and managed to get out. It was his fiftieth trip. Sale was taken Prisoner of War and died in hospital a month later from his wounds. The rest of his surviving crew, Carter, Bodnar, Lamb, Rogers and Cross were taken as Prisoners of War
Previous Events
1943-December-20 Flight Lieutenant Survived
Halifax B/GR.Mk.IIITL-J |
35 PFF Sqn RAF |
| Known to the other men as "Sheep". | |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.III HX328
Combat Frankfurt Germany 1943-December-19 to 1943-December-20
35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF) Graveley UK
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX 328 TL-J, returning from an operation to Frankfurt, Germany had a Target Illuminator (TI) munition malfunction, which ignited in the aircraft bomb bay as it was preparing to land. Sale gained altitude to allow his crew to bale from the burning aircraft, which most were able to do. As Sale was himself about to bale, he realized that his mid-upper gunner, Lamb was unable to bale due to a fire-damaged parachute. Sale resumed control of the bomber and managed to land it safely and taxi off the runway. Both he and Lamb escaped from the aircraft, which exploded as they ran to get clear. Both men survived and continued to fly together. Carpenter suffered a broken ankle.
Sale was awarded a Bar to his DSO for this act of determination and braveryinformation from book: The Pathfinder Companion War Diaries of the RAF Pathfinder Force-1942-1945 by Sean Feast, Grub Street Press 2012
Halifax HX325 B/GR.Mk.III - Combat Leipzig Germany - 1944-02-19 to 1944-02-20
Squadron: 35 (PFF) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-02-19
Completion Date: 1944-02-20
Mission: Combat
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Leipzig Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Graveley
Take Off Time: 23:51
Squadron Code: TL-J
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Beedenbostel Germany
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Ju88 flown by Felwebel Frank of NJG3
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group February 19/20, 1944
31 Lancaster from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 98 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 112,000 lbs of high explosives and 422,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered. The crews were met by strong winds and fierce fighter attacks. 18 crews, or 128 men failed to return from operations. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
35 Squadron RAF (Uno Anima Agimus), Pathfinder Force, RAF Graveley. Halifax III aircraft HX325 TL-J was shot down by a Ju88 night fighter flown by Felwebel Frank of NJG3 on February 21, 1944 while engaged in an operation against targets in Leipzig, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Beedenbostel, Germany
Knight was killed by the night fighter. Sale, although wounded during the action, stayed at the controls so his crew could bale out, crash-landed his aircraft and managed to get out. It was his fiftieth trip. Sale was taken Prisoner of War and died in hospital a month later from his wounds. The rest of his surviving crew, Carter, Bodnar, Lamb, Rogers and Cross were taken as Prisoners of War
Halifax HX325 (19/02/1944) I No.35 Squadron