Cunning, Charles Hugh (Sergeant)

Prisoner of War 1943-December-30

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAF

Unit

103 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Noli Me Tangere Touch me not

Base

RAF Elsham Wolds

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Service Numbers

1313818
PoW: 269759

Target

Berlin Germany

Took off from Elsham Wolds in Lancaster Mk III (Sqn code PM-G Bomber Command) on an operation to Berlin Germany.

Hit by flak after bombing, sustaining severe structural damage to the tail plane and losing the use of both port engines. Crashed at Mettingen, 5 km NNE of Ibbenburen, Germany.

Killed: Sergeant Thomas Cook Henderson RAF KIA Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Plot 12. Row A. Grave 5.

POWs includes Cunning: Sergeant Wesley Alfred Lamb RCAF R/155355 POW Stalag IVB, Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant Allan Fletcher RAF POW Stalag IVB, Muhlberg (Elbe). WO Leslie John Grigg RAF POW Stalag IVB, Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant Rodney William Hatherley RAF POW Stalag IVB, Muhlberg (Elbe). Sergeant Alfred Robert George Warne RAF POW Stalag IVB, Muhlberg (Elbe).

Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 275

Crew or Other Personnel

Lancaster JB487

Sergeant Charles Hugh Cunning RAF

Sergeant Cunning, Charles Hugh (RAF)

Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Allan Fletcher RAF

Sergeant Fletcher, Allan (RAF)

Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Leslie John Grigg RAF

Sergeant Grigg, Leslie John (RAF)
Pilot
Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Rodney William Hatherley RAF

Sergeant Hatherley, Rodney William (RAF)

Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Sergeant Thomas Cook Henderson RAF

Sergeant Henderson, Thomas Cook (RAF)
Air Gunner (Rear)
Killed in Action
1943-December-30
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany

Flight Sergeant Wesley Alfred Lamb RCAF

Flight Sergeant Lamb, Wesley Alfred (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Warrant Officer Alfred Robert George Warne RAF

Warrant Officer Warne, Alfred Robert George (RAF)

Prisoner of War
1943-December-30
cemetery unknown

Mission

Lancaster Mk.III JB487

Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-December-29 to 1943-December-30

103 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Elsham Wolds

103 Swindon's Own Squadron (Noli me Tangere) RAF Elsham Wolds Lancaster III aircraft JB 487 PM-G was shot down by flak during an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany which caused severe structural damage to the tail-plane and damaged both port engines

The Lancaster crashed at Mettingen, Germany with the loss of one crew member

Sergeant TC Henderson (RAF) was killed in action

FS WA Lamb (RCAF), Sergeant HC Cunning (RAF), Sergeant A Fletcher (RAF), LJ Grigg (RAF), Sergeant RW Hatherley (RAF) and Sergeant RAG Warne (RAF) all survived to be taken as Prisoners of War

Unvetted Source [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...