Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock page 313
Hatherley, Rodney William (Sergeant)
Prisoner of War 1943-December-30
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
1587301
PoW: 269776
Target
Berlin Germany
Crew or Other Personnel
Lancaster JB487
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
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...Lancaster JB487 Mk.III - Bombing Berlin Germany - 1943-12-29 to 1943-12-30
Squadron: 103 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-12-29
Completion Date: 1943-12-30
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Berlin Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Elsham Wolds
Take Off Time: 17:12
Squadron Code: PM-G
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: near Mettingen
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery: unspecified
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group December 29/30, 1943
39 Lancasters from 408, 426, and 432 Squadrons were joined by 90 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Berlin. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 24,000 feet, releasing 300,000 lbs of high explosives and 432,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, there was thick cloud over the target with some damage. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
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