Champness, Edward Frank (Pilot Officer)
Killed in Action 1944-May-23
Birth Date: 1924
Born:
Parents: EDGAR FRANK AND VERA CHAMPNESS, OF ST. MARYS, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAAF
Unit
630 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Nocturna Mors Death by night
Base
RAF East Kirkby
Rank
Pilot Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
421858
Brunswick GermanyCrew or Other Personnel
Lancaster JB546
Mission
Lancaster Mk.III JB546
Bombing Brunswick Germany 1944-May-22 to 1944-May-23
630 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF East Kirkby
225 Lancasters and IO Mosquitoes of I and 5 Groups. 13 Lancasters lost, 5'5 per cent of the force
.This raid was a failure. The weather forecast had predicted a clear target but the marker aircraft found a complete covering of cloud. There was also interference on the Master Bomber's radio communications. The 5 Group method could not cope with these conditions and most of the bombing fell in the country areas around Brunswick. The city records show only a few bombs and there were no casualties. A reconnaissance aircraft flying through this area an hour later found it completely free of cloud.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
630 Squadron (Nocturna Mors). Lancaster III aircraft JB 546 was shot down at Quakenbruck, Germany during night operations against Brunswick, Germany. Two of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed and four of the crew, not Canadians, were taken Prisoners of War.
Lancaster serial: JB546
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
Wikipedia
Harold A Skaarup Web PageLancaster JB546 Mk.III - Bombing Brunswick Germany - 1944-05-22 to 1944-05-23
Squadron: 630 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-05-22
Completion Date: 1944-05-23
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Brunswick Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF East Kirkby
Take Off Time: 22.40
Squadron Code: LE-A
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Quakenbr?ck, Germany
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group May 22/23, 1944
27 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 20,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 51,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing fell into the south eastern sector with serious damage being caused.
2 Halifaxes from 428 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to St. Malo. The crews were over the garden at 8,000 feet, sowing 4@1500 lb mines.
112 Halifaxes from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Le Mans. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, releasing 826,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
225 Lancasters and IO Mosquitoes of I and 5 Groups. 13 Lancasters lost, 5'5 per cent of the force
.This raid was a failure. The weather forecast had predicted a clear target but the marker aircraft found a complete covering of cloud. There was also interference on the Master Bomber's radio communications. The 5 Group method could not cope with these conditions and most of the bombing fell in the country areas around Brunswick. The city records show only a few bombs and there were no casualties. A reconnaissance aircraft flying through this area an hour later found it completely free of cloud.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
630 Squadron (Nocturna Mors). Lancaster III aircraft JB 546 was shot down at Quakenbruck, Germany during night operations against Brunswick, Germany. Two of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed and four of the crew, not Canadians, were taken Prisoners of War.
