Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock, page 376
Paradise, Leslie Eric (Flight Sergeant)
Prisoner of War 1944-August-13
Birth Date: 1923-February-28
Born: Portsmouth, England
Parents:
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
626 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
To Strive And Not To Yield To strive and not to yeild
Base
RAF Wickenby
Rank
Flight Sergeant
Position
Service Numbers
1318257
PoW: 617
Target
Brunswick Germany
Paradise Leslie E - Online Museum of Prisoners of WarCrew or Other Personnel
Lancaster LM599
Mission
Lancaster Mk.I/III LM599
Bombing Brunswick Germany 1944-August-12 to 1944-August-13
626 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Wickenby
626 Squadron (To strive and not to yield) RAF Wickenby Lancaster Mk III aircraft LM 599 UM-A2 was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Horst-Rudiger Blume of 8/NJG2 and crashed at Westercelle Celle Niedersachsen, Germany during an operation against targets in Brunswick, Germany
Sergeant Kenneth William Molyneux (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant James Mercer Reid (RAFVR) and Sergeant Joseph Kitchener Slack (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Flying Officer Ronald Stanley Bennett (RCAF), Flying Officer Arnold Victor Clifford (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant Leslie Eric Paradise (RAFVR) and Flying Officer James Purdie Slattery (RAF) all survived to become Prisoners of War
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 4, 24 July - 15 October by Theo Boiten, page 41
Lancaster LM599 Mk.I/III - Bombing Brunswick Germany - 1944-08-12 to 1944-08-13
Squadron: 626 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-08-12
Completion Date: 1944-08-13
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Brunswick Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Wickenby
Take Off Time: 21:39:00
Squadron Code: UM-A2
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: near Westercelle Celle Niedersachsen
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Leutnant Horst-Rudiger Blume of 8/NJG2
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group August 12/13, 1944
36 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 432, and 433 Squadrons were joined by 12 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 Squadrons on an attack of enemy troop positions at Falaise. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, releasing 392,000 lbs of high explosives.According to reports, this attack was effective.
While some crews attacked Falaise, 48 Halifaxes from 415, 424, 427,429, 431, 432, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 21 Lancasters from 419 and 428 Squadrons on an attack at Brunswick. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 379,000 lbs of high explosives and 120,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was not marked by pathfinders and was scattered.
40 Halifaxes from 427, 429, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on attacks of 2 V-1 sites at La Breteque and La Neuville. The crews were over the targets at between 9,000 and 10,000 feet, releasing 316,000 lbs of high explosives.
While the above attacks were taking place, 4 Halifaxes from 424 and433 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Brest. The crews were over the garden at 13,000 feet, sowing 16@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
626 Squadron (To strive and not to yield) RAF Wickenby Lancaster Mk III aircraft LM 599 UM-A2 was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Horst-Rudiger Blume of 8/NJG2 and crashed at Westercelle Celle Niedersachsen, Germany during an operation against targets in Brunswick, Germany
Sergeant Kenneth William Molyneux (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant James Mercer Reid (RAFVR) and Sergeant Joseph Kitchener Slack (RAFVR) were all killed in action
Flying Officer Ronald Stanley Bennett (RCAF), Flying Officer Arnold Victor Clifford (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant Leslie Eric Paradise (RAFVR) and Flying Officer James Purdie Slattery (RAF) all survived to become Prisoners of War
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 4, 24 July - 15 October by Theo Boiten, page 41