Can anyone help?

[rafcommands]

Hi David,

The PoW list on the web pages is correct up until about March 1944. I have some unpublished notes of PoWs where he appears.

Knowing that he was a PoW after March 1944 it was highly likely that he was Bomber Command.

All Bomber Command Losses have been listed by Bill Chorley in a series of books. Looking at the Volume 5 Aircraft and Crew losses for 1944 gives the following detail on the loss.

2-3 Nov 1944
576 Sqn
Lancaster I
Serial: LM122
Code: UL-X2
Op: Dusseldorf

P/O W H Hepburn, +
Sgt T Hughes, Evaded
Sgt F McWatt, +
Sgt J Reavey, Evaded
Sgt W N Rees, PoW
Sgt T McK Murray, +
Sgt S Fielding, +

Took off 16:12 hrs, RAF Fiskerton. It is believed that a bomb hit the Lancaster while over the target, though it is likely the crash occurred W of Rhine. Those who perished are buried in Belgium at Hotton War Cemetery.

As Franek has said the ORB (War Diary) for No.576 Sqn is held on microfilm at the National Archives and will list similar detail for all the previous missions of Sgt Rees.

The closest living relative can also obtain a copy of a servicemans record by writing to the RAFPMA at Royal Air Force Innsworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire. This lists all of his postings from enlistment to demob.

Armed with this info on his service career it is possible to find traces in the ORBs of the other units, again at the National Archives.

Hope this helps for a starter.

Regards
Ross