RAF raid on Brunswick, Jan. 14, 1944

[Allan125]

Hello Christian

Nice to hear from you - I apologise for not expanding on Chorleys BCL - William (Bill) Chorley has published a series of books entitled "Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War" in various volumes for each year of the war. They are published by Midland Counties Publications and this volume (1944) is under ISBN 0-904597-91-1 and are very popular as they give a day by day notation of operations, broken down into squadron numerical order, with the loss giving information on the crew (including crew positions) and the reason for the loss (where known).

They also supply background information for the period e.g. the Nurnberg raids between 25 and 31 March 1944.

You should be able to purchase via the WWW - try one of my favourites, http://www.used.addall.com/ as this site searches lots of book sellers and has been successful for me on a number of occasions.

With regard to your comment "we have found out that this Group had two Halifax bombers also. Would you happen to know, if they suffered casualties in this area and what unit they belonged to?" - all losses that night are Lancasters on the Braunschweig operation, with a 300 (Polish) Squadron Wellington loss on a "Gardening" operation (Minelaying). However, if you think they might have been lost around the same time please supply a date and I will be happy to search for you.

Here are more details on the 8 Lancaster II's lost that night.

115 squadron lost 2 Lancaster II's - DS720 KO-D and LL673 KO-G

For KO-D it states: Took Off 1701 Witchford. All are buried in Hannover War Cemetery. Delivered on 16 August 1942, this Lancaster had flown 22 sorties.

For KO-G it states: Took Off 1702 Witchford. Crashed at Gittelde, 16 km NE of Northeim, a town straddling the Rhume, some 20 km NNE of Gottingen. All were laid to rest at Gittelde, since when their bodies have been moved to Hannover War Cemetery.

514 squadron lost 2 Lancaster II's - LL685 JI-G2 and LL679 JI-J2

For JI-G2 it states: Took Off 1706 Waterbeach. Intercepted by a night-fighter and crashed 1905 some 800 metres W of Bennesbostel, 5 km S of Celle, where all were buried on 15 January. Their graves are now in Hannover War Cemetery. P/O Harvey RNZAF had won an immediate DFM while serving with 149 squadron, the citation published on 16 May 1943 paying tribute to his devotion to duty despite being wounded about the head. The awards gained by P/O Thomas RCAF, F/O Sneddon RCAF and P/O Rosher, were gazetted on 14 May, 9 July and 11 June, respectively. (This was a very well decorated crew, only the flight engineer not being decorated).

For JI-J2 it states: Took Off 1722 Waterbeach. All are buried in the Hannover War Cemetery.

408 squadron lost 2 Lancaster II's - LL699 EQ-C and DS767 EQ-Q

For EQ-C it states: Took Off 1700 Linton-on-Ouse. Those who died rest in Hannover War Cemetery, having been brought here immediately following the crash. The Navigator F/O W R Glen RCAF became a POW, the remainder died.

For EQ-Q it states: Took Off 1654 Linton-on-Ouse. All rest in Hannover War Cemetery. WO2 MacLennan RCAF hailed from Fanwood in New Jersey.

432 squadron lost 2 Lancaster II's - DS740 QO-Z and DS850 QO-M

For QO-Z it states: Took Off 1702 East Moor. Crashed at Lagershausen 6 km NE of Northeim. All were laid to rest at Lagershausen since when their bodies have been interred at Hannover War Cemetery.

For QO-M it states: Took Off 1703 East Moor. Hit by IB (Incendiary Bomb - friendly fire!!) over the target which severely wounded Sgt Aplin and caused much structural damage. Petrol tanks were holed and the order to bale out was given, the Lancaster crashing on the Engdener Wuste, E of Nordhorn. The two airmen who died are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. F/L Rainville RCAF, the squadrons Gunnery Leader, won his DFM with 419 squadron, details being published on 22 September 1942. Sgt Aplin's parents lived in Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia.

If you need anything further please ask - you can contact me directly on:
allan(dot)hillman(at)btinternet(dot)com (changing the items in brackets to the appropriate symbols)

Hope this helps?

Allan