This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Thursday 16 December 1943 |
| Time: | 18:45 LT |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | DV238 |
| MSN: | KM-M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 8 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near Diepholz, Niedersachsen -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire |
Takeoff at 16:21 for an operation to Berlin.
Shot down by night fighter pilot Feldwebel Johannes Gajewski of the 8./NJG 2, flying from Gilze-Rijen airfield, the Netherlands.
Crew:-
Pilot : Flying Officer Donald Albert Rollin DFC RAFVR 155787 (NCO:1239321 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 05 October, 1943) [Killed]
2nd Pilot : Pilot Officer Arthur Thane Moodie RAFVR 160129 (NCO:778892 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 04 January, 1944) [Killed]
Flight Engineer : Sergeant John Charles Blackmore RAF 578348 [Killed]
Navigator : Pilot Officer Thomas Bernard Melia RAFVR 161688 (NCO:1109613 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 28 December, 1943) [Killed]
Bomb Aimer : Flight Sergeant Eric James Tocher RAFVR 1372393 [Killed]
Wireless Operator : Flight Sergeant Leslie Barker RAF 1233026 [PoW]
Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant Bernard Chew RAFVR 1678429 [Killed]
Rear Gunner : Sergeant Reginald Standing RAFVR 1397365 [Killed]
The casualties lie at the Hanover War Cemetery, Germany (52.377026 / 9.654365)
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 part three
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=DV238
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2018 19:43 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 15-Dec-2018 17:05 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Operator, ] |
| 17-Dec-2018 07:39 | TigerTimon | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 28-Aug-2024 06:04 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation