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| Date: | Sunday 16 August 1942 |
| Time: | 03:26 LT |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 50 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | R5735 |
| MSN: | VN-G |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | field near Winnekendonk, Kevelaer, Nordrhein-Westfalen -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire |
Takeoff at 00:57 hrs local time for an operation to Düsseldorf in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The aircraft was shot down by the night fighter crew of Oberleutnant Reinhold Knacke & Unteroffizier Kurt Bundrock of the 1./NJG 1, who were flying Bf 110 F-4 G9+AH from Venlo airfield in the Netherlands.
Crew:-
Pilot : Pilot Officer Godfrey Rees Jones RAAF Aus/403054 [Killed]
Flight Engineer : Sergeant Robert Charles Montague White RAF 576796 [Killed]
Navigator : Flying Officer Francis Ernest D'Albedhyll Lethbridge RAAF Aus/400861 [PoW]
Bomb Aimer : Sergeant James McMillan RAF 995660 [PoW]
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner : Sergeant Norman Tomlin RAFVR 1007437 [Killed]
Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant Alfred Joseph Pankhurst RAAF Aus/403171 [Killed]
Rear Gunner : Flight Sergeant Herbert Alfred Chislett RCAF R/101535 [Killed]
In a PoW report Sergeant Letherbridge stated: “The aircraft was hit by enemy action at 0300 hours on 16th Aug and went into a spin. I have no clear recollection of what happened after putting on my chute and have no information re. the others.”
The five casualties lie at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany (51.740880 / 6.082017)
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive The Early Years part three
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=R5735
Google Maps
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database http://robdavistelford.co.uk/webspace/raf_bc
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-May-2020 18:10 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 18-Jul-2025 06:57 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
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