Date:	Friday 12 May 1944
Time:	00:15
Type:	Avro Lancaster Mk III
Owner/operator:	626 Sqn RAF
Registration:	JB409
MSN:	UM-P2
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	South of the Noorddijk Road, Krabbendijke, Zeeland -   Netherlands
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire
Destination airport:	Hasselt Railway Yards

Narrative:
P/O C.R. Marriott DFM RNZAF, Sgt R.S. Hollingum, F/Sgt J.H. Barton RNZAF, Sgt C.R. Todd, Sgt W. A. Palmer, P/O A.J. Muir RCAF, WO2 C. W. Smith RCAF
JB409 was delivered to 12 Sqn 7 Oct 43, joining 626 Sqn, formed from 12 Sqn 'C' Flight, Dec 43. Took part in the following Key Operations: With No.12 Sqn as PH-P, Hannover 18/19 Oct 43; Berlin 18/19 Nov 43; Berlin 26/27 Nov 43; Berlin 2/3Dec43; Berlin 16/17Dec43. To No.626 Sqn. No Key Operations until Hasselt 11/12 May 44-Lost. No record of total hours.
Airborne 21:56 hrs to bomb the railyards at Hasselt in Belgium.
The aircraft was claimed shot down by Hauptmann Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow of the 2./NJG 1 (flying He 219 A-0 G9+GK from Venlo airfield) and by Feldwebel Erwin Storck of the 1./NJG 2 (flying a Ju 88); exploded and fell at the sea dike near Krabbendijke on Zuid Beveland. Both claims confirmed as full victories on 4 September 1944.
All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Flt Sgt (Plt Off) Marriott awarded DFM whilst with 626 Squadron. Gazetted 11 April 1944
Citation
NZ/421742 Flight Sergeant Colin Rupert MARRIOTT, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 626 Squadron. 1853148 Sergeant John Victor BREWER, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 626 Squadron.
These airmen were captain and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Frankfurt one night in March, 1944. When nearing the target area the aircraft was attacked bya fighter.
Although Flight Sergeant Marriott manoeuvred with much skill and his gunners got in several bursts of fire, the bomber sustained severe, damage before the attacker could be evaded.
Nevertheless, Flight Sergeant Marriott determined to complete the task for which he had been
detailed went on to execute his attack, afterwards flying the badly damaged aircraft back to this country. He displayed skill, courage and resolution beyond praise; Sergeant Brewer also set a fine example. The windscreen of his turret had been shattered and he had been wounded in the foot. Although suffering severely from the cold and the lack of oxygen he insisted on remaining in his turret, fully determined to defend his aircraft at any time on the homeward flight. He displayed . outstanding fortitude and .great devotion to duty.
Crew
P/O C.R. Marriott DFM RNZAF KIA, Sgt R.S. Hollingum KIA, F/Sgt J.H. Barton RNZAF KIA, Sgt C.R.Todd KIA, Sgt W. A. Palmer KIA, P/O A.J. Muir RCAF KIA, WO2 C. W. Smith RCAF KIA "
421742 Pilot Officer MARRIOTT, COLIN RUPERT DFM, Royal New Zealand Air Force age 20. Son of Rupert Vance Marriott and Jessie Marriott, of Christchurch, New Zealand:
Crew
Pilot: NZ/421742 Plt Off Colin Rupert Marriott DFM RNZAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 263.
Flight Engineer: 1800740 Sgt Ronald Stanley Hollingum - Runnymede Memorial Panel 231.
Navigator: NZ/426158 Flt Sgt James Henry Barton RNZAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 263.
Bomb Aimer: 1331104 Sgt Cecil Reginald Todd - Runnymede Memorial Panel 239.
Wireless Operator: 1322330 Sgt William Arthur Palmer - Runnymede Memorial Panel 235.
Air Gunner: J/19122 Fg Off Alexander Jamieson Muir RCAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 247.
Air Gunner: J/89806 Plt Off Charles Worth Smith RCAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 253.

Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 part two
https://verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/rs.php?aircraft=&sglo=T3663&date=&location=&pn=&unit=&name=&cemetry=&airforce=&target=&area=&airfield=
Google Maps
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War 1944 Page 222.
chrome-extension://mhjfbmdgcfjbbpaeojofohoefgiehjai/index.html
www.626-squadron.co.uk/lost.htm
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C20644

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
17-Dec-2008 11:45	ASN archive	Added
12-Jun-2016 13:14	Red Dragon	Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
11-Nov-2018 13:24	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator]
07-Apr-2020 09:45	TigerTimon	Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
26-Aug-2022 19:36	Anon.	Updated [Narrative]