F/O David W A Philip RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1943
Failed to Return – 31st August/1st September 1943 – Avro Lancaster III – ED646 – Op
Berlin.
David Philip and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds on the 15th August 1943 from 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit. Sadly they were lost on their second operation. See below :-
27-Aug-43 – Nuremberg – Lancaster – ED646 – F/O DWA Philip
31-Aug-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – ED646 – F/O DWA Philip – FTR - Lost without trace.
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F/O David Walter Alexander Philip RAFVR – 24 – 103 Sqn - Son of David Gill Philip and of Helen Philip (nee McKirmon) of Streatham, London – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Bernard Frederick Trew RAFVR – 103 Sqn – Runnymede Memorial
P/O Herbert William Shinn RAFVR – 21 - 103 Sqn - Son of Edward Harold and Mary Shinn, of Upper Killay, Glamorgan – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Edward Buttler Capin RCAF ( pictured below ) – 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Edward Oliver Capin and Mary Capin of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Charles Joseph Cooper RAFVR – 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Joseph and Christian Cooper of Glasgow – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Edward Charles Harris RAFVR – 27 – 103 Sqn - Son of James Frederick and Edith Ann Harris; husband of Ethel Maud Harris of Tredegar, Monmouthshire – Runnymede Memorial
P/O Sidney George Holman RAFVR – 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Mr and Mrs S C Holman of Herne, Kent – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Edward Buttler Capin RCAF
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31-Aug-43 - Berlin
103 Squadron detailed 22 aircraft for this attack on the Nazi capital of Berlin. The attack was rather scattered in the heavy cloud conditions, 8 to 9/10s with tops to 8000 ft. Cloud hampered the search lights to some extent although it did light up the clouds for a screen. The heavy flak soon died down presumably to leave the field clear for night fighters. Fighter activity was intense and there were several sightings and approaches. P/O Johnston and crew were attacked several times by a single engined night fighter but the gunners succeeded in beating him off. Bombing heights were between 17000 ft to 21000 ft. Most crews felt the effort was too scattered and the marking uncertain. However one very large red explosion was noticed. F/O Philip and crew failed to return and one crew landed at Tangmere to refuel. All other crews returned to base.
For this attack on Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 622 aircraft - 331 Lancasters, 176 Halifaxes, 106 Stirlings, 9 Mosquitos
This raid was not successful. There was some cloud in the target area; this, together with difficulties with H2S equipment and probably the ferocity of the German defences, all combined to cause the Pathfinder markers to be dropped well south of the centre of the target area and the Main Force bombing to be even further away. The main bombing area eventually extended 30 miles back along the bombers' approach route. After this raid, Gauleiter Goebbels ordered the evacuation from Berlin of all children and all adults not engaged in war work to country areas or to towns in Eastern Germany where air raids were not expected. 47 aircraft - 20 Halifaxes, 17 Stirlings, 10 Lancasters - lost, 1.6 per cent of the force. The Stirling casualties were 16.0 per cent! Approximately two thirds of the bombers lost were shot down by German fighters operating over or near Berlin. The use of 'fighter flares', dropped by German aircraft to 'mark' the bomber routes into and away from the target, was noted for the first time in Bomber Command records.
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Lancaster – ED646
This machine gave very good service being lost on its 51st operation. It was first flown by W/C Robert Carter. See below :-
05-Mar-43 – Essen – Lancaster – ED646 – W/C RAC Carter
Item compiled by David Fell. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
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