W/O Harold R Graham RCAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1943
Failed to Return – 12/13th July 1943 – Avro Lancaster I – ED769 – Op Turin
Harold Graham ( pictured above ) and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds late June/early July 1943. Sadly they were lost on their second operation. See below
09-Jul-43 – Gelsenkirchen – Lancaster – EE196 – F/S HR Graham RCAF
12-Jul-43 – Turin – Lancaster – ED769 – F/S HR Graham RCAF – FTR - Lost without trace.
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W/O Harold Richmond Graham RCAF – Pilot – 103 Sqn – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Louis Cervi RAFVR – 31 – 103 Sqn - Son of Louis and Ann Cervi, of Ancoats, Manchester; husband of Ann Cervi of Miles Platting, Manchester – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Bruce Woodrow Walls RCAF ( pictured below ) - 103 Sqn – Son of William Gladstone Walls and Laura Blanche Walls, of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada – Runnymede Memorial
F/O Eric Henry Hawkins RAFVR - 103 Sqn – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt George Edward Trowsdale RAFVR – 20 - 103 Sqn – Son of George Ernest and Henrietta Trowsdale of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Norman Guy Tippin RAFVR – 20 - 103 Sqn – Son of Guy Frederic and Doris Mary Tippin, of Romford Essex – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Rae McGee Watts RCAF - 103 Sqn – Son of William and Margaret Watts of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada – Runnymede Memorial
F/S Bruce Woodrow Walls RCAF
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12-Jul-43 - Turin
103 Squadron detailed 24 aircraft for this attack on the Italian city of Turin which meant part of the return journey was done in daylight. Bombing heights were between 16000 ft and 21000 ft. Target defences were spasmodic with up to moderate intensity only in barrage form. Both heavy and light flak was encountered. Searchlights were ineffective and wavering. They were detailed to land at Exeter but make base if possible which several managed to do. Three returned early because of failures and F/S Graham and crew failed to return nothing being heard from them.
For this attack on Turin Bomber Command detailed a total of 295 Lancasters of 1, 5 and No 8 Groups. 13 Lancasters lost, 4.4 per cent of the force. The main weight of this raid fell just north of the centre of Turin in clear weather conditions. Among the RAF casualties on this night was Wing Commander JD Nettleton, Commanding Officer of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, who had won the Victoria Cross for the low-level daylight raid on Augsburg in April 1942. Nettleton's Lancaster was shot down by a German night fighter over the Channel while returning from Turin. He and his crew all died.
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Lancaster – ED769
This machine was lost on its 12th operation and had been flown mostly by Tom Prickett and crew.
13-Apr-43 - La Spezia – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
16-Apr-43 – Pilsen – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett - Did not take off
18-Apr-43 - La Spezia – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
20-Apr-43 – Stettin – Lancaster – ED769 – Sgt DW Rudge
26-Apr-43 – Duisburg – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
30-Apr-43 – Essen – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
04-May-43 – Dortmund – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett - Early return
12-May-43 – Duisburg – Lancaster – ED769 – Sgt EJ Presland
25-May-43 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
29-May-43 – Wuppertal – Lancaster – ED769 – S/L TO Prickett
11-Jun-43 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – ED769 – F/S AE Egan
12-Jul-43 – Turin – Lancaster – ED769 – F/S HR Graham RCAF – FTR - Lost without trace.
Item compiled by David Fell. Photos courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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