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F/S J E Nelson RNZAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1943
Failed to Return – 5/6th September 1943 – Avro Lancaster III – LM343 – Op Mannheim
F/S Nelson and crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds late July / early August 1943 and were lost on their 4th operation
14-Aug-43 – Milan – Lancaster – ED942 – F/S JE Nelson - Combat. Evaded 2 attacks by single engined night fighter. Landed at Harwell to refuel.
29-Aug-43 – Munchengladbach – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S JE Nelson - Combat. Fired at a single engined night fighter while on bombing run. Broke off the attack.
03-Sep-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – W4376 – F/S JE Nelson – Did not take off - Aircraft unserviceable
05-Sep-43 – Mannheim – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S JE Nelson – FTR - Became hopelessly lost in bad weather after leaving the target and abandoned near Cherbourg, France due to lack of fuel. At one stage a radio fix indicated they were over south west England which was clearly incorrect.
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F/S JE Nelson RNZAF – POW – Camp 357 – POW no 43277
Sgt R Johns - POW – Camp 4B – POW no 222825
Sgt FG Seale - POW – Camp 357 – POW no 43278
F/S JD Bawden RCAF – Ev - Evaded capture – Crossed Pyrenees with F/S BW Booth and F/S T B Hannam on the 23rd December 1943
Sgt DT Gardiner RAFVR - POW – Camp 4B – POW no 222696
Sgt H Horsfield RAFVR - POW – Camp 4B – POW no 222720
Sgt AAS Dewey RAFVR ( Pictured above ) - POW – Camp L6/357 – POW no 117
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05-Sep-43 - Mannheim
103 Squadron detailed 22 aircraft for this attack on the German city of Mannheim which was described as successful. Bundles of metalized paper strips were scattered while over enemy territory to disrupt their radar. All crews bombed between 19500 ft and 22000 ft. Barrage flak opened up over the target as soon as the bombing began but quickly died away. Searchlights however were intense at times. A number of fighters and combats were sighted in the light. F/O Kilvington's rear gunner fired a quick burst at a Ju 88 which approached rather closely but it was lost to sight on diving. The crews of W/O Cant and F/S Nelson failed to return. All others landed at base with the exception of F/L Hopps who landed at Binbrook
For this highly successful attack Bomber Command detailed a total of 605 aircraft - 299 Lancasters, 195 Halifaxes, 111 Stirlings - ordered to carry out a second 'double' attack, this time against Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. 34 aircraft - 13 Halifaxes, 13 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings - lost, 5.6 per cent of the force. The target area for this double attack was clear of cloud and the Pathfinder marking plan worked perfectly. Ground-markers were placed on the eastern side of Mannheim so that the bombing of the Main Force - approaching from the west - could move back across Mannheim and then into Ludwigshafen on the western bank of the Rhine. The creepback did not become excessive and severe destruction was caused in both targets.
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Lancaster – LM343
This machine lasted only a month and was lost on its 14th operation. See below :-
07-Aug-43 – Turin – Lancaster – LM343 – W/O KR Lee
09-Aug-43 – Mannheim – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood
10-Aug-43 – Nuremberg – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood - Combat. Attacked by twin engined night fighter. Gunners replied. Claimed probably damaged.
12-Aug-43 – Milan – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood - Approached twice by a twin engined night fighter which was lost during corkscrew action.
14-Aug-43 – Milan – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood
15-Aug-43 – Milan – Lancaster – LM343 – F/O JF Marshall
17-Aug-43 – Peenemunde – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood
22-Aug-43 – Leverkusen – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood
23-Aug-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S AH Pargeter RNZAF – Did not take off - Damaged when W4323 blew up at dispersal.
27-Aug-43 – Nuremberg – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S DH Loop
29-Aug-43 – Munchengladbach – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S JE Nelson - Combat. Fired at a single engined night fighter while on bombing run. Broke off the attack.
31-Aug-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – LM343 – S/L CSF Wood
03-Sep-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – LM343 – Sgt JH Catlin
05-Sep-43 – Mannheim – Lancaster – LM343 – F/S JE Nelson – FTR - Became hopelessly lost in bad weather after leaving the target and abandoned near Cherbourg, France due to lack of fuel. At one stage a radio fix indicated they were over south west England which was clearly incorrect.
Item compiled by David Fell. Dewey photo courtesy of the family
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