W/O John E Bellamy RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1943
Failed to Return – 2/3rd December 1943 – Avro Lancaster III – JB403 – Op Berlin
John Bellamy and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds around late September 1943 from Heavy Conversion Unit. They were lost on their 7th operation. See details below :-
08-Oct-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB350 – Sgt JE Bellamy
18-Oct-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB350 – Sgt JE Bellamy
03-Nov-43 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – W4337 – F/S JE Bellamy
10-Nov-43 – Modane – Lancaster – JB550 – F/S JE Bellamy
18-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB423 – F/S JE Bellamy
22-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB423 – W/O JE Bellamy
02-Dec-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – W/O JE Bellamy – FTR - Crashed in the target area.
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W/O John Edward Bellamy RAFVR - Pilot - 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Albert Arthur and Florence Georgina Bellamy of Hoton, Leicestershire – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Harry Brown RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of William and Sarah Jane Brown of Pocklington, Yorkshire – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt George Alfred England RAFVR – Navigator - 28 – 103 Sqn - Son of George Alfred and Sarah England; husband of Annie England of Gateshead, Co. Durham – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Eric George Wyatt RAFVR – Air Bomber - 103 Sqn - Son of Cecil George and Rose Eliza Wyatt of Hounslow, Middlesex – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Herbert Charles Haslam RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of Herbert and Myra Haslam of Chesterfield, Derbyshire – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Thomas Manuel Robbins RAFVR – Air Gunner - 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of Harry Thomas Robbins and Elizabeth Robbins of Gateshead, Co. Durham – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Richard Henry Tomlin RAFVR – Air Gunner - 28 – 103 Sqn - Son of William and Elizabeth Margaret Tomlin; husband of Barbara Olga Tomlin of Leicester – Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany
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02-Dec-43 – Berlin
103 Squadron detailed 14 aircraft for this attack on the German city of Berlin. A thin layer of very low cloud covered the target area but the pathfinder marking appeared to be accurate and ground markers were clearly seen. Fighter flares were in great evidence, but heavy flak only moderate. There was much light flak and many “ scarecrows “The bombing heights were between 20000 ft and 22000 ft. F/L Ready, F/L Hopps and W/O Bellamy and crews failed to return. F/S Rathbone returned early as his rear gunners hands were frost bitten. All others returned to base except P/O Young who landed at Wittering and F/O Eddy at Kirmington
For this attack on Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 458 aircraft - 425 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitos, 15 Halifaxes. There were no major diversions and the bombers took an absolutely direct route across the North Sea and Holland and then on to Berlin. The Germans identified Berlin as the target 19 minutes before Zero Hour and many fighters were waiting there. Incorrectly forecast winds scattered the bomber stream, particularly on the return flight, and German fighters scored further victories here. A total of 40 bombers - 37 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Mosquito - were lost, 8.7 per cent of the force. 460 (Australian) Squadron lost 5 of its 25 Lancasters on this raid, including the aircraft in which two newspaper reporters were flying. These were Captain Grieg of the Daily Mail and Norman Stockton of the Sydney Sun. The inaccurate wind forecast caused great difficulties for the Pathfinders, who were not able to establish their positions correctly. The bombing photographs of the Main Force suggested that the attack was scattered over a wide area of southern Berlin and the countryside south of the city. The Berlin report confirms this but adds that some useful damage was caused in industrial areas of the eastern and western districts, with two more of the Nazi Siemens factories, a ball-bearing factory and several railway installations being badly hit. Damage elsewhere was light, only 136 buildings being destroyed.
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Lancaster – JB403
This machine was lost on its 9th operation which included one Did not take off.
18-Oct-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF – Did not take off - Engine fault.
22-Oct-43 – Kassel – Lancaster – JB403 – W/O NH Frost
03-Nov-43 – Dusseldorf – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
10-Nov-43 – Modane – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
18-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
22-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
23-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
26-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – F/S H Campbell RAAF - Diverted to Tholthorpe because of bad visibility at base.
02-Dec-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB403 – W/O JE Bellamy – FTR - Crashed in the target area.
Item compiled by David Fell
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