W/O Robert Stevens RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1943
Failed to Return – 18/19th October 1943 – Avro Lancaster III – JB349 – Op Hanover
Young Robert Stevens were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds early September 1943. They were lost on their 7th operation two of which were an early returns. See below
22-Sep-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – ED942 – Sgt R Stevens
23-Sep-43 – Mannheim – Lancaster – ED942 – Sgt R Stevens - Combat. Evaded 2 single engined night fighters.
27-Sep-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – ED942 – Sgt R Stevens – Early return – Air speed indicator unserviceable
29-Sep-43 – Bochum – Lancaster – ED942 – Sgt R Stevens
01-Oct-43 – Hagen – Lancaster – ED942 – Sgt R Stevens
03-Oct-43 – Kassel – Lancaster – ED417 – Sgt R Stevens – Early return – Starboard outer engine fire.
18-Oct-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB349 – W/O R Stevens - FTR – Night fighter victim. Crashed near Hildesheim, Germany.
Reportedly shot down by Hauptmann Friedrich Karl Muller of Stab/JG300
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W/O Robert Stevens RAFVR – Pilot - 19 – 103 Sqn – Hanover War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Eric Hill RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 19 - 103 Sqn - Son of Henry and Dorothy Clara Hill, of South Harrow, Middlesex. His brother Harry also died on service – Hanover War Cemetery, Germany
F/O George Graham Banks RAFVR – Navigator - 21 - 103 Sqn - Son of Sidney Roy and Winifred May Banks of Withington, Manchester – Hanover War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt John Charlton Tetley RAFVR – 20 - 103 Sqn - Son of George Davison Tetley and Lilian Marguerite Tetley of New Moston, Manchester – Runnymede Memorial
F/S James Sutherland RNZAF - Sqn - Son of John Alexander Sutherland and Hughina Sutherland – Runnymede Memorial
Sgt William Frederick Cox RAFVR – Air Gunner - 19 - 103 Sqn - Son of William Ernest and Ada Cox of Warrington, Lancashire – Hanover War Cemetery, Germany
Sgt Ralph Kemp-Welch RAFVR – Air Gunner - 20 - 103 Sqn - Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Kemp-Welch of Sopley, Hampshire – Hanover War Cemetery, Germany
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18-Oct-43 - Hanover
103 Squadron detailed 19 aircraft for this attack on the German city of Hanover.5 aircraft were fitted with special navigation equipment and carried a reduced incendiary load. The target was cloud covered which affected the marking and made bombing difficult. Much of it was down to the glow or deducted glow of markers. Bombing heights were between 16000 ft and 21500 ft. The raid was considered unsatisfactory. However several very large explosions were noted in the vicinity of the markers. Sgt Bellamy's gunners fired at a Ju88 attacking another Lancaster but did not observe any results. Sgt Jones was attacked by an Me110 from the port quarter which damaged his port outer engine but gunners replied and the attack was beaten off. There were several other sightings of fighters. F/S Rathbone returned early. F/S Campbell failed to take off due to last minute engine fault. W/O Loop, W/O Stevens and F/S Hinton failed to return. All others returned to base.
For this attack on Hanover Bomber Command detailed a total of 360 Lancasters. 18 Lancasters lost, 5.0 per cent of the force. The target area was covered by cloud and the Pathfinders were not successful in marking the position of Hanover. The raid was scattered, with most bombs falling in open country north and north-west of the city. This raid concluded the current series of raids on Hanover. Bomber Command had dispatched 2,253 sorties in 4 raids and 10 American B-17 sorties had also been flown. 1,976 aircraft claimed to have bombed in the target area. Only 1 raid had been completely successful but that had caused severe damage. 110 bombers were lost on the raids, 4.9 per cent of those dispatched.
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Lancaster – JB349
This machine had a short career being lost on its 3rd operation. See Below
27-Sep-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB349 – W/O JE Rule
01-Oct-43 – Hagen – Lancaster – JB349 – F/S H Campbell RAAF
18-Oct-43 – Hanover – Lancaster – JB349 – W/O R Stevens - FTR – Night fighter victim. Crashed near Hildesheim, Germany.
Item compiled by David Fell
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