F/S Valentine Richter RAFVR and crew - 103 Squadron - RAF Elsham Wolds –1943
Ulceby Lancaster Collision - 16th December 1943 - Avro Lancaster III - JB670 - Op Berlin
On the 16th December 1943 Lancasters from 103 Sqn and 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds were taking off for a raid on Berlin that night. There was low cloud at Elsham Wolds but this was not bad enough to prevent operations. At briefing the crews were cautioned about the low cloud and told that after take off they had to climb away into the climbing pattern until they reached the prescribed height and then head out over the North Sea on the operation. It was stressed that crews should not deviate from these instructions in any way because of the visibility issues.
Amongst the first to take off was F/S F R Scott RAAF and crew of 576 Sqn in Lancaster LM332. Scott and his crew were on their first operation. Soon afterwards they were followed by F/S Richter RAFVR and crew of 103 Sq. in Lancaster JB670. This was a scratch crew made up from members of both 103 Sqn. and 576 Sqn, an unusual occurrence
As Richter’s aircraft took off and climbed away Scott’s aircraft appeared out of the clouds flying directly towards them. A collision was inevitable and the machines crashed head on.
This occurred just outside the village of Ulceby and wreckage fell over a wide area. There were no survivors from either crew.
The Accident Investigation Report concluded that the collision was as a result of disobedience of instructions and should never have occurred. All captains were instructed that under no circumstances were they to circle below or in cloud but to climb straight ahead after take off. Cloud was about 1000 ft with a depth of not more than 1500 ft. Both these aircraft were seen to circle several miles from the airfield immediately after take off and start to climb through cloud on a roughly reciprocal course of that take off. Owing to the fact there were no survivors it is impossible to say which aircraft caused the collision.
This letter from an eye witness describes the events.
A Day I Never Forget by Marie Harris.
I was posted to the Ack Ack Site at Goxhill Haven as a driver in 1943. My duties were to drive all vehicles and any vehicle wherever needed. There were 3 of us girl drivers, Moira Turnbull, Nan Caulfield and myself. Although I say it myself I think we did a darned good job (must have done for they never gave us the sack!). It was quite a good site really, ATS and soldiers all got on well together, taking the good with the bad, no luxuries as such and not many "Passes Out".
Occasionally, when there had been a good night of shooting the enemy planes down, the Major and Officers would put on a dance and social night for us in the NAAFI. They would invite so many RAF and so many Yanks. It all helped to make a great night and lift our spirits and to mix or meet others who were doing what we were trying to do, keep old Hitler out. Most of the RAF were Air Crew and you would dance with one or two, get to know them a bit and have a great night, but knowing when you saw the Bombers taking off the following night they were up there doing the BIG BIT and come the next evening you would ask "where's Alec, Bob and Bill?" Just a shrug of the shoulders from their mates and you knew and felt sad, very sad.
As I drove around the lanes to wherever my duties took me at a certain time of the day you would see the Bombers going off and up into the clouds and away, you got used to it, up into one circle, two circles and third circle away on their mission and you would say to yourself and often loudly "Good luck lads, come back for that Tango."
It was one afternoon in December 1943 around 4.30 as I was driving a load of stores to another site in the Guy Truck, which had an open front and canvas covered back, going along this lane just wide enough for the truck and a ditch each side. Coming up to a farm on my right, it was very low cloud and the Lancasters were taking off into the circles, up and away, as I looked up and raised my right arm in a salute. They were so low and so near I felt I could nearly touch them.
One went into this low cloud and I was thinking it's a wonder they don't crash they are so close together, when in a split second as it came out of the cloud, God, it was a head on crash with another Lancaster, one almighty explosion and all Hell was let loose. It was awful, I couldn't believe what had happened practically over my head, just over the farmer's field. I was so stunned, streaks of fire shooting all over the road and my truck. I pulled on the brakes and jumped in the ditch but only for a few seconds thinking some of the crew could be saved, so I ran up past the farmer's house, bits and pieces lying all over, just passing a barn and someone caught hold of me from behind and wouldn't let go, kept saying "NO LASS, NO LASS there'll be nothing". It was the old farmer. In no time at all the fire engines etc. were arriving. I pulled myself together and went back to my truck in a daze and drove onto the site, still couldn't believe what had happened. When I pulled up at the Guard House I was just rooted to my seat and couldn't stop crying, thinking of the Bobs, Alecs and Bills whoever just blown to bits. It was awful and still is. The guard called the Sergeant who took one look at my truck with all the bits and pieces, burns on the canvas and said "she must have been under it." They took me into the Mess and gave me a cup of hot strong tea and 20 minutes by the round stove (they were really kind.) I felt better and had to get on with it, so back to Goxhill. On arriving our MT Officer was concerned; did I need to go to the MO? No Sir, I'll be OK but when I went to bed I couldn't shut my eyes, this terrific explosion flashed before me every time. I was like this for quite a few nights. Another thing I can't bear even to this day to watch a film with planes crashing. I'd shut my eyes or go out of the cinema.
Later in life I often used to think and wish I had gone back to see that farmer and I used to wonder if the families knew where their sons were lying. I was very pleased to hear that a Plaque is being dedicated in Remembrance to those poor souls. I can never forget them or what happened to them..
Driver Marie Harris W/44133 ATS.
In 2000 a plaque commemorating both crews was erected at the site of the Ulceby War Memorial
Flight Sergeant Richter. He was flying his 3rd operation with a scratch crew.
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Richter crew
Valentine Richter was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds probably early November 1943. He was detailed for 3 operations, all to Berlin. The first was cancelled due to high cross winds on take off which caused some aircraft to swing off the runway. The second was a lively affair involving a combat and diversion on return because of bad weather at base. The third ended with the tragic collision over Ulceby soon after take off. See below :-
23-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – LM381 – F/S V Richter – Did not take off - Cancelled due to high winds which caused some aircraft to swing on take off
26-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB670 – F/S V Richter - Combat with twin engined night fighter. The rear gunner replied. Enemy aircraft burst into flames. Claimed as probable. Diverted to Middleton St George.
16-Dec-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB670 – F/S V Richter - Collision on departure. Collided with LM332 of 576 Sq soon after take off and crashed at Ulceby.
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F/S Valentine Richter RAFVR – Pilot – 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of J. Harley Richter and of F. Gladys Richter (nee Bird), of Chingford, Essex – Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Sgt Frederick Stanley Copping RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Copping, of Walthamstow, Essex - Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
F/S Thomas Leslie Hobson Kay RAAF – Air Bomber – 28 – 103 Sqn - Son of Alvin Burnhope Kay and Elizabeth Haysom Kay, of Redhead, New South Wales, Australia - Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
F/O Charles Reginald Jaques RAFVR - Navigator – 30 – 103/576 Sqns - Son of Tom and L. Jaques; husband of Gwendoline Betty Jaques, of Winterton, Lincolnshire - Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Sgt Peter Coopman RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of Bertram and Athalie Coopman, husband of Elisabeth Joyce Coopman, of Cropthorne, Worcestershire - Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Sgt Cyril Walter Plampton RAFVR – Air Gunner – 103/576 Sqns - Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Sgt Francis Andrew Furrie RAFVR - Air Gunner – 103 Sqn – New Stevenston ( St Patricks ) Roman Catholic Cemetery, North Lanarkshire.
Flight Sergeant Valentine Richter RAFVR
Son of J. Harley Richter and of F. Gladys Richter (nee Bird), of Chingford, Essex. This crew he was flying his 3rd operation with a scratch crew.
Flight Sergeant T H Kay RAAF
Air Bomber in Richter’s crew was Thomas Kay of Redhead via Newcastle, NSW. Son of Alvin Burnhope Kay and Elizabeth Haysom Kay, of Redhead, New South Wales, Australia. Thomas was born in Wingate, Co Durham, UK
A modern languages and history master prior to enlisting on 17 August 1941, he completed his initial training at Bradfield Park, NSW and was later attached to the RAF. He was 28 years of age. He was originally a member of the crew of Frank Law of 103 Sqn which seems to have been split up and used as Odd Bods for some reason. Thomas Kay is buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire,
Sgt C W Plampton RAFVR
Cyril Plampton, an Air Gunner, was another member of Frank Law’s crew also assigned to Richter’s crew for that tragic night. He is also buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. This picture below shows Frank Law’s crew with Thomas Kay extreme right and Cyril Plampton third from the right.
Sergeant Francis A Furrie RAFVR
Francis Furrie was an Air Gunner and I believe he was on his first operation. He is buried in the New Stevenson ( St Patrick ) Roman Catholic Cemetery
16-Dec-43 - Berlin
103 Squadron detailed 15 aircraft for this attack on the Nazi capital Berlin. F/S Richter and crew collided in mid air in cloud with a 576 Squadron aircraft soon after take off. He and his crew were all killed. Bombing heights were between 20500 ft and 23000 ft. The Pathfinders used both ground and sky marking and provided a spoof of fighter flares 25 miles from the target. Heavy flak was as usual unseen but felt and may have been predicted as well as in barrage form. Three crews bombed alternative targets. Conditions were very bad on return with cloud base at a few hundred feet. F/O Russell-Fry broke cloud at 300 ft to 400 ft but visibility was very bad and he suddenly saw the ground 50 ft below. He opened up the throttles but the aircraft touched down in a ploughed field near Barton. None of the crew were injured. W/O Frost failed to take off and F/S Campbell failed to return. All others landed at base except F/S McMahon who landed at Kirmington and F/O Churchill who was diverted to Lindholme.
For this attack on Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 483 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos on the main raid and 5 further Mosquitos dropped decoy fighter flares south of Berlin. The bomber route again led directly to Berlin across Holland and Northern Germany and there were no major diversions. The German controllers plotted the course of the bombers with great accuracy; many German fighters were met at the coast of Holland and further fighters were guided on to the bomber stream throughout the approach to the target. More fighters were waiting at the target and there were many combats. The bombers shook off the opposition on the return flight by taking a northerly route over Denmark. 25 Lancasters, 5.2 per cent of the Lancaster force, were lost. Many further aircraft were lost on returning to England. Berlin was cloud-covered but the Pathfinder skymarking was reasonably accurate and much of the bombing fell in the city. In the city centre, the National Theatre and the building housing Nazi military and political archives were both destroyed. The damage to the Berlin railway system and to rolling stock, and the large numbers of people still leaving the city, were having a cumulative effect upon the transportation of supplies to the Russian Front; 1,000 wagon-loads of war material were held up for 6 days. The sustained bombing had now made more than a quarter of Berlin's total living accommodation unusable. On their return to England, many of the bombers encountered very low cloud at their bases. The squadrons of 1, 6 and No 8 Groups were particularly badly affected. 29 Lancasters (and a Stirling from the minelaying operation) either crashed or were abandoned when their crews parachuted. The group with heaviest losses was No 1 Group with 13 aircraft lost; the squadron with heaviest losses was 97 Squadron, No 8 Group, with 7 aircraft lost.
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Lancaster – JB670
This machine was lost on its 3rd operation. See below :-
26-Nov-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB670 – F/S V Richter - Combat with twin engined night fighter. Rear gunner replied. Enemy aircraft burst into flames. Claimed as probable. Diverted to Middleton St George.
03-Dec-43 – Leipzig – Lancaster – JB670 – P/O L Young
16-Dec-43 – Berlin – Lancaster – JB670 – F/S V Richter - Collision on departure. Collided with LM332 of 576 Squadron soon after take off and crashed at Ulceby.
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Further info on the Ulceby War Memorial website here
Item written by David Fell. Photos courtesy of Australian War Memorial, the Law family and Rob Moriarty.
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