Pathfinder Losses on 16/17 December 1943

Funeral for 405 Squadron, Cambridge City Cemetery, 22 December 1943. 22 Pathfinders were buried there in a single day, the majority of them from the RAAF and the RCAF. Image courtesy of Bill Bessent (who lost his twin brother, Bob) and Jane Pilling-Cormack.

On 16/17 December, the following Pathfinder crews were involved in fatal accidents after returning from that night’s operation against Berlin; the accidents were due to dense fog, low cloud, petrol shortage and landing difficulties.

83 SQUADRON, based at Wyton

MCLEAN CREWPO F F McLean RAAFInjured
Sgt H DayInjured
FSgt R A Lindsay RNZAFInjured
FSgt V G Tankard RAAFKilled
Sgt J HendersonInjured
FSgt L E FaithornInjured
Sgt C C ReidInjured

97 SQUADRON, based at Bourn

SCOTT CREWFSgt I M Scott RAAFKilled
Sgt C W CollinshawKilled
Sgt S J Peek DFMKilled
Sgt D R Irving RCAFKilled
Sgt K E Foxcroft RAAFKilled
Sgt C L Hope RCAFKilled
Sgt S G ParrottKilled
MACKENZIE CREWS/Ldr D F MacKenzie DFCKilled
PO J T Pratt DFMKilled
FSgt R F MarshallInjured
FO W A Colson DFMKilled
FSgt A HunterInjured
FSgt W A Lang RAAFInjured
FSgt K L KirbyInjured
THACKWAY CREWFO E ThackwayKilled
Sgt G GrundyKilled
Sgt J PowellKilled
PO L K A Grant RCAFKilled
Sgt P H MackInjured
Sgt R A LawrenceKilled
Sgt L N LaverNot injured
KIRKWOOD CREWPO J KirkwoodKilled
FSgt E G HubbardKilled
Sgt R C StewartKilled
FO G A WigleyKilled
Sgt R G CleeveKilled
Sgt L MadeleyKilled
Sgt J KillenKilled
DEVERILL CREWS/Ldr E A Deverill DFC AFC DFMKilled
FSgt A RussellKilled
PO J T BrownKilled
FSgt F R FarrKilled
FSgt R Crossgrove DFM RNZAFKilled
WO Benbow DFMInjured
WO D J Penfold DFMKilled

156 SQUADRON, based at Warboys

WATKINS CREWFSgt W H WatkinsKilled
Sgt H A HadlowKilled
Sgt C H ReeveKilled
Sgt J BeeverKilled
Sgt J A WatsonKilled
Sgt E W CrouchKilled
Sgt L F DarlisonInjured

405 SQUADRON, based at Gransden Lodge

MCLENNAN CREWFO B A McLennan RCAFKilled
Sgt H L CornwallKilled
FO W F Sheppard RCAFKilled
Sgt G R Schneider RCAFKilled
Sgt F HalliwellKilled
Sgt M F V Roobroeck RCAFKilled
WO2 S H Nutting DFM RCAFInjured
ALLAN CREWFLt W C Allan RCAFDied of Injuries, 28/12/43
Sgt A E S KiffInjured
FO D H Stamers RCAFKilled
PO C M Collier RCAFKilled
Sgt K S JoslynInjured
Sgt G L Strang RCAFKilled
Sgt J C Egan RCAFInjured
DREW CREWFO E B Drew RCAFInjured
Sgt W CorriganKilled
FSgt V Mienert RAAFKilled
FSgt  H M Saunders RCAFKilled
WO2 W L Dobson RCAFKilled
Sgt H R Bessent RCAFKilled
Sgt L A McCrea RCAFNot injured

Funeral for 97 Squadron, Cambridge City Cemetery, 22 December 1943. From the album of Squadron Leader Hind.