I am trying to find more details about my mother's elder brother Arthur James Cousins. CGWC website tells me that he was a sergeant (1430231)in RAFVR 460 squadron and died on 20 April 1943. Any help in adding to these meagre facts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster W4325; Place - Slagelse, Zealand, Denmark; Date - 20 April 1943 Other crew - 460 (RAAF) SQN McGLINCHY, Francis - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 412633 RAAF HOGBEN, Reginald Stanley - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 416574 RAAF POMFRET, John – (Sergeant); Service Number – 966164 RAF BOLAND, Thomas – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1558122 RAF SMITH, Reginald Ernest – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1293036 RAF COUSINS, Arthur James – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1430231 RAF DIXON, Herbert Edwin – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1810602 RAF Four other RAF members of this SQN lost their lives on that date, but I don't know if they were part of this crew (Three were on Lancaster W4956 & one was on Lancaster W4330).
Six members of 460sq lost their lives on the 20/04/1943 and are remembered at Runnymede while another five lost their lives on the 21/04/1943. Looking at the other 460sq members will possibly align the other RAF lads into that Aircraft DOLLAR, RALPH EDMUND Flying Officer 416552 460sq 20/04/1943 30 HOGBEN, REGINALD STANLEY Flight Sergeant 416574 460sq 20/04/1943 20 KING, ROBERT SAMUEL Flight Sergeant 409146 460sq 20/04/1943 21 MACKENZIE, PETER MURCHISON Flight Sergeant 411469 460sq 20/04/1943 23 McGLINCHY, FRANCIS Flight Sergeant 412633 460sq 20/04/1943 23 PRIDGEON, WALTER FRANK Flight Sergeant 409221 460sq 20/04/1943 20 The latter five are buried in Esbjerg (Fourfelf) Cemetery in Denmark. FINNANE, BRIAN Flight Sergeant 413482 460sq 21/04/1943 22 HARVEY, BRUCE HAROLD Flight Sergeant 412957 460sq 21/04/1943 21 JAMES, KENNETH Flight Sergeant 408656 460sq 21/04/1943 23 MAHONEY, EDWARD ALAN Flying Officer 405921 460sq 21/04/1943 21 MUIR, BRUCE MONTAGUE Flight Sergeant 409175 460sq 21/04/1943 20 Cheers Geoff
It wasn't a good night for 460SQN, at least 2 aircraft lost - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster W4956; Place - Fehmarn Island, Baltic Sea (Target Stettin, Germany); Date - 20 April 1943 DOLLAR, Ralph Edmund - (Flying Officer); Service Number - 416552 RAAF KING, Robert Samuel - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 409146 RAAF MacKENZIE, Peter Murchison - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 411469 RAAF PRIDGEON, Walter Frank - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 409221 RAAF SOLLY, Frederick Albert – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1384232 RAF WILLIS, Charles Albert – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1394695 RAF CHAPMAN, Russell Jesse – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1522573 RAF
Make that at least 3 aircraft lost - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster W4330; Place - Vestbirk, Denmark; Date - 21 April 1943 FINNANE, Brian - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 413482 RAAF HARVEY, Bruce Harold - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 412957 RAAF JAMES, Kenneth - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 408656 RAAF MAHONEY, Edward Alan - (Flying Officer); Service Number - 405921 RAAF MUIR, Bruce Montague - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 409175 RAAF SMITH, Ben – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1475502 RAF (CWGC 20/04/1943) MAYOH, William Dennis – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1128672 RAF (CWGC 21/04/1943)
It wasn't a good night for 460SQN, at least 2 aircraft lost - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Lancaster W4956; Place - Fehmarn Island, Baltic Sea (Target Stettin, Germany); Date - 20 April 1943 DOLLAR, Ralph Edmund - (Flying Officer); Service Number - 416552 RAAF KING, Robert Samuel - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 409146 RAAF MacKENZIE, Peter Murchison - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 411469 RAAF PRIDGEON, Walter Frank - (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 409221 RAAF SOLLY, Frederick Albert – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1384232 RAF WILLIS, Charles Albert – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1394695 RAF CHAPMAN, Russell Jesse – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1522573 RAF All are listed on the Runnymede memorial except MacKenzie (RAAF) who is buried at Kiel War Cemetery. Cheers Geoff
I am trying to find more details about my mother's elder brother Arthur James Cousins. CGWC website tells me that he was a sergeant (1430231)in RAFVR 460 squadron and died on 20 April 1943. Any help in adding to these meagre facts would be greatly appreciated. 20/21 April 1943 460 Squadron. Lancaster I W4325 UV-O Op. Stettin F/S. R S. Hogben RAAF + Sgt. A J. Cousins + Sgt. J. Pomfret + Sgt. T. Boland + Sgt. R E. Smith + Sgt. H E. Dixon + F/S. F. McGlinchy RAAF + Took off 2141 hrs Breighton. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Their average age was 22. Sgt. Smith was the son of Captain George Ernest Smith MC. BCL Vol.4 - Chorley. The Stettin raid of 20/21 April 1943 339 aircraft - 194 Lancasters, 134 Halifaxes, 11 Stirlings - ordered to attack Stettin. This raid, on a target more than 600 miles from England, proved to be the most successful attack beyond the range of Oboe during the Battle of the Ruhr. Visibility was good and the Pathfinder marking was carried out perfectly. 24 fires were still burning when a photographic reconnaissance aircraft flew over Stettin a day and a half later. 21 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 1 Stirling - lost, 6.2 per cent of the force.
Thanks to Dave, Smidge and Peter for all of this info. I have found a photo of the whole of 460 squadron lined up with one of their Lancasters taken in March 1943 (The Real Aeroplane Company - Breighton Aerodrome) Thanks again for your help.
