I just keep finding Family with R.A.F. connections, I think this is No 19. CWGC INFO: Fl/Sgt Victor Hugh BINCH ser. no. 1580691 death: 4/3/1945 No 227 Sq. Bur: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Any info on crew and mission would be appreciated. flyingshottsman
Details of the above loss ..... 3-4 March 1945 227 Squadron Lancaster I NG170 9J-S Op. Ladbergen Took off from Balderton at 1852 hours to bomb the Dortmund - Ems Canal near Ladbergen. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Altenberge. Crew. F/O. J M. Johnston RAAF + Sgt. P. Mahon. pow WO1. P D. Ross-Ross RCAF + F/S. V H. Binch + W/O. P J. Buckman RAAF + F/S. G A. Jeans. pow F/S. J B. Gayland. pow Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.6 - W R. Chorley. The target was the Ladbergen aqueduct which was breached in two places and put out of action.
With there being a couple of RAAF casualties if you need more background info to the loss it might be worth checking out any available files held by the National Archives of Australia (www.naa.gov.au). Just type Johnston's service number into the search field in the top RH corner of the main page. Being a casualty file it is best to read it from the highest number folio downwards as that is the folio that started the file. W/O. P J. Buckman RAAF + (BUCKMAN, PATRICK JOHN 428753 - no files digitised by NAA) F/O. J M. Johnston RAAF + (JOHNSTON, JAMES MALCOLMSON 427098 - casualty file has been digitised by NAA)
Just come across this page after a little research on my grandfather he was on the above flight G A jeans ... thought I would say hello and ask if you have anymore information on their crew . Many thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon Michael jeans
Hi Michael, The flight engineer, Sgt Mahon, survived this crash. Attached is his report on the circumstances of the loss. Regards, Dave
Many thanks Dave , I must admit I wasn't expecting a reply so soon. Totally new to this but have found a few things so far , photo of their plane in flight on this mission I believe. And the graves of the crew . Would you know how I would be able to locate the crash area ? Many thanks for replying. Michael
Hi Flyingshottsman , My grandfather was G A JEANS, also in the crew ,just found this site tonight , hope to hear back from you . Regards Michael
Michael, The town Mahon was speaking about was Altenberge. This was the place of first burial. As you can see they were exhumed and reburied at Reichswald on 4 May 1948. As far as the place the aircraft crash goes there may be a few clues. Usually the Luftwaffe showed up, kept the civvies out and moved the wreckage. This forum is full of stories like that. But as the local police are mentioned you may want to write to the "stadt arkiv" for Altenberge and ask them for a copy of the polizei report. Gemeinde Altenberge I've attached a copy of a report which is in the service file of the pilot. No information on crash site but will give you some idea of what was done post-war to ID and properly bury our dead. If you want to read the whole file, page 10 and page 31 are of interest. Sgt Mahon makes quite a few appearances: View digital copy Regards, Dave
Hi Dave, Many thanks for the information above very helpful and interesting. I am very grateful full . Many thanks and regards Michael
Hi Mick I remember dad telling me a few things when we went to visit the war graves of grandads crew. They were a mixed crew. Australians Canadians and British. I also believe it was supposed to be grandads last air raid to. He got a lot of info through the war graves commission. Speak soon mate Luke