Remembering Today 15/7/44 Frederick Holbrook DFC, RAFVR

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by La-de-da-Gunner Graham, Jul 15, 2012.

  1. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Remembering today:
    Frederick Holbrook
    Flying Officer 158423
    RAFVR, 156 Squadron
    Died: 15/7/1944
    Buried: Ancerville
    Son of William Alfred and Frances Mildred Holbrook, of Shirley, Warwickshire.
    Awards: DFC

    :poppy: Remembered with honour.
    Casualty
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 5, 2019
  2. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    An Aussie on board so some detail of the loss here.

    RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
    IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

    412304 Flight Lieutenant ROBINSON, Harry George Mason DFC

    Source:

    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/36/311 Micro Film No 463 OAFH
    Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses
    of the Second World War, Page 330, Volume 1944.
    Aircraft Type: Lancaster
    Serial number: PA 984
    Radio call sign: GT – Q
    Unit: ATTD 156 SQN RAF

    Summary:

    Lancaster PA984 took off from RAF Upwood at 2201 hours on the night of 14/15th July
    1944 detailed to attack rail facilities at Revigny, France, as Deputy Master Bomber.
    Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base.

    Crew :

    RAF Sqn Ldr Davies, G G DSO Captain (Pilot)
    RAF FO Debrock F C G (Flight Engineer))
    RAF FO H Coker, (Navigator)
    RAF FO Holbrook, F (Navigator 2)
    RAF Flt Lt Stevens K, (Visual Marker)
    RAAF 412304 Flt Lt Robinson. H G M DFC (Wireless Operator Air)
    RAF FO Lockwood, F J DFC (Mid Upper Gunner)
    RCAF FO Plantana, D D DFC (Rear Gunner)

    When in the vicinity of the target, the aircraft was hit by cannon fire from a night fighter,
    and it broke into two sections before crashing at 0157 hours near Ancerville (Meuse),
    20kmns south west of Bar-le-Duc. Six of the crew were killed and Sqn Ldr Davies and
    Flt Lt Stevens were POW’s.

    Five of those who died are buried in the Ancerville Communal Cemetery, France.

    Ancerville is a village and commune in the Department of the Meuse, 20kms south west
    of Bar-le-Duc and some east of St Dizier, a town on the N4 road from Paris to Nancy and
    on the Calais to Chaumont railway.

    The five airmen are the only Commonwealth Air
    Forces WW2 fatalities buried in the cemetery.

    FO Debrock who was Belgian born is buried in his home country. His name is presently
    commemorated solely by the data base record and register entry in The Maidenhead
    Register, UK. Those named within the Register were all non-Commonwealth foreign
    nationals who died while serving as members of Commonwealth Forces.

    Citation :

    The Citation for the DFC awarded to Flt Lt Robinson when attached to No76 Sqn RAF :
    “During his tour of operations, Flt Lt Robinson has been detailed to attack some of the
    heaviest defended targets in enemy territory. This officer has always shown a high degree
    of courage and skill and initiative and a fine fighting spirit. He possesses outstanding
    ability as a wireless operator and a strong sense of duty both in the air and on the ground.
    (London Gazette 15/10/1943, page 4561)”
     

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