Lancaster W4927 damaged by flak, returned to Breighton airfield.

On the night of 20th / 21st April 1943 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Stettin and left Breighton at 21.31hrs, the target area was well marked by the PFF and this crew reported clear skies during their bombing at 01.08hrs from 12,000ft. The aircraft landed safely at 06.11hrs at Breighton but the aircraft was hit by light flak in the starboard wing and the rear turret though the crew were able to make the return trip without apparent incident. This crew were later posted to 156 Squadron in May 1943.

Pilot - Sgt Walter Henry Rose RAAF (405605).

Navigator - Sgt James Eli Foley RAFVR (1237424).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Maxwell Morley Patrick RAAF (412028).

? - Sgt William Anderson RAFVR (1329902),

? - Sgt J V Sullivan RAF.

Air Gunner - Sgt R J Longmore RAF.

Air Gunner - Sgt Richard Henry Gee RAAF (408220).

Lancaster W4927 was built to contract B.69275/40 by Metropolitan Vickers Ltd. at Trafford Park and was delivered to A.V.Roe and Co. Ltd. at Woodford for assembly on 27th February 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 10th March 1943. As a result of battle damage on 21st April 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 15th May 1943 460 Squadron moved to Binbrook and W4927 followed on 22nd May 1943 once repaired. On 28th August 1943 it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 460 Squadron charge on 8th September 1943. On 23rd October 1943 the aircraft sustained flak damage and was also hit by incendiary bombs falling from above during an operational flight on Kassel. Cat.B/FB damage was the initial damage assessment but on 31st January 1943 it was further assessed as Re.Cat.E and was struck off charge.
On 23rd November 1943 Rose, Anderson and Patrick were all flying together in Lancaster JB223 on Ops to Berlin. The aircraft was badly damaged by flak and later exploded in the air with the loss of the whole crew. A large part of the aircraft fell into the Havel See, Konradshohe, with other sections falling across the town. The Post-War wargraves investigation unit detailed their work in attempting to locate the bodies and graves of this crew and their investigation is found on the NAA website. This report stated that two of the crew had attempted to bale out but had died soon after being captured. The bodies of five of the crew were found across the town and buried locally, the investigation team located their seven graves in Doberitz Cemetery but it was not possible to identify all the remains. The team also found witnesses who located and recovered the body of the eighth member of the crew in July 1944 who's body was trapped in the front fuselage section of the Lancaster which had fallen into the Havel See and he was buried in Elsgrund Cemetery. All eight members of this crew therefore had graves and were technically not missing. The Wargraves team were only able to locate the seven graves in Doberitz Cemetery but only three of the bodies were identifiable, the unknowns were re-interred in Berlin War Cemetery in graves marked as "unknown", all three are therefore commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The body of the eighth airman, believed to have been buried in Elsgrund Cemetery was not located and he is also listed on the Runnymede Memorial, he was probably Maxwell Patrick RAAF who would have been in the nose of the aircraft being the bomb aimer. During the investigations a watch was found in the graves and returned to Walter Rose's family in Australia.
Maxwell Patrick was born on 8th June 1916 in New South Wales and enlisted into the RAAF in Sydney. He was awarded the DFC for his service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted well after his death on 20th April 1945 but with effect of 22nd November 1943.
Walter Rose was born on 31st December 1920 in Cloncurry, Queensland and when he enlisted into the RAAF on 28th April 1941 in Brisbane he was working as an electrical apprentice. After basic training he was awarded his Wings on 16th January 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 12 (P)AFU, 27 OTU and 1656 CU before posting to 460 Squadron on 14th March 1943. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on 24th May 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th October 1943.
Richard Gee was born on 10th November 1921 in Launceston, Tasmania and enlisted into the RAAF in Hobart.
James Foley joined the RAFVR in 1941 and was working as a wages clerk in Conisborough near Doncaster. After basic training he then trained at 30 OTU and 1662 CU before being posted to 460 Squadron and flew four operational flights with them. He was posted to 156 Squadron and flew with them until September 1943. He later served at 23 OTU, 21 OTU and 69 Squadron with whom he flew until a posting to 1655 MTU in August 1944. He flew his first Pathfinder operational flight with 139 Squadron PFF with F/Lt Henderson as his regular pilot, both men were then posted to 608 Squadron PFF. He was granted a commission in the RAFVR on 22nd December 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation, he was awarded the DFC for service with 608 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th January 1945 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 22nd July 1945. His medal set sold at auction in April 2013.
William Anderson received a commission on 20th August 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. He was awarded the DFC well after his death, Gazetted on 20th April 1945 but with effect from 22nd November 1943.

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