Personnel Index - Detail

Name
BERRETT
First Names
Eric Albert
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1181332
Crew Position
Wireless Operator
Age
22
Date of Death
28/08/1942
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke
 

28/29 August, 1942; NUREMBERG:

On Friday night, 28 August, the squadron had 10 Lancasters airborne by 21.30hrs all destined for Nuremberg in southern Germany. Over Nuremberg, Pathfinders used 'target indicators' for the first time, to mark the aiming point. Approaching from the south, the squadron's crews were able to make fixes from the river, canal and autobahn which were clearly visible in the bright moonlight. The town received only moderate damage despite the accuracy of the markers. Again, the force suffered heavy losses with the Wellington Squadrons bearing the brunt of the casualties. From the 159 aircraft dispatched, 23 were reported missing - 14 Wellingtons, 4 Lancasters, 3 Stirlings and 2 Halifaxes.

Two of the missing Lancasters were from 49 Squadron:
F/O John Lowrie RNZAF (L7567) and crew were caught by a night fighter over Holland and were shot down at 00.10hrs. The aircraft crashed at Maasbracht, 6 miles from Roermond; sadly, five of the crew were killed and are buried in a collective grave in Mook War Cemetery, whilst Sgt's Allen and Gordon were initially reported as missing, but later confirmed as being PoWs.
These two aircraft were the first Lancasters to be lost by 49 Squadron. The remainder of the squadron returned safely.

Lancaster L7567
F/O J. Lowrie RNZAF Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J. Allen F/E (P.o.W.)
Sgt G.H. Gordon Nav/Ab (P.o.W.)
Sgt R.P. Dobson RAAF Nav/Ab (Killed)
F/S N.R. Mitchell RCAF W/Ag (Killed)
Sgt E.A. Berrett W/Op (Killed)
Sgt W.D. Peirce RAAF W/Ag (Killed)


We were contacted by Linda Dutton, a very distant relative of Sgt Eric Berrett (4th cousin, twice removed).
She was able to provide extra information and a photograph - sadly of poor quality.
However, the Association feels that both are worthy additions to Eric's webpage.

Eric (indicated) at his wedding in October 1941 (less than one year later, he was killed)
Close examination of the orginal image seems to show that Eric was in uniform - white Sgt stripes are visible


Image and details courtesy of the Faversham News (via Linda Dutton)