Personnel Index - Detail
21/22 February, 1945; GRAVENHORST (MITTELLAND CANAL):
A force of 165 Lancasters led by 12 Mosquitoes (all 5 Group) sallied forth once again in an attempt to breach the Mittelland Canal. This time in clear visibility the attack was successful. Of the 165 Lancasters sent to Gravenhorst, 13 had failed to return and two of those were from 49 Squadron. F/O Mallinson (PB568) and crew flying their 35th operation were posted missing... a severe blow to the Squadron's morale.
A few weeks later, much to everyone’s relief, six of Mallinson's crew were reported as being PoWs. It appears however, that Eberley and Makofski managed to evade capture. The one unfortunate crew member to lose his life was F/Sgt John Gascoyne A/G; he is buried in the Reichwald War Cemetery.
Lancaster PB568 (EA-Y)
F/O R. Mallinson Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt E. Stansill F/E (P.o.W.)
P/O H. Eberley RCAF NAV (Evaded)
F/S M.H. Makofski W/OP (Evaded)
P/O F.E. Grimsdale A/G (P.o.W.)
F/S Le Marquand B/A (P.o.W.)
F/S J.P. Gascoyne A/G (Killed)
The majority of the crew were on their 35th operation.
F/S Le Marquand (B/A) completed 20 operations........the final 9 with F/O Mallison whose crew he joined at the end of December 1944 (replacing F/Sgt McHeffey)
The diary of evader Max Makofski (and other evasion documents) can be viewed via Max Makofski's page.