Personnel Index - Detail

Name
SIZER
First Names
Claude William Frank
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1600791
Crew Position
Wireless Operator
Age
20
Date of Death
27/04/1944
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Terry Atkinson




Photographed by Terry Atkinson

Sizer...Dickinson...Hainsworth...MacKenzie...Wale...Hudson...Ellenor



An almost complete crew photograph taken by 'Jack' Ellenor. Only Sgt Hainsworth is missing.
Left to right : 'Billy' Wale, 'Bob' Hudson, 'Jonny' Dickinson, 'Bill' Sizer and 'Mac' MacKenzie.
Known as the "Bad Penny Crew".



A sketch by Norman MacKenzie. Click to load a larger version in a new window.




From L to R: Sgt Hudson, Sgt Sizer, F/Sgt Wale, P/O Dickinson



Another image, it would appear, from the same day.

F/Sgt Wale is on the shoulders of W/O MacKenzie, Sgt Sizer is seated, Sgt Hudson is at the LHS and P/O Dickinson is at the RHS.
 

26/27 April, 1944; SCHWEINFURT:

Mosquitoes of 627 Squadron, Woodhall Spa, used 5 Group's low-level marking technique for the first time. The attempt was not accurate and much of the bombing fell outside Schweinfurt. Meanwhile, German night fighters had managed to penetrate the 215 strong main force taking a heavy toll; 21 Lancasters failed to return.

P/O John Dickinson and crew were lost. After surviving so many close calls in the earlier part of their tour, the 'reaper' finally got them on their 25th operation. Many on the squadron thought that Johnny Dickinson and crew, (who loved flying their Lancaster at very low-level on training flights) had been blessed with that precious bomber crew commodity 'luck', and were sure that they would get through their tour. Seven white headstones in a neat line mark where all seven lie at peace in Ugny-sur-Meuse Cemetery, France.
 

Lancaster LL908
P/O J.R. Dickinson Pilot (Killed)
Sgt R.B. Hainsworth F/E (Killed)
F/S F.W. Wale NAV (Killed)
Sgt C.W.F. Sizer W/OP (Killed)
W/O N.F. Mackenzie RCAF B/A (Killed)
Sgt J. Ellenor A/G (Killed)
Sgt R.H. Hudson DFM A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 25th operation



Part of the wreckage.......click this link for a larger version (in a new window)

Hauptman Helmut Bergmann of 8 NJG4 shot down three Lancasters in 11 minutes.

  • JB601 of 106Sqn: 26th kill at 00.50hrs
  • JB679 of 49Sqn: 27th kill at 00.57hrs
  • LL908 of 49sqn: 28th kill at 01.01hrs.

Interception was at an altitude of 12,000ft, near Ugny, 15kms SW of Toul.

It would appear that he used 'Schrage Musik' cannon to despatch these aircraft.

Click this link to view details of Hauptman Bergmann together with his combat report and English translation.
 

Since originally labelled, W/O Mackenzie (first in line), F/Sgt Wale (the shortest member) and Sgt Ellenor (2nd from the right) have been identified.

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Click this link to view a larger copy in a new window