Personnel Index - Detail
Photographs courtesy of Michel Beckers from WWII Crashsite Research
From the panel at Runnymede
22/23 November, 1943; BERLIN:
Berlin had enjoyed only a few nights of peace before receiving its heaviest raid of the war so far. Over 760 bombers set out for the German capital - the majority were Lancasters but 50 Stirlings were making what was to be the type’s last raid into Germany.
With German night-fighters hampered by poor weather conditions on the ground, the bomber force made a virtual straight in and out attack. But despite this tenuous advantage given to the bombers, 26 of their number were still brought down. The total cloud cover did not prevent Berlin receiving an accurate attack which caused vast areas of destruction.
The squadron suffered the loss of yet another experienced crew, that of Canadian pilot F/O Cyril Cottingham. He and his crew are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial along with F/Lt George Bailey, the 2nd pilot; F/Lt Bailey was an American from Connecticut who had volunteered for the RCAF. F/Lt Bailey's own devastated crew were all returned to Swinderby HCU on the 25th November, where they would have to re-learn the ropes with a new skipper.
Missing JB368 (EA-G)
F/O C.M. Cottingham RCAF Pilot (Missing)
Sgt A.J. Mathieson F/E (Missing)
F/O R.B. Richard RCAF NAV (Missing)
Sgt G. Tabenor W/AG (Missing)
Sgt G.F.A.E.J. Falck A/G (Missing)
F/O M.W. Wright B/A (Missing)
F/S C.E. Byers RCAF A/G (Missing)
F/L G.C. Bailey (USA) RCAF 2nd Pilot (Missing)
Crew on their 17th operation