Personnel Index - Detail
Sgt R J Mitchell and F/Sgt J Baker RAAF
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. The Fiskerton squadron had 15 aircraft airborne by 21.40hrs.
P/O Robert Montgomery and four fellow members of his crew are buried in Bure Churchyard, Meuse. The two gunners, F/Sgt Baker RAAF (rear gunner) and Sgt Mitchell (mid-upper) managed to parachute to safety.
Lancaster JB679 (EA-D)
P/O R. Montgomery Pilot (Killed)
Sgt R.J. Boyce F/E (Killed)
F/S S. Smith NAV (Killed)
Sgt T. Parkin W/AG (Killed)
Sgt R.J. Mitchell A/G (Evader)
P/O R.F. Cluff RCAF B/A (Killed)
F/S J. Baker RAAF A/G (P.o.W.)
Airman on his 9th operation
The initial "missing" telegram.
Notification that Sgt Baker was a PoW.
"Transferred" disguises the terrible journey endured by the PoWs.
Glad tidings at last.
(Information via Dom Howard)
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 the full combat report and English translation.
'Posted Out' in 2004.