Personnel Index - Detail

Name
YEATES
First Names
Lawrence John
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1057877
Crew Position
Wireless operator/Air Gunner
Age
26
Date of Death
31/05/1942
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke
Part of the panel at Runnymede
 

The Runnymede image was created by artist Paul Reid using photographs taken by Jo Cockburn and Malcolm Brooke

30/31 May, 1942; COLOGNE (THE FIRST 1,000 BOMBER RAID):

The Squadron was able to detail 13 aircraft, but 1 became unserviceable and had to be withdrawn. The maximum effort required resulted in 83 Squadron borrowing 3 Manchesters from 49's Conversion Flight. With a full moon beginning to rise, 49's Manchesters (along with 13 Lancasters from 83 Squadron) started taking off from Scampton at 22.50hrs. A record 1,047 aircraft were dispatched, of which sadly, a record 41 failed to return.
P/O John Carter (L7429) and crew came down in the North Sea. The crew remain officially 'missing without trace'; they are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Manchester L7429
P/O J.P. Carter Pilot (Missing)
F/S D. Block 2nd Pilot (Missing)
Sgt G.C. Haynes NAV (Missing)
Sgt L.J. Yeates W/AG (Missing)
Sgt M.S. Ash A/G (Missing)
Sgt A.G. Welch RAAF A/G (Missing)
Sgt J.C. Ramsey A/G (Missing)