THE COST

BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY

The supreme sacrifice. The grave of Pilot Officer W.S.Williams, RAF(VR) captain of Short Stirling Mk.III HA-X, which failed to return from the Berlin raid of August 24th/25th 1943. The two graves on the left are that of the crew's airgunners, Flight Sergeant A.A.Hadiken, RCAF and Sergeant H.F.Hooper, RAF(VR).

"An example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled and never surpassed. "

THE VICTOR & THE VANQUISHED

Figure 1

Major Walter Ehle, of II./NJG1. Shot down Stirling Mk.III EH887 HA-Z on the night of May 26th 1943.

Figure 2

The smiling crew of Short Stirling Mk.III EH887 HA-S of No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.

The crew of EH887 joined No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron during April 1943. They were a typical mixed bunch like so many in Bomber Command, four Englishmen, a New Zealander, and a Canadian. The captian of the crew, Sergeant Norman Sidney Collins, a 22 year old Londoner had successfully flown four operations. The first three operations were flown as a 2nd pilot, with the squadrons Flight Commanders, Squadron Leader Beck & Squadron Leader Sly. The crews first operation was flown on May 13th against Bochum, while over the target their aircraft was hit by heavy flak in both elevators. On the fateful night of May 26th 1943, the crew took off from R.A.F. Downham Market at 00:15hrs and headed towards Dussledorf, accompanying the crew was Sergeant Bennett, a newly arrived pilot. The exact details surrounding the loss of EH887 are unclear, what is known is that over Duren the above crew were attacked and shot down by Major Ehle. The sole survivor, Sergeant Bennett was on his first operation.

FLIGHT SERGEANT DAVIS, 408278 R.A.A.F.

Figure 1

Flight Sergeant Davis, 408278 R.A.A.F.

Flight Sergeant William Arthur Mathias Davis, a 31 year old married man from Victoria, Australia. Flight Sergeant Davis was the captain of Short Stirling Mk.III BK.688 HA-A which failed to return from an operation against Wuppertal/Barmen on the night of Saturday 29th/ Sunday 30th May 1943. The crew was shot down and killed on their fifth operation by Lt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of II./NJG 1 at 02:00hrs over Schaffen Airfield, Belgium.

Figure 2

The original graves of the crew from BK.688

RECOVERED PARTS OF BK.688

REMAINS OF VICKERS WELLINGTON Mk.Ic R.1326 HA-G

A German sentry stands guard over the shattered remains of Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic R.1326 HA-G

Bound for Bremen, Germany on March 12th/13th 1941, Flying Officer William Peter Crosse, RAF fell victim to Feldwebel Hans Rasper of IV./NJG1 at 21:45hrs. The stricken bomber crashed into Gouwe Sloot near Opperdoes, Holland. Four of the six-man crew were killed including Flying Officer Crosse.

Flying Officer Crosse had joined the squadron in June 1940 and carried out a number of operations in the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV bomber. On two occasions his aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire while attacking German Barge concentrations. On converting to the Vickers Wellington he carried out a further seven operation before his death. In September 1972 the wreckage of R.1326 was recovered by the Royal Netherlands Airforce.