To Martin,

Date: Oct 17, 2010

622 Squadron Lancaster HK769 2nd March 1945

k4kittycrew · Squadron Leader

To Martin,

These details come from Chorleys Bomber Command Losses.

Lancaster HK769 Information

Type	Lancaster
Serial Number	HK769
Squadron	622
X1D	GI-D
Operation	Cologne
	2nd March 1945

Further Information

"Serial Range HK535 - HK806 This aircraft weas one of 200 lancasters ordered from Vickers Armstrongs (Castle Bromwich) as Mk.11s Sep41, changed to Mk.111s Feb43, but built as Mk.1s from Oct43 to Feb45. Up to HK773 had Merlin 22 engines initially installed, and all subsequent models with Merlin 24 engines. HK769 was delivered to 622 Sqdn 8Feb45. Took part in the following key Operations: Essen 11Mar45-Daylight; Dortmund 26Feb45; Cologne 2Mar45-daylight-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 56 hours. Airborne 1301 from Mildenhall as part of the second-wave attack on this city, using G-H. Hit by Flak and presumed crashed in the target area. all are buried in the Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium. F/O Ray's father Lt William Ray MM had been killed while serving with the Home Guard 19Jun44. He was 58 years old and is buried in Lewisham (Hither Green) Cemetery where his CWGC Register entry indicates he was formerly QMS of the 2nd Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry in which he served with honour between 1914 and 1918. F/O M.E.M Ray KIA Sgt W.J.Ormshaw KIA F/O C.P.Boyle RCAF KIA F/s D.G.Lewis KIA F/S G.R.Conley RAAF KIA Sgt P.S.Armitage KIA P/O E.B.Boyce RCAF KIA Sgt W.F.Heywood KIA

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www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/mar45.html

2 March 1945

858 aircraft - 531 Lancasters, 303 Halifaxes, 24 Mosquitos - raided Cologne in 2 waves. 6 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes were lost and 1 Halifax crashed in Belgium. The first raid was carried out by 703 aircraft and the second by 155 Lancasters of No 3 Group. In the second raid, however, only 15 aircraft bombed, because the G-H station in England was not working correctly. The main raid was highly destructive, with the Pathfinders marking in clear weather conditions. This was the last RAF raid on Cologne, which was captured by American troops 4 days later.

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Regards,

John

wayne · Flight Lieutenant

Martin,

Further to Johns post, I can add the following from the NAA.

"The aircraft was flying in formation and was observed to have recieved a direct hit by enemy flak. The damage sustained was very severe, and the aircraft was last seen going down out of control. There is little likelihood that any member of the crew survived".

No.2 MREU have the crash site is listed as Pulheim.

As yet I haven't had chance to look that location up.
I'll post anything else that turns up.

Regards,
Wayne.

Date: Jan 12, 2012

I have more info. Mail me at shockaz182@hotmail.com. E.B. Boyce was my Great Uncle. My Family has more info including a book that was written by an English relative of a 622 squadron member. I will put you in touch with my Father who has more info after your reply. Hope to hear from you soon!

Date: Jan 12, 2012

Not much to add save for the listings in They Shall Grow Not Old ...

Boyce, Ernest Bertin P/O (AG) J94382/R198711 From Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. KIA Mar. 2/45 age 22. #622 Squadron (Bellamus Noctu) Lancaster a/c HK 769 missing during Ops against Cologne. F/Os C.P. Boyle, M.E.M. Ray (RAF), Sgts. P.S. Armitage (RAF), W.F. Heywood (RAF), W,J. Ormshaw (RAF) and F/S. D.G. Lewis (RAF) were also killed. Pilot Officer Air Gunner Boyce is buried in the War Cemetery, Hotton, Luxembourg, Belgium.

Boyle, Clair Patrick F/O (N) J40730 from Newcastle, New Brunswick. KIA age 22. Flying Officer Navigator Boyle is buried in the same War Cemetery as cited above.

Date: Mar 2, 2020

I see it's been years since anyone has posted here, so I'm hopeful someone still monitors the posts. I'm just wanting to try and find the family and/or interested parties of a photo my sister had of an RCAF airman. I have no reference to verify his identity other than what is written on the back. It say's "P/O Richard E. Prune NAV.-SR.-SP-GP. J40730 R.C.A.F". I could not find any reference to the name Richard Prune, however, the service number referenced is for F/O C.P. Clair Patrick Boyle's who was part of this squadron.

The only other information I can offer about the photo is that we believe he is someone my mother or her sister may have dated back then.

Click the link to see the photo. https://photos.app.goo.gl/oQVVpph2Yy2BHQUg7

Rob - rey.ahtbor@gmail.com