I am researching my family's past and am looking for information on my Grandfather, James William Love (Flight Sargeant Air Gnr). I know he was with the 78 Squadron in Beighton, that he was shot down near Westum and has a headstone at Rheinberg (10. C. 5). I know they were flying Halifax's out of Beighton at that time, but I know very little else about him/the squadron at that time.
I think he had a best friend called Idris (last name unknown) who I think I have a photo of. The story I have (that he was told) is that my Dad's middle name was Idris as my grandfather and Idris stopped at the pub on the way to the registry office!
It's probably too much to think that there is still someone alive who remembers him, but anything anyone has would be really helpful. Sadly, my Dad was only two when he died and only ever got little pieces of information from his mother before she died.
your grandfather was lost on the Nuremberg raid (Bomber Commands biggest loss of the war). Details below from W.R Chorley's BCL 1944:-
30/31 March 1944
78 Sqn Halifax III LK762 EY-Z Op: Nuremberg
T/o 2215 Breighton. Shot down from 22,000 feet by a night-fighter, on the long outward leg and crashed near Westum in the southern outskirts of Sinzig. Those who perished now rest in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Hi - further info for you the c/s of this particular aircraft was "Rothman Z~Zebra"
Tony H
Ex 78 Sqn History Officer
30th / 31st March 1944: Halifax Mk III - LK762 EY-Z
?Rothman Z ~Zulu?
Information
Built by Fairey Aviation (Stockport) This particular aircraft was delivered to 78 Sqn between 20th January and 16th February 1944
The crew were briefed to attack Nuremburg. The ATD of the aircraft from RAF Breighton, Yorkshire was 2215
Two other 78 Sqn aircraft were lost on this operation; HX241EY-P ?Rothman P~Popsie? & LV899/EY-Q ?Rothman Q~Queenie?
On the outbound flight, LK762/EY-Z was shot down from 22,000ft by a night-fighter. The aircraft crashed near Westum located in the southern outskirts of Sinzig
PilotSgt R.A. Horton +
Flight EngineerSgt J.H. Connolley POW
NavigatorSgt J. Ord +
Bomb AimerF/O R.D. Holland POW
Wireless OperatorSgt C.V. Byatt +
Mid Upper GunnerSgt J.W. Love +
Rear GunnerSgt F.R. Wilson POW
Those killed are now buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Sgt Connolley was interned in Stalag 357 with Sgt Wilson. F/O Holland was held in Stalag Luft 1 (Barth Vogelsang)
NB: LK762/EY-Z was the first of 96 Bomber Command aircraft to be lost on this, the ?infamous? Nuremburg raid. This total rose to 103 with yet further aircraft crashes in England on their return flights
30th / 31st March 1944: Halifax Mk III - LK762 EY-Z
?Rothman Z ~Zulu?
Information
Built by Fairey Aviation (Stockport) This particular aircraft was delivered to 78 Sqn between 20th January and 16th February 1944
The crew were briefed to attack Nuremburg. The ATD of the aircraft from RAF Breighton, Yorkshire was 2215
Two other 78 Sqn aircraft were lost on this operation; HX241EY-P ?Rothman P~Popsie? & LV899/EY-Q ?Rothman Q~Queenie?
On the outbound flight, LK762/EY-Z was shot down from 22,000ft by a night-fighter. The aircraft crashed near Westum located in the southern outskirts of Sinzig
PilotSgt R.A. Horton +
Flight EngineerSgt J.H. Connolley POW
NavigatorSgt J. Ord +
Bomb AimerF/O R.D. Holland POW
Wireless OperatorSgt C.V. Byatt +
Mid Upper GunnerSgt J.W. Love +
Rear GunnerSgt F.R. Wilson POW
Those killed are now buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Sgt Connolley was interned in Stalag 357 with Sgt Wilson. F/O Holland was held in Stalag Luft 1 (Barth Vogelsang)
NB: LK762/EY-Z was the first of 96 Bomber Command aircraft to be lost on this, the ?infamous? Nuremburg raid. This total rose to 103 with yet further aircraft crashes in England on their return flights
