This was a bad night for 619 Sqn as they lost 6 aircraft in this attack. The aircraft was hit by flak and it crashed into the Rhine between a road bridge and the rail bridge at Duisburg. All of the crew were recovered and they are buried in Reichswald War Cemetery.
you may already have the following info from Bill Chorley's BCL:-
21-22 Jun 1944
619 Sqn Lancaster III ND986 PG-S Op: Wesseling
T/o 2324 Dunholme Lodge. Hit by flak and fell into the Rhine between a road bridge and a rail bridge at Duisberg. All bodies were recovered and interred at Düsseldorph in the Nordfriedhof. Their graves are now in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Although by no means unique, it was unusual to have three Commonwealth and Dominion air forces represented in one crew.
F/O K E Crawford RAAF +
Sgt W A Loose +
F/Sgt G N Rackley +
F/O K A Galloway RNZAF +
Sgt A R Ward +
Sgt T E G Howe RCAF +
Sgt J Cutting +
The link below has info regarding F/O Galloway RNZAF:-
Mikes info is that Hptm Ernst-Wilhelm Modrow, a nightfighter pilot, put in a claim for the shooting down of Lancaster ND986. On the following link, there is a lot about the loss of this aircraft, including a copy of the original target map. Just scroll down until you find the story of Sgt A Ward.
many thanks for your quick reply and the invaluable imformation you supplied,it is greatly appreciated.If you do think of any other imfo that might make a bigger picture of the situation the airman found themselves in or any imfo on the opperations at duneholme airfield, again it will be of imence interest.
Thank you so much for the imformation supplied it goes a long way to forming the picture of what and how it happend.All the imformation supplied is of a great help.If you do think of any thing that could be of interest i would be very grateful.
Modrow would survive the war and finish with 33 night victories. I do have a photo of him if you would like a scan of it contact me off board on harleyDOT158ATbigpondDOTcom replace the DOT and AT with the usual.
