Mission: Düsseldorf, Germany.
Date: 31st December 1942
Time: 20.15 hours.
Unit: No.83 P.F.F. Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Avro Lancaster I
Serial: W4799
Code: OL-S
Base: R.A.F. Wyton, Huntingdonshire.
Location: Between Demen and Ravenstein, Netherlands.
Pilot: P/O Leonard Thomas Jackson D.F.C. J/15950 R.C.A.F Age 21. Killed.
Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt David Smith 1008971 R.A.F.V.R. Age 28. Killed.
Nav: Fl/Lt. James McMillan 109159 R.A.F.V.R. Age 27. Killed.
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Basil Eldon Hargrove R/73175 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Chadwick Taylor 1034269 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed.
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Robert Brettle 1382448 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed.
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Daniel Crossthwaite R/127686 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
P/O Jackson and his crew were shot down by Hptm. Reinhold Knacke of I/NJG1.
Extract from No.83 Squadron ORB (Operational record Book) 30/31st December 1942.
New Years Eve and a stand down. Our ideas of a party received a rude shock at noon when we were told to stand by. N.F.T's were carried out in a hurry, as not much time had been left for bombing up. We were reverted to main force of eight aircraft on Duesseldorf. Met forecast gave hopes of pretty good cloud protection which somewhat eased the situation especially as No.109 Squadron were going to find the target. Met.forecast broke down, there being very little thin cloud about. The defences spotted the marker flares and put up a barrage around them using quantities of "spider web" flak. The flak was accurate but somehow no one was even holed! Crews considered that this type of attack would be a real success provided flares are clear of cloud by about 3000 ft. That they can be above the flares, that the flares cannot be seen from the ground and that a fair size force be concentrated, (when used on heavily defended targets) even though the whole force cannot use the flares.
In spite of all these draw backs the attack appears to have been successful and all crews showed much intelligence in allowing for position errors when bombing. No photo flashes were carried as the Met forecast was not suitable. P/O. Jackson D.F.C. failed to return and he and his crew will be sadly missed. They are believed to have been shot down over Holland by a fighter and it seems had a fair chance of leaving the aircraft before it crashed. P/O Jackson was a favourite of the Squadron and his loss is sorely felt. He and his crew made a good example of co-operation and friendliness as well as determination!
View the full remembrance page here
It is also worth mentioning that previously on the 31st July/1st August 1942, again on a raid to Duesseldorf P/O. Jackson with members of this crew were hit by heavy flak over the target area. Port and starboard engines failed at 6000 feet. Hydraulics U/S, aircraft had to make the return trip at a steady 6000 feet and returned safely.
Details of D.F.C. P/O. Jackson - London Gazette 20th November 1942:
One night in July 1942, Pilot Officer Jackson was pilot of a four engined bomber detailed to attack the heavily defended town of Düsseldorf. While making his attack, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and severely damaged. The port and starboard outer engines were put out of action but displaying expert airmanship, Pilot Office Jackson manoeuvred his aircraft way from the target area.
On the return journey, he lost height until he was down to 6000 feet, when his aircraft was again engaged by searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, but by skilful evasive tactics, he was able to continue on his course and make a successful forced landing at his home base. Since this hazardous trip, Pilot Officer Jackson has taken part in many successful operations. By his high morale and fine conduct, both in the air and on the ground, he has set a valuable example.
Burial details:
Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Update: Saturday 14th January 2012 via Ray Brettle.
I had an interesting and somewhat emotional meeting on Saturday at the RAF museum-with Ian Robertson and his wife. He is the son of the Flight engineer Sgt D. Smith-who was lost with my Uncle and the crew. He changed his name in later years to Robertson. He knew very little of his Dad-so I was at least able to fill him in with some of the details-that at least I knew and pointed him in the right direction-to find out more if he wanted to. He said his Dad had originally been a RAF ground engineer/instructor-"somewhere near Aylesbury"-so from that I deduced and have assumed he may have been a "Halton brat"-or indeed trainer of brats!!
He then volunteered as aircrew and as we now know was lost on 31st December.1942. He doesnt appear as a regular name as part of the crew in the ORB-but did four or five trips with them at least. He may therefore have been a "spare bod" -or even the Squadron senior Flt. engineer without a regular crew?
Ian was only 5 months old when his Father died-and his mother later re married (although she is amazingly still alive and living in Scotland-so he is going to try and find out anything more that he can from here-if she is able to remember etc.) We met in front of the Lancaster R5868 -in which both his Dad and Les did one trip on 8/9th September.1942.Gives you a slightly eerie feeling knowing that your family member had flown in that very same aircraft on ops.
