Crew of JB472 on last mission:
(Click on Service No. to display crew member details)
| Service No. |
Rank |
Initials |
Surname |
Unit |
Disposition |
|
409356 |
W/O |
R.R. |
WICKS |
RAAF |
Killed |
|
420351 |
F/Sgt |
N. |
MACDONALD |
RAAF |
POW |
|
411685 |
F/Sgt |
N.J. |
EDMONDS |
RAAF |
Killed |
|
1432681 |
Sgt |
P.E. |
WELLS |
RAF |
Killed |
|
416296 |
W/O |
R.K. |
THOMAS |
RAAF |
Killed |
|
21442 |
P/O |
R.E. |
INGLIS |
RAAF |
Killed |
|
403616 |
W/O |
K.A. |
WOOD |
RAAF |
Killed |
According to the 156 Squadron
Operations Record Book (ORB), W/O Wicks and crew flew their first
mission with Squadron on 23/11/1943 to Berlin, closely followed by
another mission to Berlin on the 26/11/43 and then their final
mission, also to Berlin on the 2/12/1943. A total of only nine days
with the Squadron.
On the second mission P/O J. V. Scrivener substituted for the
regular 2nd Navigator W/O Thomas.
Their final mission, to Berlin, on the
2/12/1943 took off from Warboys at 17:12, and crashed near
Fallingbostel where those who died were first buried. Since 1945,
their remains have been interred in Becklingen War Cemetery.
Although not unique, it was unusual to find a near all Australian
crew flying with a non-RAAF squadron. (details from Chorley's Bomber Command
Losses)
There was only one survivor from the
loss, F/Sgt Norman McDonald. who was captured and held in
Stalag IV-B, one of the largest POW camps in Germany.
The partial crew photo show them standing in front of JA697,
which they flew to Berlin on 26/11/43. This aircraft, JA697 with
F/Lt Staniland as captain was lost on the same mission to
Berlin on the 2/12/193. Quite an unfortunate coincidence!
