Hi David,
LK632 was one of two 431 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this op (the target was Mannheim).
The following background to the op is from RAF Bomber Command Losses 1943 by W R Chorley:
The decision to reduce Berlin to a wasteland of rubble had long since been taken when operations were ordered for 18-19 November 1943. Already three heavy attacks, two in late August and one at the beginning of September, had been mounted.
The enormity of the task held no delusions for those involved: Berlin was going to be a very difficult city to destroy, but in the mind of Sir Arthur Harris, at least, success would probably bring about the end of the war. What a glittering prize this would be. All the pain and sacrifice of the past four years would have been worth the effort.
And so with renewed vigour, the squadrons made ready for their opening attack in what is now regarded as the most testing period in Bomber Command's history.
A total of 440 Lancasters were ordered, plus four Mosquitoes. Weather conditions were expected to be good oppostion from a rejuvenated Luftwaffe was guaranteed. In order, therefore, to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the defenders, a near equal force of Halifaxes, Stirlings and Lancasters received instructions to bomb Mannheim.
Timings for both raids were synchronised to ensure both bomber streams converged on the enemy coast together, but with a 250 mile separation. The Berlin contingent was routed across northern Holland, before passing twixt the heavily defended centres of Bremen and Hannover to approach the capital from the west. Away to the south, the bomber stream had to run the gauntlet of defences that made the Ruhr Valley such a respected area.
Despite the prediction for clear weather, both raids encountered thick bands of cloud, the Berlin force being totally denied any sight of ground features. Their presence, however, did not go unnoticed and throughout the attack the flak defences maintained an awesome barrage. Remarkably, casualties were light, but the same cannot be said of the supporting raid which lost twenty-three of their number.
Generally speaking it had not been an auspicious beginning, though both targets suffered patches of heavy damage.
Halifax LK632 SE-M had taken off from Tholthorpe at 1640. The aircraft crashed at Hohen-Sülzen some 10 km WSW of Worms. All onboard were killed. Initially all were buried on 21st November 1943 in Hohen-Sülzen at a later date their bodies were taken to the Reinberg War Cemetery (most likely after the end of the war).
The Pilot of the aircraft was an Australian, F/Sgt Walter BURGE who had been a commercial artist and actor before joining the RAAF. The rest of the crew as follows:
Sgt T G Roberts
F/Sgt W J M Nickerson RCAF
F/O J W Potts
Sgt B C Paul
Sgt W C Gilchrist RCAF
Sgt D G Addison RCAF
Regards
Linzee
