At 1748 hours  on 16 January 1945, Lancaster MkIII serial LM472 Code SR-V2 from RAF 101 Squadron, with a crew of eight, took off from Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire, Great Britain, on a bombing operation to attack a synthetic oil plant near Brux, West Czechoslovakia. It was due to return to base, 0247 hours  17 January 1945. The normal crew of Lancaster bomber is seven, but several bombers belonging to 101 squadron were fitted with special equipment, named "Airborne Cigars", known by the shortened name of ABC.

 This aircraft was part of a total of 231 Lancaster (7 Lancasters from 101 Squadron-equipped with ABC equipment) and 6 Mosquito’s (total 237 aircraft), from RAF Bomber Command Nos. 1 and 5 Groups, and, although the raid was considered a complete success, as only one of the 237 aircraft (LM472 code SR-V2) did not return. The aircraft and crew were posted as missing, and subsequently confirmed as being shot down, with one survivor, over enemy territory.

 At approximately 2204 hours, 16 January 1945, the burning plane flew very low over the village of Geilsdorf, to such an extent that the villagers, within the village, were in fear of the aircraft crashing into their homes.

 The pilot’s intention seemed to be to land in some snow covered fields, but unfortunately, the aircraft clipped some high tension light wires on the edge of the field, about 30 metres from the road between Ruderitz and Geilsdorf, causing the bomb laden plane to explode. Eye witnesses of the incident stated that there was a large whitish explosion seen at 5026N, 1200E, clearly visible in the night sky. This was confirmed by another report, received from the crew of an aircraft from 619 squadron, reporting an explosion at 2209 hours, at the same location-this position corresponds with the place between the villages of Hof and Plauen, where the plane crashed. It is interesting to note, that nothing grew in this field until 5 years after WW2.

 Only one crewmember, Jack Knight- RAAF, somehow escaped from the crashed plane, although injured, was able to walk away from the site, under German Soldier escort, to a nearby village. Any remaining parts of the plane were taken to the railway station in Celsnitz for scrap iron

 One bomb, the biggest, the 4000 pound Cookie, was found unexploded among the wreckage, some pieces of the wrecked plane are preserved in a local museum.

 The surviving crew member, John Knight, was taken by German soldiers to a hospital in Plauen, where his face and hands were dressed and his head stitched, and approximately 1700 hours, 17 January 1945, was taken by stretcher to Revere for further treatment. From then up to his release on 29 April 1945, he was transferred to various hospitals/camps for treatment and internment.

 The bodies of the seven members of the crew that were killed in the crash were taken to Geilsdorf for identification procedures and burial. They were interred in the Geilsdorf Cemetery,. This cemetery is approximately 6 miles SW of Plauen, Germany. On 20 December 1945, the bodies of the seven deceased members of SR-V2 were transferred, for the final time, to the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

Laurence and Crew

Back row-Laurie Collins,Warren Hart.Front row.Dan Conroy, Jack Knight

The crew on leave.

The crew in front of a 101 Sqn Lancaster

Laurie Collins front left and rest of Crew on leave in Dublin.Taken at Owl studios,3 Henry street,29th September 1944.

Warren Hart,Jack Armour,Bob Becket,Dan McDowell & Laurie Collins, Dan Conroy in doorway.

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Laurence and Crew

 

 

Laurence Collins