Sergeant John McDowell - 101 Squadron

Sergeant John McDowell - 101 Squadron

Sergeant John Richie McDowell - RAFVR

Sergeant John McDowell was serving as Flight Engineer on board Lancaster Mk.III LM472 coded SR-V2 during an operation to bomb the synthetic oil plant near Brux, in Western Czechoslovakia on January 16, 1945.

The aircraft left Ludford Magna at 1748hrs and failed to return. Seven of the eight man crew were killed, including Sgt John McDowell.

The crew consisted of:

Name	Service	Trade	Hometown	Age
F/O Frederick McGonigle	RAFVR	Pilot	Glasgow, Scotland	-
Sgt John McDowell	RAFVR	Flight Engineer	County Down, N. Ireland	23
F/Sgt John Knight - POW	RAAF	Navigator	-	-
F/Sgt Warren Hart	RAAF	Bomb Aimer	Mackay, Queensland	20
F/Sgt Laurence Collins	RAAF	W/Op/AG	Ballarat, Victoria, Australia	20
Sgt Robert Beckett	RAFVR	Air Gunner	-	-
Sgt Daniel Conroy	RAFVR	Air Gunner	-	-
P/O Jack Armour	RCAF	Special Equipment Operator	Hamilton, Ontario	27

Sergeant John Richie McDowell RAFVR born on 17^th May 1922, was aged 23 and was the younger of two sons born to Mary Ann and John McDowell of Hillsborough,C o. Down, Northern Ireland. He was known as "Don" to his family and was single and working as an engineer in Belfast before enlisting.

The seven crewmembers that were killed and taken to Geilsdorf for identification procedures and burial before being interred in the Geilsdorf Cemetery. On 20^th December 1945 the bodies of the dead crew members were reinterred to rest in the Berlin War Cemetery. Flight Sergeant Knight, the only survivor, became a prisoner of war.

For additional information on the aircraft and crew see W/O Laurence Collins.

Photos and information courtesy of Ray Collins, research by Linda Ibrom