Albert Roberts

Bad-Zwischenahn

Lancaster I R5694 took off 1500 25 Nov 1942 from Langar. Lost on return flight. No survivors. Fatalities: Flight Lieutenant R J Hannan (P), Sergeant P J Thompson FE), Sergeant J K B Lee (N), Sergeant A Roberts (W/Op), Sergeant R E D Piper (AG), Sergeant J Sanders (AG), Sergeant J B Burton (BA), Sergeant B L M Jenkin (W/Op)

BOTTESFORD (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

In late November 1942, five eight man 207 Sqdn crews, two from Langar, were deployed in daylight bombing sorties know as ‘moling’. They were to rely on 8/10 or 10/10 cloud cover for protection and the Gee navigational system for guidance to the target. Such missions were fraught with risk; ‘the madness of “moling” operations’, observed Chris Ward, ‘would be graphically demonstrated on the 25th (November 1942) and the cost of sixteen 207 Squadron airmen for no gain.’

Tasked with each carrying out nuisance attacks on separate towns between Bremen and the Dutch frontier (Fiesorythe, Vechta, Bad-Zwischenahn, Hasleunne and Quakenbruck) all were forced to abandon their sorties due to insufficient cloud cover. Returning, R5694 EM-F crashed and burst into flames at Easton near Grantham six miles short of Langar and safety. R5695 EM-C failed to return at all and was lost without trace.

Source: Chris Ward with Raymond Glynne-Owen, RAF Bomber Command Profiles, 207 Squadron, (Merthyr Tydfil: Mention the War Ltd, 2026,) p.133

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