Douglas Robert Bannerman

Munich

Lancaster I W4191 took off 1715 21 Dec 1942 from Langar. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0002 22 Dec 1942 at Elst Utrecht 20 km SE of Amersfoort Holland where all are buried in Ous Leusden General Cemetery. No survivors. Fatalities: Douglas Robert Bannerman (P), Harold Bate (N), Gordon Joseph Bentley (W/Op), Cecil Albert Davey (AG), George James Dean (AG), Peter Clinch Hind (N), James Roy Walker (P).

137 aircraft from 1 and 5 Groups and the Pathfinder Force (119 Lancasters, 9 Stirlings, 9 Wellingtons attacked Munich. 8.8% of the attacking force was lost.
After a three and a half flight, crews from Langar found the target concealed by 10/10th cloud so commenced a time and distance run. Flashes below suggested damage to urban targets but bombing photos indicated open countryside, with bomb aimers possibly attracted by a decoy site.

Sources: Chris Ward with Raymond Glynne Owen, 207 Squadron (Merthyr Tydfil: Mention the War Ltd, 2000) page 136. Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt, Bomber Command War Diaries p.339.

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