The Lancaster who was shot down near Ouren, belonged to the 75th squadron, had series number 564 HK AA-P and was launched from the airfield of Mepal in England.
motto:
“ake ake kia kaha“ (Maori)
(“forever and ever be strong”)
the crew:
P/O | MULCAHY | Cyril Desmond | pilot officer | New Zeeland |
S | PARKER | Robert Ronald S. | navigator sergent | England |
F/O | HAZARD | Whelan Fallon | radio sergent | New Zeeland |
F/S | THOMSON | Edward Leonard | aircraft mechanic | New Zeeland |
P/O | ELVIN | William | bombardier | New Zeeland |
F/S | JOHNSTON | Haig Douglas | gunner sergeant | New Zeeland |
F/S | WRIGHT | John Herbert | gunner sergeant | New Zeeland |
The Lancaster which crashed on the return flight from Rüsselheim about 1 am near Weiswampach, had the series number ME 596 QR-H. It belonged to the 61st squadron and was launched from the airfield of Skellingthorpe in England.
motto:
“per purum tonantes “
(“thundering through the clair air”)
the crew:
F/O | TAYLOR | Gerald Mclaughin | pilot officer | Canada |
F/S | BURNSIDE | John Kean | navigator | England |
P/O | NEWIN | Arthur Francis | radio | Canada |
F/O | MEEK | J. | aircraft mechanic | Canada |
S | ADAIR | Stanley | bombardier | England |
S | GOULDING | Wiliam | gunner sergeant | England |
P/O | SCRIMSHAW | Christopher | gunner lieutenant | England |
A member of the crew of the plane plane ME 596 QR-H, which was shot down near Weiswampach, survived the crash and became prisoner of war. Flight Officer J. Meek, aircraft mechanic, succeeded in parachuting and was found after that near Lieler (Luxembourg) by Germans, where he ended in captivity. The exact facts of his arrest can't more clearly be determined 60 years later.