Avro Lancaster I (W4173 QR-) on a mission to Essen on 1942-09-17
On Wednesday, 16 September 1942, (a part of) the aircraft of the 61 squadron (RAAF), took off for mission to Essen in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Syerston.
One of the crew members was Sergeant W MacPhee RAAF. He departed for his mission at 20:00.
He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, with serial W4173 and code QR-). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Thursday, 17 September 1942.
Source: Sandra Osman
AWM 237 (65) NAA: A705, 163/141/731 166/26/76
Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. Page 220, Volume 1942.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: W4173
Radio call sign: QR-
Unit: ATTD 61 SQN RAF
Summary:
Lancaster W4173 took off from RAF Syerston at 2000 hours on the night of 16/17th September 1942, detailed to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base.
Crew
WO A W Osman, Captain (Pilot) RNZAF
Sgt D J Green, (Flight Engineer) RAF
402874 Sgt W MacPhee, (Navigator) RAAF
Sgt J Berry, (Air Bomber/Wireless Air Gunner) RAF
Sgt T C Woodhouse, (Wireless Air Gunner) RAF
411409 Sgt C H Thorn, (Mid Upper Gunner) RAAF
Sgt H M R Broadhead, (Rear Gunner) RAF
The aircraft crashed at Heiligenhaus-Hosel, 14kms north east of Dusseldorf, Germany. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Locality Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The cemetery is 5kms south west of Kleve.
Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.
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