ND752

Air Historical Branch: Air Movement Cards – ND752

 

	Date	Target	Notes	Code		Pilot	Duration
1	09/04/44	Villeneuve St. George		AA-O	F/L	Witting	04:25
2	10/04/44	Targets at Laon		AA-O	F/L	Fauvel	04:00
3	11/04/44	Aachen		AA-O	F/L	Witting	03:20
4	20/04/44	Cologne		AA-O	F/L	Witting	03:50
5	22/04/44	Dusseldorf		AA-O	F/L	Fauvel	04:10
6	24/04/44	Karlsruhe		AA-O	F/L	Witting	06:05
7	01/05/44	Chambly		AA-O	P/O	McCardle	03:30
8	07/05/44	Chateau Bolgon Aerodrome		AA-O	P/O	Hunt	05:35
9	09/05/44	Cap Gris Nez		AA-O	F/L	Witting	02:15
10	10/05/44	Courtrai		AA-O	F/S	O’Connor	02:40
11	11/05/44	Louvain		AA-O	F/L	Witting	03:25
*	19/05/44	Le Mans	ORB double lists ND752 for this Op – still looking for clarification	AA-O	P/O	Gibson	04:30
*	19/05/44	Le Mans		AA-O	F/S	Brown	05:00
12	21/05/44	Duisberg		AA-O	F/S	Brown	03:45
13	22/05/44	Dortmund		AA-O	F/S	Brown	03:55
dnc	22/05/44	Dortmund	mechanical problems	AA-O	P/O	McCardle	02:25
14	24/05/44	Aachen		AA-O	F/L	Witting	03:25
15	27/05/44	Aachen		AA-O	F/L	Witting	03:15
16	28/05/44	Angers		AA-O	F/O	Brumwell	07:20
17	30/05/44	Boulogne		AA-O	P/O	O’Connor	02:15
18	31/05/44	Trappes		AA-O	P/O	Millar	04:55
19	02/06/44	Wissant		AA-O	F/S	Bateson	02:35
20	03/06/44	Calais		AA-O	F/S	Bateson	02:00
21	04/06/44	Mining off the Belgian Coast		AA-O	F/S	Perfrement	no time
22	05/06/44	Ouistreham		AA-O	F/S	McRae	03:40
23	06/06/44	Lisieux		AA-O	F/S	McRae	04:00
24	08/06/44	Fougeres		AA-O	F/S	McRae	04:55
25	10/06/44	Dreux		AA-O	F/S	McRae	04:15
26	11/06/44	Nantes		AA-O	F/S	McRae	05:30
27	14/06/44	Le Havre		AA-O	F/S	McRae	02:40
28	15/06/44	Valenciennes		AA-O	F/S	McRae	03:35
29	21/06/44	Domleger		AA-O	F/S	McRae	02:55
30	23/06/44	L’Hey		AA-O	F/S	McRae	02:05
31	24/06/44	Rimeux		AA-O	F/S	McRae	04:05
32	30/06/44	Villers Bocage		AA-O	F/S	McRae	02:57
33	02/07/44	Daylight Beauvoir		AA-O	P/O	McRae	03:10
34	07/07/44	Vaires		AA-O	P/O	McRae	04:30
35	10/07/44	Nucourt		AA-O	P/O	McRae	03:35
36	12/07/44	Vaires		AA-O	S/L	Berney	03:55
37	15/07/44	Chalons Sur Marne		AA-O	P/O	McRae	06:15
dnc	17/07/44	Vaires		AA-O	P/O	Burtt	01:30
dnc	18/07/44	Cagny		AA-O	P/O	Burtt	03:20
38	20/07/44	Homberg		AA-O	P/O	Burtt	Missing
						Total Op hours	155:27

20/07/1944 – Attack Against Homberg
Twenty six aircraft took off, as detailed, to attack the oil refinery at Homberg. Nineteen aircraft were successful in bombing the target, with the aid of markers, which seemed well concentrated. Two good explosions were seen and smoke came up from the target area. Heavy A.A. fire was moderate, but fighters were very active, eight combats taking place. Seven aircraft failed to return, the captains were AUS22776 W/O. Gilmour, H., NZ428819 F/S. Howell, E., NZ421829 F/S. Mackay, K., NZ422057 F/S. Davidson, N., NZ42488 W/O. Whittington, H., NZ413219 F/S. Roche, G. & NZ414560 P/O. Burtt, H.

Lancaster Mk.III ND752 AA-O

P/O Henry John Burtt, RNZAF NZ414560 – Pilot.
F/S Vivian Connell, RAAF AUS.424158 – Navigator.
W/O Herbert John Wellington Coedy, RCAF R.130143 J.96491 – Air Bomber.
W/O Gottfred Lyall Gillan, RNZAF NZ42324 – Wireless Operator .
Sgt. Vernon Charles Cornish, RAFVR 1609419 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Walter Frederick Carter, RAFVR 1543208 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. George Arthur Levy, RAFVR 1893404 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 23:30 – Landed –
Flight Time – Missing

Lancaster Mk.III ND752 AA-O was attacked by an enemy aircraft at 01:40hrs and brought down close to Udenhout (Noord-Brabant) and a mile North of Tilburg. Five of the crew died but two survived and were captured as POW’s. The dead were buried in the Gilzerbaan General Cemetery

F/O Henry John Burtt, RNZAF NZ414560 – Pilot.
Killed age 31.
Son of Albert John and Edith Jessie Burtt, of Durie Hill, Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand.
Buried Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery, Holland.     .
Grave location – Plot B. Row 2. Grave 58.

F/S Vivian Connell, RAAF 424158 – Navigator.
P.o.W.
Prisoner of War Number: 696
Prison Camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII
Date of return to United Kingdom: not known

W/O Herbert John Wellington Coedy, RCAF 130143/ J.96491 – Air Bomber.
P.o.W.
Prisoner of War Number: 562
Prison Camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII
Date of return to United Kingdom: 15th of May 1945

W/O Gottfred Lyall Gillan, RNZAF NZ42324 – Wireless Operator.
Killed age 21.
Son of Douglas and Myrtle Lilyan Gillan; husband of Alice Ann Gillan (nee Graham), of South Grafton, New South Wales, Australia.
Buried Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery, Holland.     .
Grave location – Plot B. Row 2. Grave 60.

Sgt. Vernon Charles Cornish, RAFVR 1609419 – Flight Engineer.
Killed age 20.
Son of Philip Aubrey and Marjorie Edith Cornish, of Bridford, Devon.
Buried Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery, Holland.     .
Grave location – Plot B. Row 2. Grave 60.
‘I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me.
Psalm XXIII’

Sgt. Walter Frederick Carter, RAFVR 1543208 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Killed age 21.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Merryweather, of Tadley, Hampshire.
Buried Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery, Holland.     .
Grave location – Plot B. Row 2. Grave 59.
‘Died doing his duty. Years pass But love and memory last. Mum and dad’

Sgt. George Arthur Levy, RAFVR 1893404 – Rear Gunner.
Killed age 39.
Buried Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery, Holland.     .
Grave location – Plot B. Row 2. Grave 62.