Air Historical Branch: Air Movement Cards – ND768
| Date | Target | Notes | Code | Pilot | Duration | ||
| 1 | 09/04/44 | Attack against Villeneuve St. George | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 04:10 | |
| 2 | 18/04/44 | Mining in Kiel Bay | AA-F | F/L | Warren | 06:10 | |
| 3 | 24/04/44 | Karlsruhe | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 05:15 | |
| 4 | 26/04/44 | Essen | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 03:50 | |
| 5 | 27/04/44 | Friedrichshafen | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 07:55 | |
| 6 | 01/05/44 | Chambly | AA-F | F/S | Gray | 03:30 | |
| 7 | 10/05/44 | Courtrai | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 02:35 | |
| 8 | 11/05/44 | Louvain | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 03:35 | |
| 9 | 19/05/44 | Le Mans | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 04:55 | |
| 10 | 21/05/44 | Duisberg | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | 04:45 | |
| 11 | 22/05/44 | Dortmund | AA-F | P/O | Armstrong | Missing | |
| Total Op hours | 46:40 |
22/05/1944 – Attack Against Dortmund
Twenty three aircraft were detailed to attack Dortmund of which eighteen completed their mission successfully. Three aircraft returned early and two failed to return (Captains NZ417016 P/O. E. Burke and NZ42354 P/O. C. Armstrong). The raid was well concentrated and carried out in good weather with excellent visibility. One aircraft had an inconclusive combat with a JU 88. Otherwise the operation was uneventful.
Lancaster Mk.III ND768 AA-F “Freddie”
P/O Cecil Ernest ‘Snow’ Armstrong, RNZAF NZ42354 – Pilot.
F/S Douglas Beardsley Payne, RNZAF NZ426917 – Navigator.
F/S Eric William Elliott Marshall, RNZAF NZ415637 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Carl Arthur Warburton, RAFVR 1484107 – Wireless Operator .
Sgt. David Sleightholm, RAFVR 1684309 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Roy Joseph Davies, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. James Pepper, RAFVR 1682572 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 22:56 – Landed –
Flight Time Missing
Reports indicate that ND768 was struck by flak on approach to target – with a full bomb load, the aircraft exploded killing all on board. The crew’s remains were buried initially at Hauptfriedhof, Dortmund, but were later re-interred at the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
P/O Cecil Ernest Armstrong, RNZAF NZ42354 – Pilot.
Killed age 27.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Armstrong, of Napier, Hawke’S Bay, New Zealand; Husband of Elsie Isabella Agnes Armstrong, of Napier.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany..
Grave location – 3. G. 14. 84
F/S Douglas Beardsley Payne, RNZAF NZ426917 – Navigator.
Killed age 22.
Son of James Thomas William and Elizabeth Alice Payne, of Limehills, Southland New Zealand.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany..
Grave location – 3. G. 12. 82
F/S Eric William Elliott Marshall, RNZAF NZ415637 – Air Bomber.
Killed age 31.
Son of Harold W. and Eva M. Marshall, of Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany..
Grave location – 3. G. 18. 88
Sgt. Carl Arthur Warburton, RAFVR 1484107 – Wireless Operator.
Killed age 22.
Son of Carl H. and Nellie Warburton, of Darlington. Co. Durham.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave location – 3. G. 15. 85
‘Thy will be done’
Sgt. David Sleightholm, RAFVR 1684309 – Flight Engineer.
Killed age 22.
Son of John W. and Gertrude Sleightholm, of Carlisle; Husband of Rosanna Sleightholm, of Carlisle.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave location – 3. G. 13. 83
Sgt. Roy Joseph Davies, RAFVR 1603898 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Killed age 21.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Davies, of Edmonton, Middlesex.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave location – 3. G. 16. 86
‘In loving memory of our dear son Roy’
F/S James Pepper, RAFVR 1682572 – Rear Gunner.
Killed age 23.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave location – 3. G. 17. 87
‘A day of remembrance
Sad to recall
Without farewell
He left us all’
