CAPTAIN: COLEMAN
LANCASTER U-UNCLE - JB232
Lost without trace., 3rd/4th December 1943
Pilot: F/L P/O Alan Joseph Coleman
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Flight Engineer: Sgt Dennis Maurice Moore
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Navigator: F/S Leslie George Kitchener Lock
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Bomb Aimer: F/S Vincent Nicolas Walter Turner
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
W/Op: Sgt Cyril Percy Matthews
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
M/U Gunner: Sgt Charles Robert William Jones
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Rear Gunner: F/S James Earl Marchant
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
LANCASTER U-UNCLE - JB232
Lost without trace., 3rd/4th December 1943
Pilot: F/L P/O Alan Joseph Coleman
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Flight Engineer: Sgt Dennis Maurice Moore
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Navigator: F/S Leslie George Kitchener Lock
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Bomb Aimer: F/S Vincent Nicolas Walter Turner
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
W/Op: Sgt Cyril Percy Matthews
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
M/U Gunner: Sgt Charles Robert William Jones
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
Rear Gunner: F/S James Earl Marchant
Killed, commemorated on Runnymede Memorial
RAF, 97 Squadron, Alan Joseph Coleman, Dennis Maurice Moore, Leslie George Kitchener Lock, Vincent Nicolas Walter Turner, Cyril Percy Matthews, Charles Robert William Jones, James Earl Marchant
DETAILS
Pilot Officer Coleman's usual flight engineer, 24 year old Maurice Durn, had been slightly injured by flak on the previous night's raid. The thirty-four year old Dennis Moore took Durn's place. It was the most dreadful bad luck for Moore - Coleman and his crew, who had barely survived their previous trip, vanished without trace on this Leipzig operation and nobody would ever know what had happened to them.
John Arthurson, a navigator, remembers what a very bitter, indeed shattering, blow it was for him and the rest of Dennis Moore's regular crew when Coleman's plane did not return. Their crew (see Smith crew) had not yet had their first operational flight. Moore was a married man with children. His place on John Arthurson's crew would be taken by Maurice Durn once he recovered.
Des Evans writes of this particular crew:
"When I arrived at Bourn towards the end of 1943 about November time, straight from my Mechanics course, the first Lancaster I ever worked on with a fellow Mechanic as part of a permanent team was OF-U. I believe this was the one lost without trace on the night of December 3rd/4th 1943, flown by PO A J Coleman, RAAF ... I didn't realise at the time how many Lancasters went missing on Ops. I didn't know the crew at all as I was very inexperienced and very much the junior. I was soon to learn though how many young men were losing their lives. P/O Coleman and his crew arrived at Bourn on 12th October from 1654 Conversion Unit. They were all killed in action on their 3rd operation. "
John Arthurson, a navigator, remembers what a very bitter, indeed shattering, blow it was for him and the rest of Dennis Moore's regular crew when Coleman's plane did not return. Their crew (see Smith crew) had not yet had their first operational flight. Moore was a married man with children. His place on John Arthurson's crew would be taken by Maurice Durn once he recovered.
Des Evans writes of this particular crew:
"When I arrived at Bourn towards the end of 1943 about November time, straight from my Mechanics course, the first Lancaster I ever worked on with a fellow Mechanic as part of a permanent team was OF-U. I believe this was the one lost without trace on the night of December 3rd/4th 1943, flown by PO A J Coleman, RAAF ... I didn't realise at the time how many Lancasters went missing on Ops. I didn't know the crew at all as I was very inexperienced and very much the junior. I was soon to learn though how many young men were losing their lives. P/O Coleman and his crew arrived at Bourn on 12th October from 1654 Conversion Unit. They were all killed in action on their 3rd operation. "
When I was researching the Coleman crew, Des added:
"OF-U Uncle was the first Lancaster I was assigned to on a permanent basis and I know it went missing straight away.. It was an odd feeling seeing them off and waiting for their return and of course they didn't. About 2 days later another crew turned up and I do remember a Sgt. Ground crew in charge of us saying, 'I wonder how long they will be with us', and it wasn't long.. Then of course when the 16th (Black Thursday) came along, the reality struck home.
It was an awful winter, perishing cold and these Aircrew had lousy accomodation like the rest of us. We used to huddle round an old stove in the middle of a corrugated metal hut. The Aircrew (Non Commissioned types) had similar billetts, so they would be cold when not flying and damned cold when they did go on Ops. I was glad when we all went to Coningsby."
"OF-U Uncle was the first Lancaster I was assigned to on a permanent basis and I know it went missing straight away.. It was an odd feeling seeing them off and waiting for their return and of course they didn't. About 2 days later another crew turned up and I do remember a Sgt. Ground crew in charge of us saying, 'I wonder how long they will be with us', and it wasn't long.. Then of course when the 16th (Black Thursday) came along, the reality struck home.
It was an awful winter, perishing cold and these Aircrew had lousy accomodation like the rest of us. We used to huddle round an old stove in the middle of a corrugated metal hut. The Aircrew (Non Commissioned types) had similar billetts, so they would be cold when not flying and damned cold when they did go on Ops. I was glad when we all went to Coningsby."
Then Des summarises their flight operations.
Flight Operations of P/O.A.J.Coleman RAAF.
No.1. November 25/26th. Target. Frankfurt..LM366O P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts F.E.Durn, L.G.Lock, F/Sgt V.N.Turner, Sgts C.Matthews, C.R.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 0030 Down 0630. 1 x 4000lb, 4 x 1000lb. Target bombed from 18,000' and identified by red TI. Two red TIs were seen cascading before bombing. Visibility good.
No.2...December 2nd./3rd. Target. Berlin.LM346O P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts F.E.Durn, G.J.Lock, F/Sgt V.Turner, Sgts C.Matthews, C.R.W.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 1715 Down 2325. 5 x 2000lb. Berlin attacked. Vis good, 8/10ths cloud tops at 10,000'. Fires were burning well after leaving target. Aircraft damaged in several places by heavy flak.
No.3. December 3/4th. Target. Leipzig..JB232U P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts D.Moore, G.K.Lock, G.V.Turner, C.Matthews, C.R.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 1720 - missing.
Extract from Bomber Command Losses - 3/4.12.43 Lancaster III JB232 OF - U. Op Leipzig. T/O 0045 Bourn. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Lock's brother, Leonard Roy Lock, lost his life while on active service.P/O A.J.Coleman RAAF(+), Sgt D.M.Moore(+), F/S L.G.K.Lock(+), F/S V.N.W.Turner RNZAF(+), Sgts C.P.Matthews(+), C.R.W.Jones(+). J.E.Marchant RCAF(+).
No.1. November 25/26th. Target. Frankfurt..LM366O P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts F.E.Durn, L.G.Lock, F/Sgt V.N.Turner, Sgts C.Matthews, C.R.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 0030 Down 0630. 1 x 4000lb, 4 x 1000lb. Target bombed from 18,000' and identified by red TI. Two red TIs were seen cascading before bombing. Visibility good.
No.2...December 2nd./3rd. Target. Berlin.LM346O P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts F.E.Durn, G.J.Lock, F/Sgt V.Turner, Sgts C.Matthews, C.R.W.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 1715 Down 2325. 5 x 2000lb. Berlin attacked. Vis good, 8/10ths cloud tops at 10,000'. Fires were burning well after leaving target. Aircraft damaged in several places by heavy flak.
No.3. December 3/4th. Target. Leipzig..JB232U P/O A.J.Coleman, Sgts D.Moore, G.K.Lock, G.V.Turner, C.Matthews, C.R.Jones, J.E.Marchant. Up 1720 - missing.
Extract from Bomber Command Losses - 3/4.12.43 Lancaster III JB232 OF - U. Op Leipzig. T/O 0045 Bourn. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Lock's brother, Leonard Roy Lock, lost his life while on active service.P/O A.J.Coleman RAAF(+), Sgt D.M.Moore(+), F/S L.G.K.Lock(+), F/S V.N.W.Turner RNZAF(+), Sgts C.P.Matthews(+), C.R.W.Jones(+). J.E.Marchant RCAF(+).
Battle of Berlin - Winter 1943-44
Left: Dennis Moore
