REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from Graveley at 16.35 hours, with eleven other Mosquito’s en-route to bomb Hanau. Conditions were clear under 15,000 feet and the marking was bang on. The first “cookie” hit the very centre of the marking just before Hanau starting a fire. Unfortunately the rest of the bombing was somewhat scattered, and two crews bombed on Gee. Only one crew reported any serious flak which was predicted and accurate. Mosquito ML959 crashed on overshoot when landing with both crew losing their lives.

21.12.1944; F/O W. B. Smith and F/O J. C. Massie represented the Squadron at the funeral of F/Sgt R. J. Sutherland at R.A.F. Cemetery, Brookwood.

22.12.1944; S/L D. G. Hunter and F/Lt L. W. Kitchen represented the Squadron at the funeral of recently promoted F/Lt S. P. Brunt at the R.A.F. Regional Cemetery, Cambridge.

De Havilland Mosquito XVI ML959 (IWM)

Burial detail:

Sidney Percival Brunt; Son of Ralph Benjamin and Winifred Mabel Brunt, of Fernhurst, Sussex.

Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, England. Grave: 15156

Roger Joseph Sutherland; Son of Wilfred and Suzanne Sutherland; husband of Emilie Sutherland, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England. Grave: 56 A. 5. (King).

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless and David King, March 2014.

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