LL684

The CrashRAF 514 sqnRAF Waterbeach

The crash

AVRO Lancaster MK II, LL684, JI-N, A2-B, RAF 514 sqn.

p>On March 22nd, 1944, the aircraft took part in a raid on Frankfurt (The third attack on this City in a week), together with a huge force of 815 other aircraft made up from 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos. As one of the first aircraft to take off that night from Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire (at 18:26 to be precisely), it must have been at the front of the bomber stream. To create confusion an indirect route was employed, crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee, then flying due south to Frankfurt. The city suffered another heavy blow with half of the city left without gas, water and electricity for what is described as a “long period”. In this raid 948 people were killed on the ground, 346 seriously injured and 120,000 people were without homes. One of the results of these heavy raids was that recently captured R.A.F. crews often had to be protected by their guards from the assaults of angry civilians when they passed through Frankfurt to reach the nearby Oberursel Interrogation and transit camp. The raid cost the allies dear with 35 aircraft lost, resulting in 184 aircrew killed, a further 53 being made p.o.w.

From the timing of the incident it is highly likely that the aircraft had some technical difficulties and just north of Osnabruck they decided to return to base after which the aircraft was attacked by a German nightfighter and crashed west of Kamerlingswijk in the village of Zwartemeer.Five crewmembers were killed, two were saved by their parachute but got imprisoned by the Germans. A lone bomber without the protection of the bomber stream was easier to identify on radar. LL684 was one of two No.514 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation.

Entry from the original RAF War diary on that date

22/23 maart 1944

Frankfurt: 816 aircraft – 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitos. Again, an indirect route was employed, this time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time; Hannover was forecast as the main target. Only a few fighters eventually found the bomber stream. 33 aircraft – 26 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes – were lost, 4.0 per cent of the force.

The marking and bombing were accurate and Frankfurt suffered another heavy blow; the city’s records show that the damage was even more severe than in the raid carried out 4 nights earlier. Half of the city was without gas, water and electricity ‘for a long period’. All parts of the city were hit but the greatest weight of the attack fell in the western districts. The report particularly mentions severe damage to the industrial areas along the main road to Mainz. 162 B-17s of the Eighth Air Force used Frankfurt as a secondary target when they could not reach Schweinfurt 36 hours after this RAF raid and caused further damage. The Frankfurt diary has this entry: “The three air raids of 18th, 22nd and 24th March were carried out by a combined plan of the British and American air forces and their combined effect was to deal the worst and most fateful blow of the war to Frankfurt, a blow which simply ended the existence of the Frankfurt which had been built up since the Middle Ages.”

The Crew

fltr.: Sgt AW Johnson (BWK), Sgt H John (Staartschutter), F/Sgt. JB Underwood (Vlieger), Sgt. RJ Day, (Radiotelegrafist), Sgt. RC Sime (Boordschutter), Flying Officer WD McPhee (Bommenrichter), Flying Officer IJF Rich (Navigator).De crew vloog 4 missies, Le Mans op 7/3/44, Stuttgart op 15/3/44, en twee keer Frankfurt (18 en 22 Maart 44).

Bemanning

  • John B. Underwood
  • Ivor J.F. Rich
  • Howell John
  • Albert W. Johnson
  • Richard J. Day
  • W.D. McPhee
  • R.C. Sime

Oblt. Heinz Rökker

Oblt. Heinz Rökker of 2./NJG2 may be held responsible for shooting down LL684 at 21:30, southeast of Emmen. This was the 15th confirmed claim of a total 64 for the Luftwaffe ace Heinz Rökker who survived the war.
Rökker in his autobiography gives the following details: Ju88 R-2 coded R4+BB, take off from Langensalza at 20.10 hrs. Shot down a Lancaster at 21.30 hrs in two attacks from below and behind near Emmen in Holland. Observed five of the crew baling out.