The crew of Lancaster JA906 consisted of:
- Pilot – PLTOFF Smith
- Navigator – FSGT Dallwitz
- Bomb Aimer – FSGT Francis
- Wireless Operator – FSGT Brook
- Flight Engineer – SGT Proudfoot
- Mid Upper Gunner – FSGT Wellington
- Rear Gunner – FSGT Jackson
At 1830 hours on the night of 3/4th October 1943, Lancaster JA906, callsign PO-K, took off from RAF Bottesford on its fifth mission, with one 4000lb bomb, twenty four 30lb bombs, and 1344 4lb incendiaries. Its mission was a bombing run over Kassel, Germany. Of the fourteen aircraft from 467 SQN that took part in the raid, it was the only that failed to return.
As no radio contact was made after Ja906’s takeoff, its failure to return prompted the crew to be listed as missing presumed dead.
Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed while taking evasive action from flak off the Dutch coast and the aircraft crashed into the sea 4kms north of Vlissengen. PLTOFF Smith, Sgt Proudfoot and Flt Sgt Wellington survived the crash and became POW’s. The remaining four crew members, including FSGT Brook, were killed. In a statement PLTOFF Smith reported ‘Aircraft hotly engaged by AA fire off the Frisian Islands night 3/4th October 1943. While taking avoiding action at low height the aircraft went into the sea. Dallwitz, Francis, Brook, Jackson not seen after hit water. Presumed drowned.’ In his statement Flt Sgt Wellington reported ‘Loss of aircraft caused firstly by flak. Being attacked constantly by fighters we flew at low level. We hit the sea. I have no knowledge of anything else as I was knocked unconscious. To my belief four members of the crew were trapped when we struck the water: Dallwitz, Francis, Brook, and Jackson. I was released by the Russians on 22 April 1945.”
FSGT Roy Edward Brook 