On the night of 26/27 August 1944, 57 Squadron Lancaster LM-278 (DX-L) was one of 15 aircraft from the Squadron tasked to attack Konigsberg, and specifically to lay mines in the harbour. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down and crashed near Pokarben, 4kms east of Brandenburg (Frisches Haff). All crew members apart from the Wireless Operator, Sergeant H Souci, perished and their loss is commemorated in the Runnymede Memorial. Sergeant Souci survived the crash and was taken POW.
Flying Officer A T Clark RCAF Pilot
Sergeant F J Wilson Flight Engineer
Sergeant H W Lugg RCAF Navigator
Sergeant L K Johnson RCAF Bomb Aimer
Sergeant H Souci Wireless Operator (taken POW)
Sergeant H C J Winslade Mid-upper Gunner
Sergeant R H McNabb RCAF Rear Gunner
The crew had arrived on 57 Squadron together on 25 May 1944 and had flown on 28 missions within a space of just 3 months. The raid against Konigsberg was their 29th and final mission
A relative of the pilot, Flying Officer Austin Clark RCAF, has recently contacted the Association and would be pleased to make contact with relatives of any of the other crew members.
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