Failed to Return
F/Lt A W Thomas
F/Lt A W Thomas and crew were posted to 550 Sqdn in early October 1944:
- F/L A W Thomas (P) KIA
- Sgt M R F Harris (F/Eng) KIA
- Sgt M Austin (Nav) KIA
- Sgt J E Knott (A/B) KIA
- Sgt J D Garland (W/Op) KIA
- Sgt R Garrad (MU/AG) KIA
- Sgt A E Lukeman (R/AG) KIA
Lancaster NG192 was flown by the F/Lt Thomas crew when it was lost on 19/20 Oct 1944 on operations to Stuttgart. All of the crew were killed. F/Lt Thomas and crew had only been with the Squadron a very short time and they were on their first operational sortie.
Hit by 1 & 2/schw Flak Abt 543 (Eisb). Crashed into SS Auslieferungslager at Kehl at 20:30. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten). Thanks to John Jones for making the source of this information known.
The entry on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour is available here.
Other information about the flight and the target available here.
Sgt A E Lukeman
Many thanks to John Hines for making availble the following photographs and documents concerning his relative A E "Ernie" Lukeman. The family has dwindled over the years and John is the only one now remaining with any memories of Ernie. The material is now archived in the 550 Squadron museum in North Killingholme.
Sgt Ernest Lukeman, air-gunner |
Sgt Ernest Lukeman |
Ernest Lukeman receiving a prize from Lord Austin (of Austin Motor cars) |
Durnbach War Cemetery, Bavaria, Germany |
Graves and headstones of the F/L Arthur Wynne Thomas crew of NG192 / BQ-L |
A E Lukeman headstone |
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
 |
Red Cross Letter, 02-11-1944 |
|
Red Cross Letter, 20-03-1945, page 1 |
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Red Cross Letter, 20-03-1945, page 2 |