Failed to Return
F/Lt J F Craig DFC and Crew
F/Lt J F Craig and crew:
- F/L J F Craig DFC RNZAF (P) [KIA]
- Sgt K Thompson (F/Eng) [KIA]
- Sgt R D Samuels (Nav) [KIA]
- Sgt K R Sumner (A/B) [KIA]
- Sgt D E Nutter (W/Op) [KIA]
- Sgt H C Petty (MU/AG) [PoW]
- Sgt L W F Overend (R/AG) [KIA]
 |
F/Lt J F Craig DFC RNZAF |
The bulk of this crew (i.e. all excluding the pilot) was a previously "headless" crew after the loss of their pilot F/Sgt J P Harrison (PoW) on his "second dickey" flight with the W/O J I Miller crew.The F/Sgt J P Harrison crew were posted to 550 Sqdn from 1662 Con Unit w.e.f. 10/2/44. The remainder of this now "headless" crew was posted to No. 11 Base for re-crewing w.e.f. 22/2/44, 2 days after the loss of their pilot (Harrison). They re-appeared some time soon after back in 550 Sqdn (although an incoming transfer note has not been located), because they then flew with F/Lt J F Craig as detailed on this page. F/Lt Craig himself joined 550 Squadron at some other date (still to be determined).
F/Lt J F Craig and crew failed to return (crew: 6 KIA, 1 PoW) when Lancaster LL852 was lost on 15/16 Mar 1944 to Stuttgart (one of two 550 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation (see also LM392).
Other information about the flight and the target available here.
The entry on the 550 Squadron Roll of Honour is available here.