Flight Sergeant Donald Fletcher Campbell RCAF

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi there

Donald was born on 27 July 1919 in Balcarres, Sascatchewan, Canada, and died as the result of a flying accident on 7 January 1945 over Hohrodberg, Departement du Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France.

He was a Flight Sergeant, Air Gunner, (R268487), enlisting in the R.C.A.F. 16 September 1963, after a short period of service in the 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.  He flew with 103 Squadron R.A.F.

His body was interred in a communal grave with the others of the crew in the Munster Communal Cemetery, Haut-Rhin, France (CWGC records)

I can't find any detail for the event.  Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Chiad Fhear

[MaxD]

If you are able to get to Kew or can get it copied, the Sqn ops book is here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2503455

There is a Facebook page which you may have seen.

maxD

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi MaxD

Regrettably, it's along way from Fife in Scotland to Kew and I don't subscribe to Facebook or other "Social Media"

Chiad Fhear

[MaxD]

Understood.  Facebook - likewise!!

Book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/103-Squadron-Bomber-Command-Profiles/dp/1911255002/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491492321&sr=8-1&keywords=103+squadron

The site gives the ISBN number so you could ask your local library if they can get it, or try a book shop for a cheaper version.

maxD

[Chiad Fhear]

Thanks again maxD

I'll ask at the Library tomorrow and see if they can get me a copy.

Meantime, I've been trawling - not surfing - the 'net all afternoon and have picked up a wee bit more information that shows Donald was a gunner on Lancaster Mk1, Ser. No. MM766, thought to be en-route to bomb Munich, Germany, when it crashed near Hohrod, District of Kleinkopf, Germany.  Presumably it was shot down or may have suffered catastrophic engine failure.

I've searched his service records which a researcher has (kindly) uploaded to their tree on Ancestry.

Hopefully the book will give me more.

Chiad Fhear

[Ad van Zantvoort]

Hi,

  From Bomber command Losses I found the following info;
7-8 January 1945, Operation Munich, Lancaster NN(not MM)766 PM-R  103 Sqdn .
Took off 1823 Elsham Wolds, Outbound crashed onto highground near Hohrodberg(Haut Rhin), 4 Kms N from the small town of Munster. Initially, the crew were buried by local nuns some 25 metres from the point of impact, but since then their bodies have been brought to the communal cemetery at Munster. A memorial, however, has been placed at the crashsite. F/O Lougheed RCAF was the son of Dr.M.S.Lougheed of Winnipeg

P/O W.J.McArthur  RCAF, Sgt R.P.Candy, F/O R.J.Lougheed RCAF, F/Sgt M.Greenstein RCAF, WO2  M.H.Horne RCAF, F/Sgt D.J.McAulay RCAF, F/Sgt D.F.Campbell RCAF.

Will see if I can find something about this aircraft and crew from the 103 ORB's. Also you can visit the association website:  www.elshamwolds.org.uk

[Chiad Fhear]

Thanks lancaster103

Much appreciate the information.  Everything comes to he who waits 

Chiad Fhear

[Svenja]

Hi

I have found him and his crew with photos of the graves.

http://www.francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=2151

Regards
Svenja

[Chiad Fhear]

Thank you Svenja

Chiad Fhear