419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax DT672

Crew of Halifax DT672

Halifax DT672 had already been the target of Luftwaffe night fighters twice in the past. While this Halifax was an operation to Duisburg on the night of April 8-9 of 1944 the crew who were then flying DT672 were attacked by a JU88. Two nights later while on a raid to Frankfort an ME110 made attacks on the aircraft. Both times the aircraft and crew made it back to base with no injuries.
On this night a new crew flying VR-D on their first mission together would not be so lucky. Leaving base at 23.44 on the night of May 13th the Halifax and many of the squadrons other aircraft were assigned a new target, Bochum, a target in the industrial Ruhr Valley. The Ruhr Valley or known by the crews as “Happy Valley” was heavily protected both from the ground and air defenses. On this night 419 would loose eleven airmen in two of their Halifax aircraft.
This was the aircraft’s captain Sgt. George Adams and his crew's first operation together. The exact cause of the loss of DT672 is not known.

Crew of Halifax DT672

Sergeant

Lawrence David McEwen

Rear Gunner Age 24
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ernfold Saskatchewan
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

William Heyer Bowden

Bomb Aimer Age 20
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ormstown Quebec
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

George Adams RAF

Pilot Age 22
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Selyby, Yorkshire, England
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Flying Officer

Edward Basik Ruto

Navigator Age 21
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Kansas City Missouri, USA
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Oliver John Haralson

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ericson Manitoba
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Edwin Kurring RAF

Wireless Op. Age 22
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Hull England
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Frederick Stefhen Neal RAF

Flight Engineer
Killed in Action May 14 1943
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Crew of Halifax DT672

Sergeant

Lawrence David McEwen

Rear Gunner Age 24Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Ernfold Saskatchewan Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

William Heyer Bowden

Bomb Aimer Age 20 Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Ormstown Quebec Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Pilot Officer

George Adams RAF

Pilot Age 22Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Selyby, Yorkshire, England Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Flying Officer

Edward Basik Ruto

Navigator Age 21Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Kansas City Missouri, USA Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Oliver John Haralson

Air Gunner Age 20Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Ericson Manitoba Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Edwin Kurring RAF

Wireless Op. Age 22Killed in Action May 14 1943 From Hull England Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Frederick Stefhen Neal RAF

Flight Engineer Killed in Action May 14 1943 Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Rear Gunner Age 24
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ernfold Saskatchewan
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Bomb Aimer Age 20
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ormstown Quebec
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Pilot Age 22
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Selyby, Yorkshire, England
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Navigator Age 21
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Kansas City Missouri, USA
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Air Gunner Age 20
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Ericson Manitoba
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Wireless Op. Age 22
Killed in Action May 14 1943
From Hull England
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery

Flight Engineer
Killed in Action May 14 1943
Burial at Rheinburg War Cemetery