Crew of Lancaster KB786
"Piddlin Peter"
The squadron had been on stand-down for most of the previous week, when the operation against the oil refinery at
Heide was assigned on the night of March 20/21st 1945.
Taking off in the early hours of the 21st, VR-P with a highly experienced crew on board, one of 14 aircraft of
419 squadron to take part in the Operation. A total of 166
aircraft were involved in the attack on the refinery.KB786 was the only casuality of the operation, the cause for the loss is is thought to have been night-fighters, other crews reported seeing a bomber having fallen to a night fighter attack. The Lancaster exploded in the air with the remains coming down at Odderade near Hemmingstedt, the force of the explosion threw the only survivor, Sgt. John Aitkens clear of the aircraft.
Aitkens who had begun his tour of duty with F/L William Osborn was completeing his tour with Millar's crew. His injuries from the incident were to make him confined to Hospital Camp NK. (no POW number was assigned)
F/L Osborn
The other crew members were originally buried near the crash site, and later interned at Hamburg War Cemetery.
F/L Rubin won his DFC while at 434 Squadron. This was Rubin's first operation of his 2nd. Tour
