419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB797

Crew of Lancaster KB797

March 7 1945 - Dessau

This was the fourth sortie for MacNeill and the second for most of his crew. On that first operation the Flight Engineer position was filled by Sgt. N. G. Clinton, now on this second operation P/O Ross Wilson took his normal position as the crew's Flight Engineer.
On this night fifteen 419 Squadron Lancasters were bound for the distant town of Dessau. The inbound route was arranged to throw enemy defences off the true objective. The bomber stream headed for Berlin then 35 miles west of the capital the bombers made a ninety degree turn to the true target for the night.
When they arrived over Dessau the gaggle found broken cloud partly hid the target. It was the reflection off the river Oder that gave the target away to the crews.
The MacNeill crew were lost except for F/S Cole and Sgt. Jamieson. The only knowledge of what happened may be with the POW questionnaires they filled out after being liberated.
Both men were reported to be injured during the operation; it is unknown at this time if it was from the parachute landings or while on KB797. Both were hospitalized with their injuries. Sgt. Jameison managed to escape and that story is also not available right now.
The Moose Squadron already had a pilot flying during this time by the name of MacNeil, with just the one "L". They both flew with their own crews on the March 2nd. operation and that was the only sortie where MacNeil and MacNeill flew on the same operation.

Crew of Lancaster KB797

March 7 1945 - Dessau

Flying Officer

Bevan Terrill MacNeill

Pilot Age 23
KIA March 7th 1945
From Trion North Carolina USA
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flying Officer

William Edward Short

Navigator Age 21
KIA March 7th 1945
From Galt Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Earl Victor Beach

Bomb Aimer Age 19
KIA March 7th 1945
From Killaloe Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Ross Thomas Wilson

Flight Engineer Age 20
KIA March 7th 1945
From Montreal Quebec
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Reginald Leroi Mitchell

Air Gunner (Rear) Age 20
KIA March 7th 1945
From Edmonton Alberta
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Harry Osborn Cole

WAG
POW Injured -Hospitalized

Sergeant

Donald Coleman Jamieson

Air Gunner (M-U)
POW Injured -Hospitalized -Escaped
From Cody Wyoming USA

Crew of Lancaster KB797

March 7 1945 - Dessau

Flying Officer

Bevan Terrill MacNeill

Pilot Age 23 KIA March 7th 1945 From Trion North Carolina USA Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flying Officer

William Edward Short

Navigator Age 21KIA March 7th 1945 From Galt Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Earl Victor Beach

Bomb Aimer Age 19KIA March 7th 1945 From Killaloe Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Ross Thomas Wilson

Flight Engineer Age 20KIA March 7th 1945 From Montreal Quebec Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Reginald Leroi Mitchell

Air Gunner (Rear) Age 20KIA March 7th 1945 From Edmonton Alberta Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Harry Osborn Cole

WAGPOW Injured -Hospitalized

Sergeant

Donald Coleman Jamieson

Air Gunner (M-U) POW Injured -Hospitalized -Escaped From Cody Wyoming USA

Pilot Age 23
KIA March 7th 1945
From Trion North Carolina USA
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Navigator Age 21
KIA March 7th 1945
From Galt Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Bomb Aimer Age 19
KIA March 7th 1945
From Killaloe Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flight Engineer Age 20
KIA March 7th 1945
From Montreal Quebec
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Air Gunner (Rear) Age 20
KIA March 7th 1945
From Edmonton Alberta
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

WAG
POW Injured -Hospitalized

Air Gunner (M-U)
POW Injured -Hospitalized -Escaped
From Cody Wyoming USA