P/O Albert Charles Middleton
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 427 RCAF Squadron
from:Dublin, Eire
(d.25th Feb 1944)
My Uncle served with 427 RCAF Squadron at REF Leeming as an Air Gunner flying Halifax's. On the night of 25th Feb 1944 he took off from RAF Leeming at 2130 for a bobming raid on Augsburg. The crew comprised of
- F/L R G Milton (Pilot),
- Sgt F C Barker,
- F/O A W Shirley RACF,
- P/O K K Hignett,
- F/O F J Thompson,
- Sgt M R Singer,
- P/O A C Middleton.
Weather on 25th Feb 1944: Cloudy with rain durning morning. Visibilty modrate to good. Of the 10 aircraft that became airborne one returned soon after take off when oil pressure on starboard outer engine seriously dropped and caused dangerous overheating. This aircraft was "R" piloted by F/S C H Coathup. The aircraft LK759 was attacked and shot down by an ME110 flown by Hptm Hans-Karl Kamp (NJG4) and crashed at Beuren, 18km ESE of Trier. All the crew died with the exception of F/O F. J. Thompson who was thrown clear as the Halifax exploded and he spent several weeks in hospital. On his release from hospital he was interned in Camp L3, POW No 3711. P/O Albert Charles Middleton is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Plot 4 Row AA, Grave 14
