The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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208360 Flt.Lt. Charles Ellison Hill Royal Air Force 44 Sqn from:Lancashire. (d.23rd Nov 1943) My Grandad's brother, Charles Ellison Hill, was the pilot of Mk 1 Lancaster Serial number DV 329 (Sqn Code KM-W) when on the 23rd of November 1943 on a mission to or from Berlin was downed - still don't know how - in the town of Rasdorf. All the crew, bar the mid upper gunner, were killed and were buried in the town. At the end of the war they were reburied in the Reichswald War Cemetry in Germany. He ended up at Stalag 4b (IVb) in Muhlberg (PoW number 263692)where he stayed until being released by the advancing Soviet Army. My Grandad has now sadly passed away before I managed to find out the above, but it is all still sketchy to say the least. From what I can gather from relatives the survivor was a Rhodesian chap who, despite requests for information from families, refused to talk about the crash. How true this is we may never know, but it would be wonderful to find out what actually happened and gain some insight into the crew. Charles Hill was a Police officer in Liverpool before the war - strange really as I spent 14 years working for the RAF and am now a Police Officer. The crew were as follows: Flt/Lt Charles Ellison Hill (127356) Pilot P/O Edric. G. Wright (156351) Flt/Engineer P/O James Marsden (156915) Navigator F/O Charles. W. Nunn (132381) Bombaimer/Gunner F/S Thomas Myerscough (1230232) W/op Sgt Ronald Ledsham (1535227) Rear Gunner Sgt P.B.Kirwan (?700738?) Mid Upper Gunner I have been able to locate four combat reports from the crew which I can forward to any persons connected with the crew or sqn. Any info regarding the above would be greatfully recieved. Frederick Hill Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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