209422 Flt.Sgt. Sydney Douglas "Syd" Russell Royal Air Force 104 Squadron from:Bromley, Kent, England (d.1st February 1944) Sydney Russell was the pilot of Wellington X LN345 of 104 Squadron RAF, 205 Group. On the evening of 1st February 1944 they departed Foggia Main in Italy at 1751 hours on a mission to bomb the aircraft factory at Maribor, Yugoslavia. At 2040 hours whilst over the target his aircraft was seen by other bomber crews to burst into flames and explode on the ground. All the time the aircraft was seen to be firing tracer. It was the only aircraft to be lost that night. Flight Sergeant Sydney Russell was on his 32nd mission.
The Wellington was shot down by by a Luftwaffe night fighter piloted by Oblt Hans Krause of 6/NJG101 and is believed to be a Dornier 217.
The crew were buried close to Maribor but later moved to the commonwealth cemetery in Belgrade.
The crew were as follows :-
- Sydney Douglas RUSSELL (1333470) Flight Sergeant, Pilot
- Arthur Richard LONG (919881) Sergeant, Air Gunner
- William Robert FULTON (1366021) Flight Sergeant, Navigator
- Francis Reginald HORNER (1384906) Flight Sergeant, Wireless Op/Gunner
- Donald James DUNCAN (133709) Flying Officer, Air Bomber
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