On the night of the 21/22nd May 1944 103 Squadron participated in a raid on Duisberg. Although the target was cloud covered the Oboe sky marking proved accurate and the raid was considered a success.

103 Squadron lost 1 Lancaster and crew on this raid. The Lancaster was ME722 and the crew, which were on their first operation, consisted of:-

Pilot Officer T I Jones RCAF

Sergeant D Sharp RAF

Warrant Officer B H Davis RAAF

Warrant Officer E S Moran RCAF

Sergeant C R Francis RAF

Sergeant M Pickles RAF

Sergeant W E Jones RAF

This aircraft was hit by flak and then finished off by a night fighter flown by Hauptmann Martin Drewes of III/NJG 1. Drewes was a highly decorated night fighter pilot and shot down 49 bombers, all but 2 by night. He survived the war.

ME722 crashed near Zwolle in Holland hitting the ground with considerable force.

Pilot Officer T I Jones, Sergeant Pickles and Sergeant W E Jones were killed and now rest at the Dekranenburg General Cemetery.

Sergeant Sharp and Sergeant Francis evaded successfully with the help of the extremely courageous Dutch Underground Organisations.

Warrant Officer Davis, who had been wounded in the eye, and Warrant Officer Moran evaded successfully for several weeks helped by several brave Dutch families.

Unfortunately they were captured when the Germans raided the house in which they were hiding.

Warrant Officer Davis was subjected to the most difficult interrogation. His treatment was so severe that he was repatriated in February 1945. He returned to Australia in a hospital ship and was only finally fit to be released from hospital in 1948. His dreadful experience at the hands of his captors was to blight his health for many years. Bruce Davis sadly passed away in 1987. In 1977 he returned to Holland with his wife and visited some Dutch people who had helped him and the places he had been. In 1985 they also visited Canada and met Ted Moran who had also survived his capture and interrogation.

We are most grateful to Julius Schotmann of Zwolle in Holland for providing the photographs and information used in this item.

A photograph of the crash site of ME 722 taken the day after the crash showing the crater, which has filled with water and the damage to surrounding property.

Another view of the crash site of ME 722 taken the day after the crash.

A copy of an escape photograph found at the site of the crash. This must be one of the members of the crew although, as yet, it has been impossible to establish which one. If you recognise the face, please let us know.

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