Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was the pilot of Lancaster bomber returning from a mission to Ladbergen when it was shot down over Lincolnshire by an enemy intruder aircraft, a Junkers JU-88C night fighter which had been prowling the skies in wait for the returning bombers.

This was the night of Operation Gisela, a new tactic whereby instead of attacking bombers on their outward run, German night fighters lay in wait for their return in large numbers, attacking either as they landed or were circling in readiness to land.

Seven crew members perished when their Lancaster was shot down over a Lincolnshire wood in 1945

20 Allied aircraft were destroyed by German fighters in a single night - one of which was a Lancaster which crashed into Lincolnshire woodland.

A Wellingtonea gigantea tree on the Brocklesby Park estate today bears a plaque which commemorates the names of the seven crew members who tragically lost their lives.

The tree to the right-hand side of the woodland is now a miniature shrine, decorated with flags and small coins, red poppies and crosses - paying tribute to the airmen.
Mission: Ladbergen
Date: 3/4th March 1945
Unit: No 44 Squadron
Type: Lancaster lll
Serial: ME442
Code: KM-V
Base: Spilsby, Lincolnshire 

At around 6.42pm from Spilsby, Lincolnshire on the evening of March, 1945 a Lancaster Mk III, ME442, coded KM-V took off  piloted by J.J.F. Ryan RAAF for what was to prove a successful raid.

The aircraft joined 212 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 5 Group to attack the Ladbergen aqueduct, which was breached in two places and put completely out of action.

Both sides describe the night as chaotic and records are incomplete but it appears likely that this particular Lancaster fell to the guns of Oberleutnant Walter Breitleb, commanding officer of 7/NJG2, flying from Varel, Germany.

He described having shot down a four engined aircraft (unidentified) in roughly the right area at about the right time.

It  crashed in flames at 1am, tragically killing all seven crew members as it came to rest against a tree.

The Lancaster crew who lost their lives that night:

P/O J.J. Ryan Pilot (Australia) R.C. Age 33
SGT T.H. Jarman F/Engineer C.E Age 19
F/SGT R.R. Russell Navigator C.E. Age 21
F/SGT H.J. Terry Air Bomber C.E. Age 21
SGT H. Birch WOP/AIR C.E. Age 21
SGT H. Payne Air Gunner C.E. Age 27
SGT W.H. Rogan Air Gunner C.E. Age 19

The Earl of Yarborough, owner of the Brocklesby Estate, felt there should be some permanent memorial to the crew, so he had a copper and bronze plaque made, giving details of the tragedy and the names of the seven victims.

The plaque was attached to the trunk of a large tree, which had been snapped off by the explosion, and the area was treated as consecrated ground.

Crew burial details:

F/O. John Joseph Francis Ryan. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15718 (A) Son of John Frederick and Julia Ryan; husband of Jean Elizabeth Ryan of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Sgt. Thomas Handley Jarman. Stretford Cemetery, Lancashire, England. Section W. Grave 40 (D) Son of John Thomas and Doris Jarman, of Offerton, Cheshire.
Fl/Sgt.. Richard Raven Russell. Hove New Cemetery, Sussex, England. Block 3. Grave 125 Son of James Henry and Alice Anna Russell, of Hove, Sussex.
Fl/Sgt.. Hubert Joseph Terry. Birmingham (Brandwood End) Cemetery, Warwickshire, England. Section 26. Grave 10361 (E) Son of George and Rose Terry of Balsall Heath, Birmingham.
Sgt. Harry Birch. Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, England. Grave 15717 (C) Son of John Henry and Elizabeth Ellen Birch of Nottingham.
Sgt. Herbert Payne. Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery, Lancashire, England. Section 8. Nonconformist. Grave 241 (B) Son of Frederick and Margaret Payne of Walton, Liverpool.
Sgt. William Henry Rogan. Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery, Lancashire, England. Section 27. C. of E. Grave 328 (F) Son of William and Gertrude Rogan of Liverpool.

The Brocklesby Park woods is open to the public seasonally, by kind permission of The Earl of Yarborough between April 1and August 31.

Directions for locating the “hidden memorial” to the crew of a Lancaster bomber which crashed on the Brocklesby estate.

From the car park, enter the woods to the right and follow the path in this dorection. When you see the Arabella Aufrere memorial temple go through it and follow the path to the left. Just a short walk further on you’ll see the tree by the side of the path to your left.