Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On 25 September, 1944, Mitchell bomber, FW194, with crew: RAAF 428531 Flt Sgt B L Williams, (Pilot), RAAF 425684 FO Lennie, T J (Navigator, Bomb Aimer), RCAF WO H F Bowmaster, (Wireless Operator, Air Gunner) and RAF Flt Lt C B Carter, (Air Gunner), was detailed to carry out an attack on enemy FLAK positions at Schaarsbergen, north of Arnhem, Holland. FW194 was part of a formation of 12 Mitchell bombers, escorted by 6 Spitfire fighters. Near the target they were attacked by 20 German fighters. All 6 Spitfires were shot down. The Mitchell bombers were then attacked. FW194 was hit and the port engine caught fire. The order was given to ‘bail out’. The bomber was hit again which caused the rear escape hatch to jam and 2 x 500lb bombs to be released. One bomb fell on a church, killing some refugees; the other bomb fell into some woods but did not explode (Disarmed in 2010). The bomber, FW194, crashed in Arnhem by the dyke on the River Rhine, with Lennie and Carter still in it. Williams and Bowmaster bailed out. Bowmaster was taken prisoner. Williams was shot by German infantry as he descended in his parachute, above what is believed to be the John Frost Bridge that was the subject of the movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’ during Operation Market Garden. His body landed on the other side of the river where he was buried by a 17 year old Dutch boy in a temporary grave.
WO Bowater returned safe to the UK.
Flt Sgt Willams and FO Lennie are buried in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery,
Holland.
Flt Lt Carter has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.