Operation: Gardening - "Silverthorn" (see map below)

Date: 3/4th March 1945 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 153 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: LM750

Code: P4-R

Base: R.A.F. Scampton, Lincolnshire

Location: Sejerø island, north-north-west of Zeeland.

Pilot: F/O. Leo Joseph Robert Gregoire D.F.C. J/87391 R.C.A.F. Age 25. Missing (1)

Fl/Eng: Sgt. William Leslie James 941154 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Missing

Nav: W/O. II Marvin Max Sandomirsky R/181716 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Missing

Air/Bmr: W/O. II Kenneth Lloyd Douglas McCoy R/143248 R.C.A.F. Age 23. Missing (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Douglas Scott McGregor D.F.M. 976183 R.A.F.V.R. Age 25. Missing (3)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Ernest Sabine R/201885 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Missing

Air/Gnr: P/O. William Waldemar Webber J/94336 R.C.A.F. Age 28. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from R.A.F. Scampton, Lincolnshire at 16.45 hrs on a gardening operation to the "Silverthorn" area.

The operation took part with excellent visibility which resulted in heavy accurate flak and a great deal of night fighter activity.

Left: F/O Leo Joseph Robert Gregoire DFC Right: W/O. II Marvin Max Sandomirski

L- R: W/O II Kenneth Lloyd Douglas McCoy, Fl/Sgt. John Ernest Sabine, P/O William Waldemar Webber

Confirmed as intercepted by Maj. Werner Husemann (4) from Stab I./NJG3 at 20.29 hrs. Combat taking place over the Kattegat 4 km north, north west of Sejerø Island (56.0045 N 11.2225)

(1) F/O. Leo Gregoire D.F.C. citation reads:

This Canadian captain has now completed 26 sorties against targets in Germany and occupied territory. Throughout his tour he has pressed home his attacks with the utmost skill and determination in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. He has shown a complete disregard for his own personal safety and his cheerful confidence has inspired a high standard of morale in his crew. His commendable courage and high devotion to duty make him well worthy of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

(2) W/O. Kenneth McCoy was a sole survivor of a 626 Squadron Lancaster loss on the 21/22nd May 1944 during an operation to Duisberg. He managed to evade capture and returned for duties, tragically to die on this operation.

(3) W/O. McGregor D.F.M - previously served with 61 squadron with his award published on 26th May 1942. He also served as a wireless operator instructor with 24 O.T.U (Operational Training Unit)

(4) This was the 31st of 32 abschüss for Maj. Werner Husemann who survived the war.

Burial details:

F/O. Leo Joseph Robert Gregoire D.F.C. Runnymede Panel 279. Son of Mr. Z.E. Gregoire. Born in Aye Hill, Alberta Canada on 4th January 1920. Worked at Consolidated Mining and Smelting from 1940 - 1942 before enlisting in Calgary on 16th September 1942.

Sgt. William Leslie James. Runnymede Panel 275. Born on 13th May 1921. Son of Alan Maxwell James and Alice James, of Stratford-on-Avon, England.

W/O. II Marvin Max Sandomirsky. Runnymede Panel 281. Born on 6th July 1921. Son of Samuel and Goldie Sandomirsky, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Gregoire Point east of the South end of Barrier Island, Nootka Land District, British Columbia was named after F/O Gregoire in 1950

Sandomirsky Island, Saskatchewan is named after W/O II Samdomirsky

W/O. II Kenneth Lloyd Douglas McCoy. Runnymede Panel 281. Born on 21st March 1921. Son of Mrs. F.G. McCoy, from Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.

W/O. Douglas Scott McGregor D.F.M. Runnymede Panel 269. Born on 7th April 1919. Son of Mr John McGregor and Mrs Ruth McGregor. Also his younger sister, Mrs Ruth Wilson, of 7 Woodlands Terrace, Dundee, Scotland.

Fl/Sgt. John Ernest Sabine. Runnymede Panel 282. Born on 16th April 1924. Son of Ernest Jago Sabine and Lulu Edna Sabine, of O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

P/O. William Waldemar Webber. Runnymede Panel 281. Born on 31st May 1916. Son of William and Augusta Webber, brother to Mrs C. Hartley and Mrs W. Peek of Verdun, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Researched for Captain Ian Charles Gravatt and the sister of the wireless operator/air gunner, W/O. McGregor D.F.M., Mrs Ruth Wilson of Perth, Scotland. Captain Gravatt has also supplied further information added to this page of remembrance. With thanks to Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - "Nightfighter War Diaries Vol's. 1 and 2", Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol's 5 and 6", Les Allison and Harry Hayward - "They Shall Not Grow Old" and the Commonwealth Graves Commission.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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