Operation: Karlsruhre

Date: 05/06th August 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 104 Squadron

Type: Wellington II

Serial: W5485

Code: EP-J

Base: RAF Driffield, Yorkshire

Location: Target area, Karlsruhe

Pilot: P/O. Benedict Warren Melvill Jones 88684 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Co-Pilot: Sgt. Warren Steen Denby AUS/402323 RAAF Age 27. Killed

Obs: P/O. Harry Brant 60834 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Raymond John David 937250 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Richard Neilson Barcroft 944985 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Granville Fallows Lister 1115844 RAFVR Age ? Killed

We hope to have further information on the family of the pilot, his father, Sir Bennett Melvill Jones had a very interesting history within the aviation field. Others also have very interesting connections. The great nephew of the pilot is currently preparing further pages for us.

REASON FOR LOSS:

97 aircraft dispatched to bomb railway targets in the Karlsruhe / Saarbrücken area. Reports state that bombing occurred in the Rhine harbour, and in the Weststadt / Mühlburg area to the west of the city - some 34 people killed on the ground.

Above: P/O. Benedict Warren Melvill Jones (courtesy Edmund Wright)

104 Squadron Wellington II

104 Squadron lost another aircraft this night:

Wellington W5517 on an operation to Saarbrücken flown by 28 year old, Sgt. William T.R Stephenson R/52876 RCAF of Omemee, Ontario, Canada. Survived after crash landing at Horsham St. Faith in Norfolk having been hit by flak over the target area. The aircraft was beyond economical repair and scrapped. Less than two weeks later on the 17th August 1941 he was killed with all his crew (2 of the crew from the earlier crash) after crashing at South Leverton near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Above and below grave photographs as supplied by David Franklin. David has kindly provided permission for us to send any of these at the high resolution that he used - please contact us. Sadly the headstone for Sgt. Denby was away for renovation at the time.

Burial details:

P/O. Benedict Warren Melvill Jones. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. Son of Sir Bennett Melvill Jones, Kt., CBE., AFC., FRS., and Lady Jones, of Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, England.

The full obituary to his father is also on the website and can be read here.

Sgt. Warren Steen Denby. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. Son of Walter Fredrick and Louisa Denby, of 62 Essex Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia; husband of Ethel Marie Denby, of 2299 Beaconsfield Parade Notre Dame De Grace, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. Married 07th April 1941

P/O. Harry Brant. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. Son of Francis Thomas Brant and Mary S Brant of the Laurels, Lawton Avenue, Church Lawton, Cheshire. Harry is remembered on the All Saints Church War Memorial, Church Lawton, Cheshire

Fl/Sgt. Raymond John David. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. Son of Albert David and Edith May David of Birmingham, Raymond's twin brother also lost his life while on active service with No 78 Squadron 1 March 1941. Both Harry and Raymond are remembered on the King's Norton Boys School War Memorial, Birmingham

Fl/Sgt. Richard Neilson Barcroft. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. No further information on next of kin - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Granville Fallows Lister. Durnbach War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 2.B.9-12. Son of Arthur Lister and Kathleen Fallows Lister of Leeds

For further details our thanks to Edmund Wright - relative of pilot P/O. Benedict Jones. Further sources as quoted below.

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