Operation: Aschaffenburg, Germany

Date: 21st/22nd November 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 460 Squadron RAAF, 1 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: NE141

Code: AR:P

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

Location: Damm, a suburb of Aschaffenburg

Pilot: Plt Off. Ross Faulkner McMaster 434470 RAAF Age 20. MiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Harold Henry Day 1420668 RAFVR Age 29. MiA

Nav: Fg Off. Frederick John Pettiford 436274 RAAF Age 27. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Keith Robert Stewart 424101 RAAF Age 20. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. William Herbertson 424555 RAAF Age 37. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Morris Albert Jones 433334 RAAF Age 28. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Roger Staniforth Chandler 435535 RAAF Age 25. KiA (1)

Above left to right: Plt Off. Ross F. McMaster, Sgt. Harold H. Day, Fg Off. Frederick J. Pettiford

Above Fg Off. Keith R. Stewart

Above left to right: Flt Sgt. William Herbertson, Flt Sgt. Morris A. Jones, Flt Sgt. Roger S. Chandler

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 15:27 hrs joining 22 Lancasters of the squadron flew in a force of 283 to bomb marshalling yards at Aschaffenburg, but heavy low cloud foiled the master bomber who instructed crews to bomb on navigational or radar fixes. Bomb load 1 x 4000 lb. and 16 x 500 lb bombs.

Most aircraft bombed on a large red glow which H2S radar confirmed as being in the general target area but which some crews thought was a decoy. Photographs taken after the attack showed some damage to station buildings, the goods depot and rolling-stock as well as to scattered industrial and residential buildings north of the marshalling yards, but it was a disappointing result for the expenditure of 1,350 tons of bombs.

NE141 was claimed by Fw. Emil Weinmann, his first Abschuss and second of the night, from II./NJG6 flying Bf110 G-4 2Z+ID over Aschaffenburg at 3.900 m. at 19:26 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 October 1944 - 31 December 1944) Part 5 - Theo Boiten). The Lancaster crashed at Damm, a suburb of Aschaffenburg.

His second Abschuss was claimed as a probable was the other Lancaster from the Sqn that failed to return. Lancaster III PB469 AR:H exploded in mid-air SW of Frankfurt and west of Aschaffenburg. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 October 1944 - 31 December 1944) Part 5 - Theo Boiten. Fg Off. Winton Greer Ottaway 38181 RAAF and six (6) of his crew were KiA and one (1), the Rear Gunner, Sgt. Allen Noel Shilstone 1808652 RAFVR became a PoW.

Above: Fg Off. Winton Greer Ottaway from his service record

(1) Flt Sgt. Chandler’s brother, 21 year old, Keith John Chandler 405296 RAAF of 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit ((C) OTU) died on the 20th August 1942. Hudson V AE646 collided with Hudson T9273 during practice formation flying and crashed into the sea 2½ miles north west of Grune Point, Solway Firth, Cumberland. All four crew members were killed.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Ross Faulkner McMaster. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 258. Born on the 4th July 1924 at Brisbane. Son of Sir Fergus McMaster (died 8th August 1950, age 71) and Lady Edna McMaster (née Faulkner - died 11th May 1960, age 66) of Clayfield, Queensland, Australia.

Sgt. Harold Henry Day. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 226. Son of Harry Christmas and Hilda Polly Day of Birmingham. Husband of Marjorie Constance Day of Perry Barr, Birmingham, England.

Fg Off. Frederick John Pettiford. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 257. Born on the 5th August 1917 at Coonamble. Son of Albert Richard (died 1929, age 68) and Mabel Gertrude Jane Pettiford (née Peck - died 1926). Husband of Greta Alice Pettiford of Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia.

Fg Off. Keith Robert Stewart. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 258. Born on the 16th June 1924 at Kogarah Bay. Son of Arthur Oswald (died 7th September 1972, age 79) and Elsie May Stewart (née Drewett - died 4th January 1965, age 68) of Kogarah Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Flt Sgt. William Herbertson. Durnbach War Cemetery, I.B.19. Born on the 29th September 1911 at Brisbane. Son of William Catsells and Irene Herbertson of Maroubra, New South Wales. Husband of Carol Francis Mary Herbertson of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Morris Albert Jones. Durnbach War Cemetery, B.21. Grave Inscription: “DEARLY BELOVED BY BARRY, DENNIS AND OLGA”. Born on the 10th February 1916 at Lockhart. Son of Evan Moses and Hilda Jones of Holbrook, New South. Husband of Olga Jones of Lakemba, New South Wales, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Roger Staniforth Chandler. Durnbach War Cemetery, I.B.20. Born on the 11th May 1919 at Brisbane. Son of John Beals and Lydia Isabel Chandler of Taringa, Queensland, Australia.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Katie Spencer, relative of the pilot (May 2022). Thanks to Nicola Hazel for the image of her grandfather Sgt. Harold H. Day, other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2026)

Other sources listed below:

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