Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Noord-Holland
Castricum Protestant Churchyard
James Alexander Lamb
Plot 1. Grave 308.
F/S J.A. Lamb - 422662
Son of Phillip K. and Grace Lamb; husband of Lorna Jean Lamb, of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.
Son of Phillip K. and Grace Lamb; husband of Lorna Jean Lamb, of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.
In the bombing operations against Frankfurt in the night of 20/21 December, 1943, 76 Squadron lost 3 aircraft with 13 airman killed. Fortunately another 8 managed to escape from their stricken aircraft. They were made prisoner of war.
One aircraft that failed to return from this mission was Halifax B.V, LK926/'MP-C'. It is thought, that this aircraft crashed in the North Sea off Goeree. Only two airmen from the Halifax have a known grave: Captain F/S Charles William Matthews' body washed ashore on the Dutch coast near Petten on the 2nd January, 1944 and was originally interred in Petten General Cemetery. After the war he was reburied at Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. F/S Lamb' body washed ashore near Castricum aan Zee on the 6th January, 1944, and was buried here in Castricum on the 8th January.
All other crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial:
Sgt Ronald Frederick Taylor, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 166).
F/S Leslie Frederick Gillingham, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 136).
Sgt Herbert Cyril Cohen, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 145).
Sgt David Stuart McClelland, RCAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 183).
F/S Lorin James Sheean, RAAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 193).
One aircraft that failed to return from this mission was Halifax B.V, LK926/'MP-C'. It is thought, that this aircraft crashed in the North Sea off Goeree. Only two airmen from the Halifax have a known grave: Captain F/S Charles William Matthews' body washed ashore on the Dutch coast near Petten on the 2nd January, 1944 and was originally interred in Petten General Cemetery. After the war he was reburied at Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. F/S Lamb' body washed ashore near Castricum aan Zee on the 6th January, 1944, and was buried here in Castricum on the 8th January.
All other crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial:
Sgt Ronald Frederick Taylor, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 166).
F/S Leslie Frederick Gillingham, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 136).
Sgt Herbert Cyril Cohen, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 145).
Sgt David Stuart McClelland, RCAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 183).
F/S Lorin James Sheean, RAAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 193).
Notes.
LK926 took off from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor at 16.39 hrs. Several hours later, at 21.53 hrs, the last w/t transmission was heard when the aircraft was at position 51.48N 03.44E, to the West of Zoutelande.
In NCA 1943, Part 3, p.107, Dr. Theo Boiten states, that the Halifax was hit by Marine Flak and crashed into the North Sea at 21.55 hrs.
The Halifax could be a victim of Oblt Werner Baake of 3./NJG1. He claimed a Halifax North-west of Eindhoven at 21.00 hrs.
LK926 took off from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor at 16.39 hrs. Several hours later, at 21.53 hrs, the last w/t transmission was heard when the aircraft was at position 51.48N 03.44E, to the West of Zoutelande.
In NCA 1943, Part 3, p.107, Dr. Theo Boiten states, that the Halifax was hit by Marine Flak and crashed into the North Sea at 21.55 hrs.
The Halifax could be a victim of Oblt Werner Baake of 3./NJG1. He claimed a Halifax North-west of Eindhoven at 21.00 hrs.
Sources:
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.432
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.432
Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939-45, p.134
Nachtjagd Combat Archive (NCA) 1943, Part 3, p.107