This site is dedicated to the memory of my Grandfather Flying Officer Allan Marshall and to those who flew with him.

At 6:31 p.m. on the 16th of January 1945 a Royal Air Force  Halifax III heavy bomber, NA 237 ZA-C "Charlie" of 10 Squadron, Group Four, Bomber Command took off from Melbourne Airfield in Yorkshire England.

Aboard were seven young men of the R.A.F. volunteer reserve on their fourteenth operational mission, they were (left to right in the picture),

Flight Sergeant Doug Elsome (Radio Operator)

Sergeant Fraser Paxton (Navigator)

Sergeant Reg Tuck (Rear Gunner)

Flying Officer Allan Marshall (Pilot)

Sergeant Harry Griffiths (Flight Engineer)

Sergeant Jack Thornley (Mid-Upper Gunner)

Flight Sergeant Doug Lawrence (Bomb Aimer)

Their destination that night was the East German industrial city of Magdeburg. 

Having reached the target they completed the "Bombing Run" and turned for home. On the return journey the aircraft was attacked by a German Night Fighter.  It was shot down, and crashed in the town of Hörsum, near Hannover, Germany.  Fraser Paxton, Doug Lawrence, Doug Elsome and Reg Tuck managed to escape the stricken aircraft by bailing out but tragically Allan Marshall,  Harry Griffiths and Jack Thornley were killed in the crash.

This web site aims to document their experiences, and my research into the events on, and leading to that fateful night.

Jon Hill