Suggested edit: Registration: MZ642
MSN: DY-U
Fatalities: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: De Luur, Eekstraat, Steenderen, Gelderland - Netherlands

Phase: Combat
Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Pocklington
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Took off from RAF Pocklington at 23:12 hrs for a bombing operation against the synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade/Holten in Germany. Part of the 321 aircraft raid on Sterkrade synethetic oil planform with 162 Halifaxes, 147 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes.

Homeward-bound, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by the night fighter crew of Hauptmann Breves, Feldwebel Telsnig & Obergefreiter Ofers of the Stab IV./NJG 1, who were flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield in Belgium ("2 attacks from a distance of 50 m from below and behind. Crash fire").

Those who died are buried alongside six airmen from 106 Squadron who died 26 June 1943 in Steenderen General Cemetery. Sgt Tweed's service number suggests he joined circa 1937 as a trainee Volunteer Reserve pilot. Flt Sgt Duggleby's father was the Reverend John Taylor of Northern Essenden in Victoria:
1. Sgt Adam John McDowell Barr (KIA) 177680
BARR

2. Sgt Joseph Bender (KIA) 1867969 Age 38
BENDER

3. Sgt J F Tweed (POW No: 635) 744733 Camp Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg, Poland

4. Flt Sgt Alan Milne Duggleby RAAF (KIA) AUS/418928. Age 22
DUGGLEBY

5. Sgt Hubert Jack Wakeford (KIA)1397471.
WAKEFORD

6. Sgt W Chapman (POW No: 209) 1498555 Camp Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg, Poland

7. Sgt Fred Bowman (KIA) 1594409 Age 31
BOWMAN
Contributor: Family Friend (47384645)

Flight Sergeant Alan Milne DUGGELBY
Service No: 418928
Born: Leongatha VIC, 12 January 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 20 June 1942
Unit: No. 102 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Pocklington
Died: Air Operations: (No. 102 Squadron Halifax aircraft MZ642), Netherlands, 17 June 1944, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Steenderen General Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands
CWGC Additional Information: Son of the Revd. John Taylor Duggleby and Helen Eliza Duggleby, of North Essendon, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Geelong VIC
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

At 2312hours on the night of 16 June 1944 Halifax MZ642 took off from Pocklington detailed to bomb Strekrade, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 0200 hours near Steenderen, 9 kms south of Zutphen. The aircraft exploded on impact and five of the crew members were killed and two were taken prisoner.
The crew members of MZ642 were:
Pilot Officer Adam John McDowall Barr (177680) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant Joseph Bender (1867969) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Fred Bowman (1594409) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant W Chapman (1498555) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant Alan Milne Duggleby (418928) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant J F Tweed (744733) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Sergeant Hubert Jack Wakeford (1397471) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)

418928. Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force. Age 22. Son of the Revd. John Taylor Duggleby and Helen Eliza Duggleby, of North Essendon, Victoria, Australia.