Clifford Shnier, Alfred Norman Gibbons, Geoffrey John Howersham, Paul De Villiers, Peter Charles Evans, Benjamin Gabriel Kindesen, Donald Edward Croft
The Pathfinder Year - 97 Squadron at Bourn
CAPTAIN: Shnier
LANCASTER - EE172 OF-0
Shot down by a night fighter on 30th July 1943; the entire crew was killed.
CREW
Pilot: P/O Clifford Shnier
Flight Engineer: Alfred Norman Gibbons
Navigator: F/O Geoffrey John Howersham
Bomb Aimer: F/O Paul De Villiers
W/Op: Sgt Peter Charles Evans
Mid-Upper Gunner: P/O Benjamin Gabriel Knoesen
Rear gunner: Sgt Donald Edward Croft
LANCASTER - EE172 OF-0
Shot down by a night fighter on 30th July 1943; the entire crew was killed.
CREW
Pilot: P/O Clifford Shnier
Flight Engineer: Alfred Norman Gibbons
Navigator: F/O Geoffrey John Howersham
Bomb Aimer: F/O Paul De Villiers
W/Op: Sgt Peter Charles Evans
Mid-Upper Gunner: P/O Benjamin Gabriel Knoesen
Rear gunner: Sgt Donald Edward Croft
DETAILS
Shnier was the only Canadian or foreign national on the crew. Despite his very unusual name, Knoesen was a British subject.
For an amazing website on Clifford Shnier, set up by his family, go to this link: http://clifford.shniers.com/
From the ORB
29/30 July 1943 Hamburg - Bomb Load 6 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 3 x 1000lb unless stated
EE172O P/O C.Shnier, Sgt A.H.Gibbons, P/O Homersham(?), P/O P.de Villiers, Sgt P.Evans, F/Sgt B.Knoesen, Sgt D.E.Croft. Up 2246 - aircraft and crew missing.
Shnier was the only Canadian or foreign national on the crew. Despite his very unusual name, Knoesen was a British subject.
For an amazing website on Clifford Shnier, set up by his family, go to this link: http://clifford.shniers.com/
From the ORB
29/30 July 1943 Hamburg - Bomb Load 6 x TI, 1 x 4000lb, 3 x 1000lb unless stated
EE172O P/O C.Shnier, Sgt A.H.Gibbons, P/O Homersham(?), P/O P.de Villiers, Sgt P.Evans, F/Sgt B.Knoesen, Sgt D.E.Croft. Up 2246 - aircraft and crew missing.
Extract from Bomber Command Losses - 29/30.7.43
Lancaster III EE172 OF - O. Op Hamburg. T/O Bourn. Shot down by a night fighter. All are buried in Becklingen War Cemetery.
P/O C.Shnier RCAF(+), Sgt A.N.Gibbons(+), P/O G.J.Homersham(+), F/O P.De Villiers(+), Sgt P.C.Evans(+), F/S B.G.Knoesen(+), Sgt D.E.Croft(+). (Crew on 28th op - Martin Middlebrook "The Battle of Hamburg")
P/O C.Shnier RCAF(+), Sgt A.N.Gibbons(+), P/O G.J.Homersham(+), F/O P.De Villiers(+), Sgt P.C.Evans(+), F/S B.G.Knoesen(+), Sgt D.E.Croft(+). (Crew on 28th op - Martin Middlebrook "The Battle of Hamburg")
