A Lancaster Bomber Flight Sergeant’s Air Crew Europe Star casualty group awarded to Flight Sergeant H.T. Evans, 49th Squadron, Royal Air Force who was killed in action on 20th December 1943 when his aircraft crashed on a raid to Frankfurt. Initially being buried in Langenselbold, his body was moved after the war and is now interned at Durnbach War Cemetery
Group of 3: 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal, along with typed casualty slip to ‘FLIGHT SERGEANT H.T. EVANS.’ And in card box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs S.L. Evans, 80 Blanmerle Road, New Eltham London, S.E.9
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Flight Sergeant (No. 658854) H.T. Evans, 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force was killed in action as part of a Lancaster III crew on 20th December 1943 and crashing near Langenselbold was initially buried there before subsequently in 1945 being buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
20th December 1943 saw the Royal Air Force send 650 aircraft to Frankfurt which comprised 390 Lancasters, 257 Halifaxes and 3 Mosquitoes. Heavily engaged by German fighters, the force last 27 Halifaxes and 14 Lancasters. The raid was not a success, the Germans lighting a decoy fire 5 miles to the south east of the city and a good proportion of bombing hit this area but with the creep back affecting the city proper. 466 houses were destroyed and 1,948 seriously damaged, and while 117 bombs hit industrial premises, no important factories were hit. 23,000 people were bombed out of their homes during the raid, and a train 6 miles south of the city was hit by a 4,000lb bomb killing 13 people.
