Sgt. Francis George Rees,
RAFVR, Service Number 1335744

Frank was born c. Nov. 1920 near Farnham, Surrey, England, the son of Albert and Florence Rees. He had four siblings and was married to Kathlenn Elizabeth Rees at the time of his death.

RAF Breighton

Frank joined the RAFVR and served with 78 (Bomber) Squadron, Based at Breighton, near Bubwith, Yorkshire. Squadron records and Commonwealth War Graves records show him as a navigator on Halifax bombers. On his last mission Frank flew in Halifax Mk lll, code EY-O, s/n LW512.

Handley Page Halifax Mk.III, EY-O, s/n LW512, of 78 Sqn. RAF based at Breighton, Yorkshire, England

On the night of 22 March, 1944 LW512 (EY-O) departed Breighton at 1907 for a raid on Frankfurt am Main. The mission took the aircraft out over the North Sea then inland to a point south west of Bremen from which the raid flew directly south towards Frankfurt. It was on the westbound leg from Frankfurt that the aircraft was intercepted by a German night fighter and shot down.

Oblt. Martin "Tino" Becker

Me Bf110G4 Night fighter

Becker's aircraft

One reference suggests that LW512 was attacked by a Ju88 but a second reference appears to more convincingly suggest that the night fighter was a Me Bf110 flown by German Ace, Oblt. Martin "Tino" Becker, 2./NJG 6, who departed Finthen (Mainz) at 2020 and returned at 2313 having claimed a remarkable score of six aircraft shot down. He was flying a Me Bf110 coded MK when he intercepted LW512 near Trier at 18,000 feet and shot it down at 2239. Out of control the bomber hit the ground near the town of Mohrweiler, Germany.

Map of the Frankfurt raid

Only the rear gunner Sgt. S. A. Waterhouse managed to bail out. He was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.3392. Again there is a discrepency as to some of the facts. One reference suggests that the rest of the crew was buried in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery while another shows the Rheinberg Cemetery, both of which are close to one another, the latter appearing to be the correct reference.

78 Squadron "Operations Record Book" shows the following which appear to be the last missions in which Frank Rees participated:

Date	Aircraft Type & Number	Crew	Duty	Time Up	Time Down	Details Of Sortie Or Flight	References
6/3/44	Halifax lll. LW512	Sgt. Hampson, J. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, J. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, T. (M.U.)	Bombing TRAPPES	1856	2314	The primary target was attacked and bombed at 2119 hours from a height of 15,000 feet. Target identified by Red T.I.s, and lake to N.E. Three Red T.I.s in bombsight. Several explosions seen under T.I.s.	-
7/3/44	Halifax lll LW795	Sgt. Hampson, S. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, P. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, S. (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, T. (M.U.)	Bombing LE-MANS	1923	2358	The primary target was attacked and bombed at 2141 hours from a height of 15,000 feet. Target identified by glow of Red T.I.s, through cloud. Defences were greater than expected.	-
13/3/44	Halifax lll LV795	Sgt. Hampson, J. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, F. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, S. (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, T. (M.U.)	Bombing LE-MANS	2238	0339	The primary target was attacked and bombed at 0045 hours from a height of 15,000 feet. Bombed mean of 2 Red T.I.s seen to cascade. Bomb bursts well concentrated around T.I.s. Several fires seen in Northern portion of Target area. Concentrated attack.	-
15/3/44	Halifax lll LW512	Sgt. Hampson, J. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, F. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, S. (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, T. (M.U.)	Bombing STUTTGART	1909	2337	This aircraft returned early, owing to fuel transfer pump being u/s. Furthest point reached 48 16/01 12W. Bombs jettisoned in sea.	-
18/3/44	Halifax lll LW512	Sgt. Hampson, J. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, F. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, S. (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, P. (M.U.)	Bombing FRANKFURT	1934	0102	The primary target was attacked and bombed at 2210 hours, from a height of 22,000 feet. Target identified by P.F.F. Red and Green T.I.s. Bombed centre of 2 Red T.I.s. Some fires seen in Target area.	-
22/3/44	Halifax lll LW512	Sgt. Hampson, S. (Capt) Sgt. Rees, F. (Nav) Sgt. Renwick, F. (Bomb) Sgt. Beard, P. (W/Op) Sgt. Toon, S. (F/Eng) Sgt. Waterhouse, (R.G.) Sgt. Liddy, T. (M.U.)	Bombing FRANKFURT	1907	-	Missing	-

Note: The apparent errors in aircraft serial numbers and in crew initials are as copied from the squadron record book.

Frank is buried in the Rheinberg Cemetery, Germany in care of the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.