Bomber Command Memorial Register

Felixstowe Lancaster Memorial

Felixstowe, Suffolk

Complete Record
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Location

Felixstowe, Suffolk, Suffolk

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Narrative

On 25 August 1944, Lancaster LM258 HA-Q of 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron took off from RAF Methwold at 18:55 hours on a mission to strike a V-1 flying bomb launch site at Vincly, France. The crew successfully dropped their mix of 1,000lb and 500lb bombs on the target, but on the return leg the aircraft was struck by flak from the anti-aircraft batteries at St Omer. Badly damaged, the Lancaster attempted to reach the emergency landing ground at RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk. At 21:15 hours, East Suffolk Police received reports of the Lancaster approaching Felixstowe at a dangerously low altitude. Witnesses saw the aircraft circling the town with its undercarriage lowered before it crashed into the sea approximately a quarter mile south-east of Felixstowe's New Pier. The wreckage was quickly consumed by flames and sank in twelve feet of water. An RAF Walrus amphibian from 277 Air-Sea Rescue Squadron and two High-Speed Launches from Felixstowe Dock arrived at the scene within minutes. Only three of the seven crew members were recovered from the sea, all of whom had died. Rear gunner Sgt Angus Craig, aged 19, was still alive when found but succumbed to his injuries three hours later. Pilot Flt Lt Doug Haggis was washed up at Fagbury Beach, Trimley St Martin, on 1 September 1944. Four crew members are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery.

Aircraft & Operation Details

218 (Gold Coast) Squadron badgeIn time
Aircraft Type
Lancaster Mk.I
Serial Number
LM258
Aircraft Code
HA-Q
Squadron
218 (Gold Coast) Squadron
Station
Methwold
Date of Loss
1944-08-25
Operation Type
Operational
Target
V-1 flying bomb launch site, Vincly, France
Cause of Loss
Flak damage from anti-aircraft batteries at St Omer on return from V-1 site attack; crashed into sea off Felixstowe

Crew (7 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
F/LtDouglas Charles Haggis
RAFVR
Pilot25BritishKilledCambridge City Cemetery
F/OGlyn Davies Mathias
RAFVR
Flight Engineer25BritishKilled—
SgtWilliam Augustus Dyer
RAFVR
Navigator20BritishKilledCambridge City Cemetery
F/OCharles Bryce Oxenham
424063 RNZAF
Bomb Aimer20New ZealanderKilledCWGC RecordCWGC
F/SgtErnest George MurrayWireless Operator26BritishKilledCambridge City Cemetery
SgtGeorge CovellMid Upper Gunner20BritishKilledCambridge City Cemetery
SgtAngus CraigRear Gunner19BritishKilled—

About the Crew

F/Lt Douglas Charles Haggis(age 25)Pilot

A 25-year-old pilot from Britain, Haggis was commanding Lancaster LM258 on what would be his last mission against V-1 launch sites in France.

F/O Charles Bryce Oxenham(age 20)Bomb Aimer

A 20-year-old New Zealander serving with the RNZAF, Oxenham was the bomb aimer aboard LM258. His story is told on the CWGC For Evermore website.

Memorial Details

Type
Town hall plaque

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Felixstowe Town Council

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Woodbridge Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Felixstowe Town Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23

Imperial War Museum register entry for the Lancaster LM258 memorial at Felixstowe Town Hall. Records the granite memorial unveiled in 2001 to commemorate the seven crew of 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.

Memorial reference 57032. Granite memorial unveiled at Felixstowe Town Hall in 2001.

Felixstowe Town CouncilRetrieved 2026-03-23

Felixstowe Town Council announcement of the 80th anniversary commemoration of Lancaster LM258. The aircraft was struck by flak near St Omer returning from a V-1 site attack at Vincly, France, and crashed into the sea near the town's New Pier on 25 August 1944.

Aircraft attempted to reach RAF Woodbridge emergency landing ground. Witnessed circling Felixstowe with undercarriage lowered before crashing into the sea. Pilot Flt Lt Doug Haggis (age 25) was washed up at Fagbury Beach on 1 September 1944.

CWGC / For EvermoreRetrieved 2026-03-23

CWGC story of F/O Charles Bryce Oxenham, RNZAF bomb aimer aboard Lancaster LM258. Oxenham was 20 years old and from New Zealand, one of many Commonwealth airmen serving with 218 Squadron.

Crew included New Zealand and British personnel. Oxenham was RNZAF, serving with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.

IBCC Digital ArchiveRetrieved 2026-03-23

International Bomber Command Centre loss record for Lancaster LM258 HA-Q, listing Flt Lt Douglas Charles Haggis as pilot. Records the loss on 25 August 1944 during operations against V-1 sites.

Aircraft code HA-Q. IBCC loss reference 211503.

Sources

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Felixstowe Town Council (retrieved 2026-03-23)
CWGC / For Evermore (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IBCC Digital Archive (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-23

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