Long Bennington III Memorial

Date: 12/13th July 1943 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 467 Squadron (RAAF). 5 Group

Code: PO-L ('Liz'Beth')

Base: RAF Bottesford, Nottinghamshire

Location: 1/4 Mile from base

Pilot: Sgt. Cedric Arthur Chapman Aus/415117 RAAF Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Jack Greenwood 980381 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Albert Edward Michaels 1551320 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Norman Campbell Smith 1348535 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Patrick Donlevy 1369188 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Stewart Bruce 967187 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Stewart Buchanan 1372826 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

295 aircraft were dispatched for an attack on Turin, the force bombing between 02:10 and 04:15 hrs. 18 aircraft from the squadron were detailed to join with LM311 taking off at 22:48 hrs.

A tragic night for 467 losing three valuable crews, the others:

Lancaster III ED531 PO-T Flown by 20 year old, F/O. Graham Douglas Mitchell Aus/416693 of Tusmore, South Australia - killed with all his crew of seven, Lancaster III JA676 PO-B Flown by 30 year old Fl/Lt. Robert Winton Arnold Gibbs 40468 RAF From Weston-super-Mare, Somerset - all seven crew killed.

Successfully bombed the target but called to say that they had been hit by a direct hit from flak and that he had no elevator controls as well as a large hole in the tail section area of the aircraft.

The pilot managed to return to base and as he was very low on fuel requested an immediate landing.

Permission was granted and the pilot made a very shallow approach to the field. The pilot lowered the landing gear but on doing so the tail section separated from the main body. Th aircraft crashed in a fireball and despite a rapid response from ground staff it was clear that no crew member survived the impact.

Above Standing left to right: Observer (BA): Sgt. Smith, Flt Eng: Sgt. Greenwood, Air Gnr (R): Sgt Buchanan Seated left to right: WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Donlevy, Observer (N): Sgt. Michaels, Pilot: Sgt. Chapman, Air Gnr 9(MUG): Sgt. Bruce (Description revised courtesy Ralph Snape - January 2023)

The crew are remembered at Bottesfoed Council Chambers where a photograph of the crew has been placed. There is also a memorial to the crew placed in the field where they crashed as well as a tree planed by the 467 Squadron.

Sgt. Cedric Arthur Chapman . Oxford Cemetery (Botley). Plot I/2. Grave 24. Born on the 17th October 1922 in Subiaco, Western Australia. Son of Arthur Thomas (died 06th September 1973, age 80) and Frances Ellen Mary Ann Chapman (née Downing - died 08th June 1969, age 64), of Mosman Park, Western Australia. Epitaph: 'For Empire's Grace His Duty Nobly Done'.

Sgt. Jack Greenwood . Mankinholes Methodist Chapelyard. Grave 596. Son of John and Alice Greenwood , of Todmorden and husband of Mildred Greenwood, of Eastwood, Todmorden, England. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Of Jack Beloved Husband Of Mildred Greenwood'.

Sgt. Albert Edward Michaels . Glasgow Roman Catholic Cemetery (St. Kentigern's). Sec. 11. Grave 12. Born on the 04th November 1920 in Bottesford, England. Son of Albert and Frances Michaels, of Glasgow and husband of Margaret Michaels, of Glasgow, Scotland.

Sgt. Norman Campbell Smith . Edinburgh Cemetery( Newington Or Echo Bank). Sec. R. Grave 224. Son of James Fyfe Smith (died 03rd July 1942, age 63), and of Christiane Smith (née Béyer - died 30th December 1974, age 87), of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Sgt. Patrick Donlevy . Dalkeith New Cemetery. Sec. B. Grave 215. Son of John and Elizabeth Donlevy, of Pathhead, Scotland. Epitaph: 'Requiescant In Pace'.

Sgt. William Stewart Bruce . Camelon Cemetery. Sec. 7. Grave 192. Son of Alexander Wright Bruce and Alice McLuckie Bruce, of Clarkston, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Sgt. William Stewart Buchanan . Glasgow Cemetery (Cardonald). Sec. F. Grave 835. Son of James and Rebecca Buchanan, of Glasgow, Scotland.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Bottesford History Group, Air-27-1930-13/14 National Archives ,

Other sources as quoted below:

KTY/RS 29-01-2024 - Crew photo description revised

Local remembrance and memorial support

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Comprehensive local history account of Lancaster LM311's last flight from RAF Bottesford with 467 (RAAF) Squadron. Documents the seven crew members and the circumstances of the crash near Long Bennington village.

Full crew roster documentedTook off at 2248 hrs on 12 July 1943467 RAAF Squadron based at BottesfordTarget was Turin, Italy

IWM War Memorials Register entry for the memorial to the crew of Lancaster LM311 at Long Bennington.

IWM memorial reference 99212

Research article on the last flight of LM311, known as 'L-Liz'beth'. Details the crew composition: P/O Chapman (RAAF pilot), Sgt Michaels (navigator), Sgt Smith (bomb aimer), Sgt Donlevy (W/Op AG), Sgt Greenwood (flight engineer), F/Sgt Bruce (mid-upper gunner), Sgt Buchanan (rear gunner).

Aircraft nicknamed 'L-Liz'beth'Chapman was RAAFSgt Norman Campbell Smith was bomb aimer, age 21

CWGC story page for Sgt Norman Campbell Smith, navigator/bomber with 467 RAAF Squadron, who died aged 21 on 13 July 1943 aboard Lancaster LM311.

Sgt Norman Campbell Smith age 21 at deathCWGC verified casualty