F/Lt J P Morris Memorial Bench, Stratford-upon-Avon

F/Lt Joseph Phillip Morris and his crew were posted to 550 Squadron on 20 October 1944, barely six weeks before they were lost. NG251 was despatched on 6/7 December 1944 to attack the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg — a heavily defended target that Bomber Command returned to repeatedly in the final winter of the war. The aircraft was hit by flak and came down near Dolzig. All seven aboard were killed.

One element of the crew composition adds particular weight: the regular wireless operator, Sgt J R Byrne, was kept at base that night for a commission interview. His replacement, Sgt W Roberts, died in his place. Byrne survived the war.

The crew are buried across two Dutch war cemeteries: Venray (Morris, Furber, Bailey, Roberts, Hooper) and Overloon (Leonard, Dennis). F/Sgt Hooper's grave is at Berlin 1939–1945 War Cemetery.

Personal or family memorial. War Memorials Online record maintained by volunteers.

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