207 Squadron RAF Association
Memorial at St Margaret's Church, Swinton, near Mexborough, South Yorkshire
P/O Frank Mason

MASON Pilot Officer Frank - 946342, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; Rear Gunner: 207 Sqn d 14 October 1941 aged 26 Son of George Harry and Mary Ellen Mason, of Swinton, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. Avro Manchester I LM7321 EM-D target Cologne Railway Station. 5 killed , 2 evaded

14 October 1941 207 Squadron Manchester I LM7321 EM-D target Cologne Railway Station.

took off from RAF Waddington. It was held in searchlight beams over Liege. It was shot down by a Me110C night fighter (Oberleutnant Heinrich Griese, 1./NJG1 based at St Trond). The attack was devastating, only two managing to bale out before the aircraft crashed and exploded at Horion-Hozemont, 4km east of Comblain-au-Pont and 17km south of Liege, Belgium at 0444 local time. Those who died are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery. P/O Unsworth was awarded his DFM for services on 49 Sqn.

kia = killed in action
Pilot - P/O Joseph Unsworth DFM RAFVR - kia
2nd Pilot - Howard Bertram Carroll RAFVR - evaded
Observer - P/O William Egbert Simpson RCAF - kia
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - Sgt Gilbert Thomas Cox RAFVR - evaded
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - Flight Sgt Ernest Moulding RAF - kia
Air Gunner (front) - Sgt Alexander Fernie Dickson RCAF - kia
Air Gunner (rear) - P/O Frank Mason RAFVR - kia

This crew was one of two lost of the nine in that Cologne raid from 207 Squadron.

images: John Humphrey - if you can provide John with information on any of the other names on this memorial please contact him suzanne.humphreyATvirgin.net (replace AT with @ before sending)

last updated 21 Apr 2006 - if you have information on Frank Mason or the rest of his crew please contact the editor via the 207 Squadron Association website http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk