P/O D.J. Marks, D.F.M.

This is my own personal recollection of my deceased great uncle's service in World War Two flying Avro Lancasters with Main Force and later with the Pathfinder Force;

*Douglas J. Marks joined the Royal Air Force sometime during 1940 for pilot training

*He was awarded his pilot's "wings" sometime during 1940 or 1941.

*He then proceeded to an HCU (I forgot which one it was though) and joined his crew

*It consisted of Douglas (pilot), Douglas Fentiman (flight engineer), John Dunbar (bomb aimer), George Hammond (navigator), Daniel McDonald (wireless op/AG), John Cumming (middle-upper gunner) and Peter Unwin (rear gunner).

*On 19 January 1943, he was posted to his first squadron; 467 (RAAF), RAF Bottesford and then completed his first operation, a "Gardening" mission, on 27 February 1943.

*By April 1943, he'd flown 15 missions and was posted to 97 Sqdn PFF on 4 May 1943.

*From May to July 1943, he flew 16 more missions, bringing his tally to 31 "ops" and he was promoted W.E.F. to the rank of Pilot Officer on or around the 28th July 1943.

*On his 31st and last mission, 29/30 July 1943, Avro Lancaster III, serial ED862/P, of 97 Squadron, was shot down and was marked down as "Failed To Return" in the ORB.

I've been doing research over the past four years to find out what happened to ED862 on the night in question and also to try and fill in all of the gaps in his service record.

 

I've heard of it Lou, but never been to the site Thanks for the link!

 

probable shoot down by ace Major Helmut Lent flying a Bf 110G-4 in Stab IV./NJG 1 as his 73rd victory at 02.10hrs, 20km North Ameland at 3800m.

 

Thanks Erich - I'm also trying to find out whether it was an actual confirmed kill on Lent's record