Swart, Edward Cornelius Martin

Date of birth:: October 9th, 1920 (Wath upon Dearne/South Yorkshire, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: November 5th, 1944 (Laurensberg/NRW, Germany)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Overloon
Plot: III. Row: A. Grave: 9.
Service number:: 1486325
Nationality:: British

Biography

Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Rear/Air Gunner
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit/squadron: 102 Sqdn. (Ceylon)
Aircraft: Handley Page Halifax lll MZ772
Markings: DY-Q

Took off 17:41 on 4 Nov 1944 from RAF Pocklington for a night raid. Operation: Bochum. 749 aircraft, 28 losses (3.7%), mainly due to night-fighters. 346 Free French Squadron lost 5 out of its 16 Halifaxes. A very successful attack with severe damage to the centre of Bochum. More than 4000 buildings were destroyed, including the steel works. 994 people were killed. This was the last major raid on Bochum. MZ772 crashed at Laurensberg, 4km NW of Aachen, Germany. Cause of loss not established.

Originally buried at Margraten American Cemetery, before being reburied at Overloon 1 May 1947.

Other crew:
* Flying Officer Eric BOLTON (157916), Wireless Operator, Hotton War Cemetery
* Flying Officer Anthony Carlyle CAMERON (415923), Pilot, Hotton War Cemetery
* Flying Officer Martin Peter FROBISHER (153321), Bomb Aimer, Hotton War Cemetery
* Flying Officer Robert Frederick HUDSON (156283), Navigator, Hotton War Cemetery
* Sergeant Thomas JONES (3010723), Flight Engineer, Hotton War Cemetery
* Sergeant Jack Madeley WILBY (1595172), Mid Upper Gunner, Hotton War Cemetery