619 Squadron RAF, LM756 F-Freddy Adnet Memorial Blog
This blog is dedicated to the crew of Lancaster LM756 F-Freddy of 619 Squadron Royal Air Force who were shot down on a major air raid on the Obersalzburg at Berchtesgaden in Germany. This was the home of Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat and the location of his famous Eagles Nest. The raid took place on the 25th of April 1945, just a few days before the end of the war in Europe.
This was one of the last ever Lancaster Bomber crews to suffer loss of life on operations in World War Two and their story has been lost for many years.
The blog also follows the work done by those involved in creating a memorial to this crew in Adnet, Austria, the location where LM756 eventually crashed.
The Boys of Six One Nine
One early morn’ in April, in 1945,
The seven climbed aboard her, to take them to the skies
They knew where they were going, to Nazi Germany,
To rid the world of tyranny, and let us all be free
Four of them from Canada, three of the from Blighty
Little did they know that morn’ four would meet the almighty
Their mission was to visit, an evil Nazi man
To send their bombs down on him, and burn his house and land
They flew to Berchtesgaden, a cute Bavarian town
A place with a dark shadow, where Hitler settled down
They came with many others, to visit Hitler’s home
To crush the Alpine Redoubt, so that others freely roam
The snow topped Alpine mountains, would guide them on their way
But snow would melt from fire, when they dropped their bombs that day
And as the seven flew in, there was a mighty crack
F Freddy came under fire, from the evil Nazi flak
Norm and Wilf in the cockpit, Mid Upper Gunner Ted
Rear Gunner Gordon Walker, all four would soon be dead
Bomb Aimer Arthur Sharman, jumped out with his chute
His eyes towards F Freddy, to see who followed suit
Fred Cole was in the doorway, his chute already open
Then Jack Speers came along, and words of comfort spoken
The three fell down toward the ground, and all were feeling bashed
They saw their comrades disappear, when in Adnet town they crashed
But here was a religious man, of his faith he was proud
Gave them a Christian burial, and laid them in the ground
Now seventy years later, a bird stands on a hill
To mark the place they lost their lives, return they never will
Once enemies but no longer, Adnet honoured those men fine
Fighting against tyranny, The boys of Six One Nine.
Kevin Ruane MBE
This was one of the last ever Lancaster Bomber crews to suffer loss of life on operations in World War Two and their story has been lost for many years.
The blog also follows the work done by those involved in creating a memorial to this crew in Adnet, Austria, the location where LM756 eventually crashed.
The Boys of Six One Nine
One early morn’ in April, in 1945,
The seven climbed aboard her, to take them to the skies
They knew where they were going, to Nazi Germany,
To rid the world of tyranny, and let us all be free
Four of them from Canada, three of the from Blighty
Little did they know that morn’ four would meet the almighty
Their mission was to visit, an evil Nazi man
To send their bombs down on him, and burn his house and land
They flew to Berchtesgaden, a cute Bavarian town
A place with a dark shadow, where Hitler settled down
They came with many others, to visit Hitler’s home
To crush the Alpine Redoubt, so that others freely roam
The snow topped Alpine mountains, would guide them on their way
But snow would melt from fire, when they dropped their bombs that day
And as the seven flew in, there was a mighty crack
F Freddy came under fire, from the evil Nazi flak
Norm and Wilf in the cockpit, Mid Upper Gunner Ted
Rear Gunner Gordon Walker, all four would soon be dead
Bomb Aimer Arthur Sharman, jumped out with his chute
His eyes towards F Freddy, to see who followed suit
Fred Cole was in the doorway, his chute already open
Then Jack Speers came along, and words of comfort spoken
The three fell down toward the ground, and all were feeling bashed
They saw their comrades disappear, when in Adnet town they crashed
But here was a religious man, of his faith he was proud
Gave them a Christian burial, and laid them in the ground
Now seventy years later, a bird stands on a hill
To mark the place they lost their lives, return they never will
Once enemies but no longer, Adnet honoured those men fine
Fighting against tyranny, The boys of Six One Nine.
Kevin Ruane MBE
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.