Sergeant Jack Ratcliffe was from Middleton Junction. He was married to Alice Ratcliffe.

He was a flight engineer on a lancaster with 115  Squadron, flying out of Witchford.

In the night of 15 to 16 February 1944, 115 Sqn participated in a raid on Berlin, during the fifteenth raid of what was called The Battle for Berlin. In the period between November 1943 and March 1944, Bomber Command paid particular attention to the German capital.

115 Sqn RAF

Sgt. Ratcliffe and his crew flew in Lancaster LL689-P, one of 891 heavy bombers to attack the city this night. A total of 42 bombers were lost, two of 115 Sqn. Many were shot down by Flak en route to the target and the anti aircraft defenses over the city were intense. Sgt. Ratcliffe's crew was downed on the way back to Witchford. LL689-P was shot down and claimed by oberleutnant Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer, a leading German night-fighter ace, at 23.19. It crashed into the IJsselmeer. Sgt. Ratcliffe's body was recovered from the water on 16 February near Schellinkhout and buried the next day.

Two of the crew survived and were taken prisoner. Flight Sergeant James William Ralph, Pilot officer John David Dill-Russell and Sergeant Bernard Spencer John Akehurst are still missing and are mentioned on the Runnymede Memorial.

Hoorn, The Netherlands

Directions to Hoorn General Cemetery

Acknowledgements:
Mrs. Jean Darley
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Sources:
Bombers Over Berlin, Alan W. Cooper, Patrick Stephens Ltd., Wellingborough, 1989
115 Squadron Roll of Honour, Don Bruce, 2001

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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