Harry Clifford Locke was from St. Budeaux, Plymouth.

He was an air gunner on a Mitchell bomber with 98 squadron. 98 Sqn was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force in April of 1943. After the invasion it was stationed on the continent. In February 1945, 139 Wing, of which it was part together with 180 and 320 (Dutch) squadrons, was stationed at Melsbroek airfield in Belgium.

  98 Sqn RAF

On 6 February 1945, 43 Mitchells of 139 Wing and 18 Bostons attacked the railroad bridge at Deventer. Sgt. Locke was an air gunner on Mitchell HD380 'Y'.The results of the attack were rather poor, as only a small portion of the bridge was hit and most bombs fell short of the target.

The Allied planes received heavy and accurate anti aircraft fire form the German defenses near the bridge. One Mitchell of 98 squadron was shot down. The plane came down in a part of town called de Worp, which is like a nature park. As the plane had not released its bombs yet, these exploded on impact, killing the crew, obliterating the plane and damaging buildings in the vicinity. Two of the crew were recovered.

Sgt. Locke is buried in Deventer General Cemetery at the Raalterweg. He was 19. He is buried in grave no. 3200.

Also buried here is the navigator, F/S John Quick. Another member of this crew, Sgt Jack Ward, is still missing and commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Deventer, The Netherlands

See also:
F/S John Quick
Sgt Jack Ward

Sources:
Gerrit Zwanemburg, En Toen Was Het Stil,  Royal Dutch Air Force, ny
Mr. Russell Legross
Mr. Frank Davies
Mr. Herman Rechterschot, Deventer Archives

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

Directions to Deventer General Cemetery

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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