F/Lt. Alastair Clarence Watt
Royal Canadian Air Force 103 Sqd.
from:Merrickville, Ontario, Canada
(d.17th Mar 1945)
Al Watt enlisted on the 17th of September, 1942 at Ottawa. He was posted 103 Squadron on November 25th 1944 and killed in action March 17th 1945. His hometown was Wolford Township, Ontario and from 1929 to 1938 he attended Merrickville Public School, from 1938 to 1940 Merrickville Continuation School. He then worked as a Truck Driver and as a Commercial Traveler. In 1939 until 1942 he served with the Brockville Rifles as a Sgt. His height is listed as 5’ 5” and weight 145lbs. He then joined the RCAF.
Crew on first and last Operations:
Last Mission of NN758: NN758 departed Elsham Wolds at 17:15 as one of 15 aircraft headed for Nuremburg. All took off in good weather and on arrival in the target area it was found to be quite clear. All machines carried window (chaff) and cameras and the bomb load was: 1 x 4000lb High Capacity, 9 x 140 x 4lb Incendiary and 1 X Monroe (leaflets)
- Sgt. J.F. Jim Jackson, Flight Engineer (RAF, 3040028) KIA 17-Mar-45
- F/Sgt. W.H. Bill Fetherston, Bomb Aimer(RCAF, R/190659) KIA 17-Mar-45
- F/Sgt. G.W. George Blackshaw, Navigator (RAF, 1620678) KIA 17-Mar-45
- F/Sgt. J.S. Stan Hickey, Wireless Operator (RAF, 1230658) KIA 17-Mar-45
- F/Sgt. A.C. Bellisle, Mid-Upper Gunner (RCAF, R/271059) POW 18-Mar-45 (Stalag 5a)
- F/Sgt. A.E. Al Wotherspoon, Rear Gunner (RCAF, R/192267) KIA 17-Mar-45
The Path Finder Force were right on time and the markers were well placed and concentrated, and all crews on the Master Bombers instructions, who was very clear and precise, bombed these with it is believed good results, as fires were observed. Defences consisted of a light flak barrage, with some searchlight activity but many fighters were seen and a large number of aircraft were seen to go down in the target area. In addition to F/Lt Watt and crew, F/O Stepharnoff and F/O Armour and crews were also reported missing.
Crash: It was reported that NN758 was observed to go down near the village of Laichingen around 2200 hours. Buergermeister Schwenkmezger stated that aircraft believed to be a Lancaster had crashed 3km north of the village of Laichingen at about 2200 hours on March 16 1945. The remains of six airmen were found and buried at the local cemetery. The grave digger Pfrang stated that 2 of the 6 were intact, 3 were terribly burned and the other had no legs. All were buried without coffins. It was reported observed that an unexploded 4000lb bomb was 20 meters from the wreckage. There also appeared to be evidence of light flak hits on the starboard tailplane. F/Sgt Bellisle bailed out and was captured the next day. He was held as a POW at Stalag 5a and returned to Canada on May 20th 1945.
Timeline: March 16th 1945 1715 – NN758 Departs Elsham Wolds. 2130 – Estimated time at target (based on other A/C departing at same time). 2200 – Lancaster reported crashed at Laichingen.
Burial: F/LT A.C. Watt, F/Sgt. A.E. Wotherspoon, F/Sgt. W.H. Fetherston, Sgt. J.F. Jackson, F/Sgt. G.W. Blackshaw, F/Sgt. J.S. Hickey were buried together by local Germans in the town of Laichingen with a cross inscribed in German "Here Lie Six Unknown British Airmen" . The Germans assumed the whole crew was British as the only identity discs found at the crash site was that of Sgt Jackson. The identity discs were turned over to the local Luftwaffe headquarters. The grave was exhumed post war by US investigators who believed the remains to be American. The remains were then reburied by the Germans. The grave site was visited by an RAF investigator (F/LT Mauldon) in May 1947 who reported "The grave was visited and found to be in most excellent condition with a stone border and many flowers."
