220942 Sgt. Derek Carrott Royal Canadian Air Force 405th Squadron from:London (d.29th July 1944) My father's cousin, Derek Carrott served as a sergeant and flight engineer, on Lancaster mkIII LQ-M JB707 in 405 squadron.
His Lancaster went down on night of 28th/29th July 1944 after a raid on Hamburg. My Dad adored his older cousin and Derek was just 18 when lost, both of them being pranksters in their youth according to Derek's sister [now 85] and Derek was a family hero. Not the least because my Dad worshipped his cousin and would have tears in his eyes when telling me and my sister about his cousin Derek, some forty years later.
Derek's log book simply states Missing Presumed Killed for the fateful raid. We now know that his Lancaster went down in Ring Kobing Fjord off the Danish coast and although Derek was never found, his crew member Colin Blyth was found on the beach nearby and buried with full military honours by the Germans at Haurvig cemetery in Denmark.
Until her dying day in the nineteen seventies, his mother, my great aunt Jessie hoped and prayed that Derek had baled out, been captured and then escaped to Switzerland perhaps and would eventually return safely. The wishes of thousands of mothers no doubt?
RIP Derek, probably still ling with the wreckage of his Lancaster and still with his crew I expect.You are a hero to us and never forgotten I hope my Dad and you are enjoying your pranks once again?
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