Charles Edward Thomas's Story.
Charles Edward Thomas “Teddy" Bryan was the only son of Laurie and Elsie Bryan and was educated at Birkenhead Institute and later employed by the Norwich Union Insurance Co. He joined the Royal Air Force in February 1942 aged 21 years. He volunteered for aircrew duties with the RAF and trained as an Air Bomber ( Bomb Aimer). He completed his training with 1662CU and joined 103 Squadron Bomber Command based at Elsham Woods on 6th April 1943.103 Squadron flew Lancaster bombers. Teddy flew 16 missions against targets in Germany and Italy before being killed on his 17th mission when his aircraft was shot down by flak over Hamburg. All of his missions were flown as part of the crew of Warrant Officer John Stoneman. Prior to his death Teddy was lucky to survive on several occasions. On 13th April 1943 his second operational mission to Spezia in Italy in Lancaster W4318 his plane was hit by flak over the target destroying the radio then as they were crossing France on the way home they were hit by flak again causing a leak in the fuel tank which caused them to run out of fuel and the pilot made a perfect landing in the sea 50 miles from Falmouth. All the crew survived and escaped in the rubber dinghy. The plane stayed afloat for 50 hours but when a ship tried to tow it to land it sank and was lost. On 13th May 1943 on a mission to Bochum all 4 engines were hit by flak and one of them caught fire. They jettisoned their bombs but were able to return to base with all crew members unharmed.Charles took off on 2nd August 1943 as part of WO Stoneman’s crew in ED645 and bombed Hamburg as part of the infamous “ Operation Gommorah” that resulted in a firestorm and the deaths of over 30,000 people with 60% of the city destroyed. Whilst over the target their plane was hit by Flak and crashed with all crew being killed. The crew were buried temporarily at Hamburg Cemetery and were buried in permanent graves later.
Operation Report for the mission to Spezia on 13 April 1943
Lancaster W4318 floating in the sea off Falmouth after the crew baled out on 13 April 1943 returning from a mission in Italy
List of Teddy's missions
Temporary grave for the crew of ED645 in Hamburg
Teddy' permanent grave