Gateway School 1930-31. Son of William and Elizabeth Tomlin. Husband of Barbara Tomlin.
Sergeant Tomlin was one of the crew of Lancaster JB403 that took off from RAF Elsham Wolds nine miles south east of Hull at 16:58 hours on the 2nd December 1943. The aircraft crashed while on an operation to Berlin in Germany, killing the crew of seven. Sergeant Tomlin is buried in Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery, Germany, Grave 5. D. 27.
During the Second World War 103 Squadron flew over 6000 operational sorties, at a high cost in both men and machines. 103 Squadron detailed 14 aircraft for this attack on the German city of Berlin.
For this attack on Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 458 aircraft – 425 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitos, 15 Halifaxes. There were no major diversions and the bombers took an absolutely direct route across the North Sea and Holland and then on to Berlin. The Germans identified Berlin as the target 19 minutes before Zero Hour and many fighters were waiting there. A total of 40 bombers – 37 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Mosquito – were lost, 8.7 per cent of the force. 460 (Australian) Squadron lost 5 of its 25 Lancasters on this raid.
Crew members:
Pilot – W/O John Edward Bellamy, 1181118, RAFVR, aged 23
Navigator – George Alfred England, 1511673, RAFVR, aged 28
Air Gnr – Thomas Mannuel Robbins, 1670155, RAFVR, aged 19
Air Bomber – Eric George Wyatt, 1464425, RAFVR, aged unknown W/less Op./Air Gnr – Herbert Charles Haslam, 1437209, RAFVR, aged 23 Air Gnr – Ricahrd Henrt Tomlin, 1196426, RAFVR, aged 27
Flt/Engnr – Sgt. Harry Brown, 1689518, RAFVR, aged 20
