Photo: Tony Harding

Simon Glancey has provided the following:

Flight Sgt (Nav) George Frederick Denis LOWRISON, 1005772, 120 Sqn, R.A.F. Reykjavik.

Killed in the crash of Liberator GR.1 AM921/B. This aircraft suffered a fire soon after taking off from Reykjavik at 11.36 hours, and made a forced landing during which the inner starboard engine fell out and collapsed the starboard main wheel. The aircraft came to rest of a gravel heap and the forward fuselage caught fire. As well as a full crew, it was carrying passengers on a transit journey. Nine killed, with six survivors, as follows:

W/O. P L B. Ellis. Captain - killed
F/S. J G. Benson. 2nd Pilot - killed
F/S. G. Lowrison. Navigator - killed
Sgt. D. McClelland. Flight Engineer - survived
F/S. A. Barthorpe. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - survived
Sgt. G. Young. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - survived
Sgt. W. Stanfield. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - killed

Passengers:

Cdr. C. Harris - survived
Lt. A. Finn - survived
S/L. H. Catchlove - survived
F/O. W. Wright, 120 Squadron Catering Officer - killed
F/L. F H. Salt - killed
LAC. M I. Kidd - killed
Cpl. H Y. Mills - killed
Cpl. J D. Cole - killed

Earlier, on December 15th 1942, Lowrison was the Navigator on AM921, with Ellis as pilot, when they attacked an unidentified German submarine. This is from the 120 Sqn O.R.B. Form 541:

"09.20 airborne Reykjavik on A/S [Anti Submarine] sweep. 11.55 hrs began homing procedure B and homed on to CV [Convoy] HX218 in posn 55º21’N 34º50’W, 54 MVs [merchant vessels], course 055T/6 kts. E/V [escort vessel] requested A/C to sweep 15 mile range round C/V. A/C carried this out until 15.30 hrs when one U-Boat was sighted in posn. 55º27’N, 34º50’W, and attacked with 6 DC’s [depth charges]. Several black objects blown into air by DC explosion. One D/R [?] later seen apparently in same area. 16.15 hrs R/T to C/V giving details of attack – no reply from C/V. 16.45 hrs C/V altered course in many directions, later began re-assembling. A/C continued patrol until 17.43 hrs when CO set for base which was reached 22.34 hrs.

W/O F L B Ellis – Captain
F/Sgt J G Benson – Second Pilot
F/Sgt G Lowrison – Navigator
Sgt D McLelland – F/Engr
F/Sgt T McKie – 1st Wop/AG
Sgt G W Young – 2nd Wop/AG
Sgt W Stanfield – 3rd Wop/AG"

An unidentified newspaper contained the following:

Roll of Honour:
Lowrison. To the precious memory of Denis (Flight-Sergeant Observer Navigator, R.A.F., V.R.) who lost his life on 9th January 1943 whilst serving his King in Iceland. (Ever remembered by all at home).

George Frederick Denis Lowrison is remembered at Hepscott onH43.01 and at Morpeth M17.06 M17.07 and M17.12

Coastal Command Losses 1939-45
The CWGC entry for Flight Sergeant Lowrison