Sergeant Edward Colhoun McLaughlin of Ballyronan, Co. Londonderry served with R.A.F. 100 Squadron when his crew failed to return from a night raid over Berlin.
Sergeant
2204122
Sergeant Edward Colhoun McLaughlin (2204122) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was the only son of Edward McLaughlin and Jennie McLaughlin of Ballyronan, Co. Londonderry.
In civilian life, Edward attended Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry. His father was a constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Before enlisting, Edward lived and worked in England where his uncle ran a grocer shop.
Sergeant McLaughlin died between 2nd January 1944 and 3rd January 1944 aged 20 years old while serving in R.A.F. 100 Squadron. He was the rear gunner of Avro Lancaster III JB549 HW-C. The bomber took off from R.A.F. Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England at 2339hrs on 2nd January 1944 bound for a raid on Berlin, Germany.
Although crews who took part in the previous night’s raid did not land until approx. 8 a.m. this morning, operations were again ordered and nine of the Squadron’s aircraft took part in another attack on the German Capital.
ThreeTwo of these aircraft returned early owing to engine trouble, and the other was erroneously diverted to EXETER on his way to the target. One aircraft failed to return, the captain of the aircraft being P/O HENDERSON, G.W. (CAN.J.19170) who, together with the remainder of his crew, had carried out a considerable number of operational sorties with the Squadron.
Sergeant Edward Colhoun McLaughlin has no known grave and his name is on Panel 233 of the Runnymede Memorial, Egham, Surrey, England.