Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1921 in the Manchester R.D. - ref:
8d/504, the only child of Harold & Mary Shenton (nee Blakely).

1939 National Registration - 26 Hayling Road, Ashton upon Mersey.   Harold
Shenton - Born on the 12th November 1896 - Married - occ: Dentist.   Mary
Shenton - Born on the 20th February 1898 - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   Malcolm J. Shenton - Born on the 3rd September 1921 - Single -
occ Student.  Clara Shenton - Born on the 6th September 1878 - Single -
occ: Secretary.

Attended Stretford Grammar School and Manchester University.

Commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 1st October 1943.   Promoted to
Flying Officer on the 1st April 1944.

The 6th March 1944 edition of the Manchester Evening News reported
Malcolm's engagement to Pamela Rosemary Sims (WAAF), the only daughter of
Mrs. F. Smithies of 21 Sandown Drive, Sale and Mr. L.W. Sims of Gillingham,
Kent.

Air Bomber, Flying with 625 Sqn, they took off at 1914 hrs from R.A.F.
Kelstern, Lincolnshire, in a Lancaster Mk.I, No. PD388 CF-Z to bomb a
synthetic oil plant at Leuna.   Four of the 7 crew members are commemorated
at Runnymede, 2 were taken prisoner and one body was discovered in the
Eifel region of Germany on the 8th March near to Dümpelfeld, some 6 km N
of Adenau.  They were carrying a bomb load of 1 x 4,000 lb 'Cookie' HE bomb
and 12 x 500 lb HE bombs.

One of 30 - 625 Sqn aircraft detailed to this raid on the important
synthetic oil production works of IG Farben, situated 3 miles south of
Merseburg, 20 miles west of Leipzig.  This was a major raid employing a
total of 573 Lancaster Bombers and 14 Mosquitos in two attacks 3 hours
apart.  625 Sqn were part of the second attack.

By 01.00 hrs they had delivered their bomb load and were south of Bonn on
their way home, when they were attacked by a night fighter.  The a/c
quickly caught fire and and went into a spin.  The W/Op and Rear/Gunner
managed to bale out and became POWs.   One other body was found later on,
but the remains of Malcom and two other crew members were never found
having been incinerated in the remains of the crashed aircraft.   A wooden
cross with a plaque listing the names of the crew has been erected at the
place where the a/c crashed.

I am most grateful to the website - www.aircrewremembered.com for much of
the above information.

Commemorated on the Stretford Grammar School's Memorial and the Manchester
University memorial.. 

CWGC - Son of Harold & Mary Shenton of Sale.  

In 1948 a large oak memorial cross in his memory was hung from the roof
beams of St. Martin's P.C., Ashton upon Mersey.  This cross was carved by
M.J. Lenegan.