Frederick Newman's Story.
Frederick Newman Skinner was born in Wallasey in 1921 to parents Arthur and Louisa Skinner.He trained as a Flight Engineer and joined 106 Squadron RAF based at Syerston in late 1942 as Sergeant. His first mission was on 14th December 1942 when he flew in a Lancaster designated to lay mines in the area North of the Friesian Islands. However, the mission was aborted after takeoff due to bad weather at Syerston so they returned to base.
The loss of Lancaster R5697
Frederick was killed on on his second mission on 20th December 1942
Operation record 20 December 1942
On 20th December 1942 Frederick was one of 7 crew assigned to Lancaster R5697 captained by Sergeant George Anderson. The mission was to bomb Duisberg in Germany as part of a force of 232 aircraft.
After dropping its bombs on Duisberg R5697 was returning to England when it was trapped in searchlights near the Dutch coast and was shot down by German Flak guns and crashed near to Monnickendam near Amsterdam. All 7 crew members were killed, and they were buried at Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery in Holland. The crew are also commemorated on the Monnickendam memorial
In the early 1990’s two of the engines from R5697 were recovered and one of them was restored to running condition. In addition two propellors from the aircraft were recovered. One of the propellers was used in Guy Gibson’s memorial and the second propeller was used for the Monnickendam memorial which was established to commemorate the crews of 3 RAF bombers that crashed in that area including R5697.
Monnickendam memorial
Frederick's grave
One of 5697's engines after recovery
Engine ofter refurbishment