The Airmen's Stories - P/O M Kramer

Marcus Kramer was born in Bermondsey, London on 25th December 1911, the son of Emanuel Kramer (1883-1962) and Rosie Kramer (nee Black 1887-1971).

He attended Southend High School where he was a fine athlete.

Kramer worked as a pharmacist in Thorpe Bay, Essex. He joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer.

Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training, was commissioned in early February 1940 and joined 600 Squadron at Manston in March.

On 10th May 1940 Kramer flew as gunner with P/O RC Haine in L1514 BQ*N as one of six Blenheims detailed for an afternoon attack on Waalhaven aerodrome, Rotterdam which had been captured by German paratroopers that morning.

After the attack the Blenheims were jumped by Me110s and five were shot down.

Kramer, Haine and the CO's navigator, Sgt. Davis, evaded capture and made their way to the Hague from where they were evacuated by HMS Hereward  to Harwich. The ship had been sent by King George VI to evacuate the Dutch Royal Family.

Kramer was awarded the DFC (gazetted 9th July 1940).

He was posted to 256 Squadron at Catterick on 1st January 1941. He left for HQ 10 Group on 3rd February as Group Gunnery Officer.

He was killed on 21st May 1941 as a Flight Lieutenant with 29 Squadron, aged 29. Tiger Moth II N6853 of 10 Group Communications Flight ditched in the River Severn near Beachley, Gloucestershire after running out of fuel in bad weather. S/Ldr. WJ Methven was also lost.

Kramer's body was not found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 29.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.

He is also commemorated on the Jewish servicemen's memorial at Southend.

His younger sister Sylvia married Sidney Isidore Rosen in 1940.

Rosen enlisted in the RAF and was a crew member of Landing Ship LST417 riding at anchor off Termini Imerese (Sicily), awaiting to sail in convoy FFS.2 for Operation Avalanche (the Salerno landings) on 7th September 1943.

She was torpedoed at 2125 hrs by an Italian SM79 bomber. The torpedo hit the port rudder, blowing off 8 metres of stern. The watertight doors were immediately closed and this saved her.

Rosen and four others were killed:

LAC J Ashurst
LAC HF Hughes
LAC D McAlpine
LAC LGW Webb

All lie in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily.