not go unnoticed by the aircrews, Navigator Flight Sergeant Jack Briggs sums up the general feeling towards Wheeler at this time: Final flight Wing Commander Wheeler took off on the night of 22/23 March 1944 in Lancaster serial number ME666, coded EM-A, to join a raid against Frankfurt. It was to be his 158th operational mission. Arriving at the target area a little ahead of schedule Wheeler began flying circuits until the Pathfinder force had marked the target. Just as the target markers were falling, Wheelers Lancaster was hit by a large calibre flak shell. Immediately engine power was lost and some of the control surfaces became unresponsive. Struggling to maintain control, Wheeler ordered the crew to bale out, only the navigator, rear gunner and mid-upper gunner managed to escape the stricken aircraft before one of the wings fell off and the aircraft exploded. The wreckage came down in woodland near to the small town of Bad Schwalbach, about west of Frankfurt. The bodies of Wing Commander Wheeler and his crew are buried in the British Military Cemetery at Durnbach in Bavaria. References External links www.london-gazette.co.uk www.vashonmedia.com www.thepeerage.com Further reading Bowman, Martin. "Mosquito Fighter/Fighter Bomber Units of World War 2". Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1998. 1898 births 1944 deaths British Army personnel of the Russian Civil War Burials in Bavaria Rifle Brigade officers Recipients of the Military Cross Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) People educated at Eton College Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Commercial aviators Royal Air Force wing commanders Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II British World War II fighter pilots British World War II bomber pilots Royal Air Force pilots of World War II British Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Ludlow