Notes
According to Middlebrook and Everitt ('The Bomber Command War Diaries', published by Midland, 1995), Manser was flying a Manchester which was damaged by flak on the approach to Cologne. He continued and released the bomb load but the plane incurred further damage. He and the crew refused to bale out and tried to reach England but the Manchester steadily lost height: Manser opted to hold the plane steady and ordered the rest of the crew to leave, which they did safely, but he died in so doing. This work is the source of his burial place.