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2/3 August 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS673 KO-V |
Shot down by Ofw Heitmann of the I./NJG3 and
crashed in the sea off Wilhelmshaven. Their 9th operation.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
740 aircraft - 329 Lancasters, 235 Halifaxes, 105 Stirlings, 66 Wellingtons,
5 Mosquitos despatched on a failed raid to Hamburg.
The bombing force encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany and
many crews turned back early or bombed alternative targets.
At least 4 aircraft, probably more, were lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning.
No Pathfinder marking was possible at Hamburg and only scattered bombing took place there.
Many other towns in a 100-mile area of Northern Germany received a few bombs.
A sizeable raid developed on the small town of Elmshorn, 12 miles from Hamburg.
It is believed that a flash of lightning set a house on fire here and bomber crews saw this through
a gap in the storm clouds and started to bomb the fire.
30 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4.1 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary August 1943.
ORB. 2th Aug., 1943.
15 aircraft took off between 23.21 hours & 23.55 hours to attack HAMBURG.
Electrical storms & severe icing was experienced & 3 aircraft failed to return from operations.
Lancaster Mk II DS685 KO-A, 7 KIA.
Lancaster Mk II DS715 KO-Q, 7 KIA.
2 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie
(R.D.S.683 - Captain F/O. R. L. BARNES)
(W.D.S.620 - Captain F/L. K. EGGLESTON)
due to oxygen and inter-com, failure & returned to Base early after jettisoning their bombs.
The remaining 9 aircraft were unable to reach the aircraft due to weather conditions or Flak barrage but
bombed different targets, such as
BREMERHAVEN, (D.D.S.629 - Captain Sgt. TINN. F. - starboard outer engine catching fire & sustaining 2 holes in wing due to Flak.)
WESERMUNDE, (F.D.S.661 - Captain F/L. J. T. ANDERSON - starboard outer engine became overheated &
aircraft come into a Flak barrage,
bombs jettisoned to gain manoeuvre ability)
WILHELMSBURG, (H.D.S.630 - Captain W/O. NOXON. E.)
10 miles West of HAMBURG (N.D.S.665 - Captain F/O. J. H. CHRISTIANSEN - heavy thunderstorm & severe icing),
CUXHAVEN, (K.D.S.658 - Captain F/S. PEATE. R. - electrical storms and icing, controls were effected)
BREMERVORDE, (M.D.S.684 - Captain F/S. BLACKWELL. F. - severe icing)
BUCHHOLZ, (U.D.S.670 - Captain F/S. BRADFORD. E.)
WENZENDORF, (Y.D.S.682 - Captain Sgt. HOWELL. A. - Port inner constant speed unit & magneto unserviceable)
from heights ranging between 8,000 feet and 28,000 feet.
Glow of fires was seen on leaving enemy coast. Photographs attempted.
05.40. 11 aircraft had returned safely to Base.
Bennett Robert William - Pilot
Sgt - Service No 1338150
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of William Colenso Calder Bennett and Catherine Bennett, of Streatham Hill, London.
Sage War Cemetery, Grossenkneten, Landkreis Oldenburg,
Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) - grave 4. D. 8.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave.
Hodges William Henry - FE
Sgt - Service No 1388688
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Henry George and Adelaide Maud Hodges, of Pitsea, Essex.
Sage War Cemetery - grave 4. D. 7.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by dawntree1964
Fuller Leslie Ernest - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1333900
Age:°1923 Ipswich
RAFVR
Son of Stanley Daniel Fuller, born 1894, Ipswich and Evelyn Ivy M. Tricker,
born 1897, Ipswich.
In 1943, Ipswich, Leslie married Olive Mary Boar, born 1921, Ipswich.
Sage War Cemetery - grave 4. D. 3.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by dawntree1964 - more info Ipswich War Memorial
Read Dudley Herbert - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1389067
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Herbert G. and Dorothy V. Read.
Husband of Elsie Olive Read, of Ilford, Essex.
Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Heidekreis, Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) - grave 27.J.4.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by flipside20.
Sparrow Herbert Alfred - BA
Sgt - Service No 1318964
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 27.J.5.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a grave by flipside20
Schlegel Kenneth Eckert - MUG
F/S - Service No R152251
Age: 22 °14 November 1920
RCAF
Son of Herbert C. and Pearl Boan (x 3 January 1912),
of Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 27.J.6.
Source: CWGC - photo: Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Find a Grave.
Bellamy Dudley William - RG
F/S - Service No 903979
Age:
RAFVR
Son of Frederick C. and Ellen Bellamy, of Knowle, Bristol
Sage War Cemetery - grave 4. D. 11.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave.