Also lost on this mission: Lancaster Mk II DS685 KO-A, 7 KIA.
Also lost on this mission: Lancaster Mk II DS715 KO-Q, 7 KIA.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Sgt - Service No 1318964

Age:

RAFVR

Son of

Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 27.J.5.

Source: CWGC

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 Ipswich War Memorial

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.