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2/3 August 1943 Lancaster Mk II - DS715 KO-Q |
Crew on the 4th operation.
This a/c was seen by another crew to be struck by lightning and explode.
A furious electrical storm was raging over the Continent that night.
It crashed SW of Harburg, Germany.
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 DS673 KO-Q, 7 KIA. - Lancaster Mk II DS685 KO-A, 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.
Mosen Robert John - Pilot
P/O - Service No 41350
Age: 24
RNZAF
Son of Robert John and Gertrude Ellen Mosen, of Raetihi, Wellington, New Zealand,
and stepson of Louisa Kate Mosen, of Raetihi.
Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) Cemetery, Hamburg-Nord, Hamburg - grave 5A. N. 9.
Source: CWGC - photo via NZ War graves. - Find a Grave.
Evans Leonard Thomas - FE
Sgt - Service No 1652992
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of Thomas and Alice C. Evans, of Treforest, Glamorgan.
Husband of Gwendoline Evans, of Great Barr, Birmingham.
Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) Cemetery - collective grave 5A. N. 10-12.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by The Dark Poet
Jeffrey Francis Walter - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1537056
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of Francis Henry and Jessie Jeffrey, of Manchester.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 11. A. 16.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave by PupDawg.
Cavanagh Edward - WOP
Sgt - Service No 646879
Age:
RAF
Son of James and Agnes Cavanagh*.
Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) Cemetery - collective grave 5A. N. 10-12.
Source: CWGC - photo and info* via Anne Barbour, Thanks - Find a grave by The dark poet
Talbot James Leonard Keith - BA
F/S - Service No 42113
Age: 32
RNZAF
Son of
Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) Cemetery - collective grave 5A. N. 10-12.
Source: CWGC - photo Auckland War Memorial Museum - Find a grave by The Dark Poet
Innes Frank Faulks - MUG
F/S - Service No 410338
Age: 23
RAAF
Son of John McLeod Innes and Alice May Innes, of Mathoura, New South Wales, Australia.
Hamburg (Ohlsdorf) Cemetery - collective grave 5A. N. 10-12.
Source: CWGC - photo via Find a grave, by Bobby
Richards Fred James - RG
Sgt - Service No 1602799
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of Norman and Agnes Mary Richards, of Wickham, Hampshire.
Becklingen War Cemetery - grave 11. A. 15.
Source: CWGC - photo: Find a grave by Operation Picture Me.