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22/23 March 1944 Lancaster Mk II - DS766 KO-R |
On return the a/c crashed at Bredfield, Woodbridge at 0005 hours.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
816 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitos.
Again, an indirect route was employed, this time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee
and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt.
This, and the Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time;
Hannover was forecast as the main target.
Only a few fighters eventually found the bomber stream.
The marking and bombing were accurate and Frankfurt suffered another heavy blow;
the city's records show that the damage was even more severe than in the raid carried out 4 nights earlier.
Half of the city was without gas, water and electricity 'for a long period'.
All parts of the city were hit but the greatest weight of the attack fell in the western districts.
The report particularly mentions severe damage to the industrial areas along the main road to Mainz.
162 B-17s of the Eighth Air Force used Frankfurt as a secondary target when they could not reach
Schweinfurt 36 hours after this RAF raid and caused further damage.
The Frankfurt diary has this entry:
"The three air raids of 18th, 22nd and 24th March were carried out by a combined plan of the British
and American air forces and their combined effect was to deal the worst and most fateful blow of the
war to Frankfurt, a blow which simply ended the existence of the Frankfurt which had been built up since the Middle Ages."
33 aircraft - 26 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes - were lost, 4.0 per cent of the force.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary March 1944.
ORB. 22nd MARCH 1944.
21 aircraft (took off between 18.38 hours and 19.04 hours) were detailed to attack FRANKFURT but 1 failed to take off.
1 aircraft (L.DS.826 - Captain F/S. CAMERON, D.) returned early owing to oil pressure dropping badly. Bombs jettisoned safe.
Aircraft R.DS.766 (F/S. POPE W) crashed (00.05.) on returning from operations at WOODBRIDGE.
This aircraft was damaged by enemy action (one engine unserviceable), and the pilot, wireless operator and two gunners were
killed on crashing, the remainer of the crew, who were dangerously injured were admitted to hospital.
The navigator, Sgt. HATFIELD, subsequently died in hospital.
The remainder of the aircraft identified the target by red and green target indicators, some visually,
on which bombs were dropped from heights varying between 19,500 feet to 21,500 feet.
Many crews observed large fires in target area and considered attack successful.
other crews thought PFF scattered. fires were seen 100 miles after leaving target.
(A/C. U.LL.666 - Captain F/S. CAMPBELL, C. - Enemy aircraft appeared to know route - many aircraft shot down).
0115. 19 aircraft had returned to base.
Pope Walter Charles - Pilot
F/S - Service No 1317822
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of
Instow (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Devon - grave ?
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave.
Holman - FE
Sgt - Service No
Age: - injured
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Hatfield Peter Albert - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1399719
Age: 20 - died from his injuries on 26 March 1944.
RAFVR
Son of
Chatham (Palmerston Road) Cemetery, Kent - grave 11.308.
Source: CWGC Photo Find a Grave by Brad Evans.
Mabey - WOP
Sgt - Service No
Age: - injured
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Grady John - BA
Sgt - Service No 1076548
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of
Doncaster Old Cemetery, Yorks. - grave I.X.455.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Charlie
Haugh George - MUG
Sgt - Service No 2209203
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of
Cambridge City Cemetery - grave 14511.
Source: CWGC - photo: Find a grave by Len.
Bretscher Eric Maxwell - RG
Sgt - Service No 1212930
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of
Brighton (Woodvale) Borough Crematorium, Sussex - Panel 1.
Source: CWGC - Find a grave by Andy Baker.