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22/23 May 1944 Lancaster Mk III - ND745 A4-D |
T/O Witchford 2259 - target Dortmund, Germany.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Homeward-bound the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Hans-Heinz Augenstein
of the 12./NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield. Credited to Augenstein as his 31st victory.
Crashed nearby the Cemetery from Zondereigen, not far from Baarle-Hertog, Belgium. Source: Aviation Safety Network 361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups carried out the
first large raid on Dortmund for a year.
The attack fell mainly in the south-eastern districts of Dortmund, mostly in residential areas. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4.8 per cent of the force. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary April 1944. ORB. 22nd May, 1944.
20 aircraft (5 from "A" Flt., 7 from "B" Flt., & 8 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack DORTMUND,
but one failed to take off due to Mid Upper oxygen pipe & economizer being unserviceable.
The remainder took off between 22.46 hours & 23.03 hours.
5 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to
(A/C. C.LL943 - Captain F/O. T. W. MILLER) jamming of API ;
(A/C. N.LL.935 - Captain F/S. ROBERTSON, J.)
Rear Gunner's inter-com. & radio transmitter being unserviceable;
(A/C. V.LL.936 - Captain P/O. D. CAMERON) inter-com being unserviceable &
(* A/C. P.HK.541 - Captain F/O. J. M. WESLEY) severe icing;
and all returned early, * one landing at R.A.F. WOODBRIDGE.
(A/C. J.HK.552 - Captain F/S. McLACHLAN, A. - inability of aircraft to climb).
1 aircraft D.ND.745 (Captain F/O. J. H. WARD) failed to return from operations,
no news being received.
The remaining 13 aircraft successfully identified the target by means of red & green indicator markers
on which they dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 15,000 feet & 21,000 feet.
Many fires, chiefly oil fires & an orange coloured explosion were seen.
Attack at first appeared to be rather scattered but later appeared to be more concentrated.
Photographs were attempted.
Source photos: Traces of War and IBCC.
of the 12./NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 G-4 from St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield. Credited to Augenstein as his 31st victory.
Crashed nearby the Cemetery from Zondereigen, not far from Baarle-Hertog, Belgium. Source: Aviation Safety Network 361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups carried out the
first large raid on Dortmund for a year.
The attack fell mainly in the south-eastern districts of Dortmund, mostly in residential areas. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4.8 per cent of the force. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary April 1944. ORB. 22nd May, 1944.
20 aircraft (5 from "A" Flt., 7 from "B" Flt., & 8 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack DORTMUND,
but one failed to take off due to Mid Upper oxygen pipe & economizer being unserviceable.
The remainder took off between 22.46 hours & 23.03 hours.
5 aircraft were forced to abandon the sortie due to
(A/C. C.LL943 - Captain F/O. T. W. MILLER) jamming of API ;
(A/C. N.LL.935 - Captain F/S. ROBERTSON, J.)
Rear Gunner's inter-com. & radio transmitter being unserviceable;
(A/C. V.LL.936 - Captain P/O. D. CAMERON) inter-com being unserviceable &
(* A/C. P.HK.541 - Captain F/O. J. M. WESLEY) severe icing;
and all returned early, * one landing at R.A.F. WOODBRIDGE.
(A/C. J.HK.552 - Captain F/S. McLACHLAN, A. - inability of aircraft to climb).
1 aircraft D.ND.745 (Captain F/O. J. H. WARD) failed to return from operations,
no news being received.
The remaining 13 aircraft successfully identified the target by means of red & green indicator markers
on which they dropped their bombs from heights ranging between 15,000 feet & 21,000 feet.
Many fires, chiefly oil fires & an orange coloured explosion were seen.
Attack at first appeared to be rather scattered but later appeared to be more concentrated.
Photographs were attempted.
Source photos: Traces of War and IBCC.
Ward John Halliday - Pilot
F/O - Service No 126716
Age: 30
RAFVR
Son of Albert Halliday Ward and Hilda Ward.Husband of Marjorie Eileen Ward, of Thornbury, Bradford, Yorkshire. Schoonselhof Cemetery Antwerp - grave 4a.E.14 Source: CWGC - Find a Grave.
Snowdon John Atherstone - FE
P/O - Service No 177959
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Snowdon, of Notting Hill Gate, London.
Schoonselhof Cemetery Antwerp - joint grave 4a.E.12-13
Source: CWGC. - Find a Grave - photo via Niko Van Kerckhoven faces of schoonselhof CWGC Cemetery, thanks.
Hedgecock Howard Eric - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1394818
Age: - *captured near Brussels May 1944 - POW No 25 Luft 7**PoW - Stalag Luft VII Bankau near Kreuzberg Upper Silesia
Stalag Luft IIIa Luckenwalde - PoW Number 25. RAFVR Son of Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
*info Conscript Heroes - **Aviation Safety Network
Gillespie Ian Melrose - WOP
Sgt - Service No 979940
Age: - *PoW - Stalag Luft VII Bankau near Kreuzberg Upper SilesiaStalag Luft IIIa Luckenwalde - PoW Number 17. RAFVR Son of Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
*Aviation Safety Network
Steele Philip John Rupert - BA
P/O - Service No 418986
Age: - POW No 6290 Luft 3*PoW - Stalag Luft III Sagan and Belaria/Stalag Luft IIIa Luckenwalde - PoW Number 6290. RAAF Son of Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
*Aviation Safety Network
Davies Reginald Ivor Havard - MUG F/O - Service No 156998
Age: 41
RAFVR - Joined the Metropolitan Police on 4 June 1928.*
Son of John Havard Davies and Maria Davies.
Schoonselhof Cemetery Antwerp - Joint grave 4a.E.12-13
Source: CWGC - Tony Moore* - Find a Grave.
Fullum Walter Joseph - RG
F/S - Service No R189530
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of Adolf Fullum and ?, of Montreal
Schoonselhof Cemetery Antwerp - grave 4a.E.11
Source: CWGC - Photo: Canadian virtual war memorial - Find a Grave.