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6/7 October 1942 Wellington Mk III - BJ879 - KO-X |
The rear gunner was mortally wounded by cannon fire from a night fighter.
The A/C. landed safely at 2335 hours at Oulton air base, Norfolk.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
On the night of 6/7th October1942 when returning from operations to Osnabruck,
Cote was the rear gunner on Wellington BJ879 of 115 Sqn RAF.
At 22:00 hours his aircraft was attacked by a night fighter.
The enemy fighter's first burst of cannon fire shattered the rear turret mortally wounding the rear gunner (Cote),
putting the hydraulics and three of the guns out of action.
The front gunner fired at and hit the enemy aircraft with three bursts at 75 yards.
The Wellington then dived on the enemy aircraft and hit it with the rear fuselage.
Flight Sergeant Cote, although mortally wounded gallantly endeavoured to use the hand rotation gear to bring
his remaining gun to bear on the enemy.
The Wellington was riddled, the controls damaged and the intercom put out of action.
The rest of the Wellington crew were uninjured.
Source: www.bombercommand.jigsy.com/flight-sergeant-joseph-john-edward-cote-r-82472-
237 aircraft - 101 Wellingtons, 68 Lancasters, 38 Stirlings, 30 Halifaxes.
The Pathfinders succeeded in illuminating the Dummer See, a large lake north-east of the target which was used as a run-in point.
The town of Osnabrück was then found and marked.
The bombing was well concentrated, with most of the attack falling in the centre and the southern parts of the target.
Osnabrück's report shows that 149 houses were destroyed, 530 were seriously damaged and 2,784 lightly damaged.
6 industrial premises were destroyed and 14 damaged.
65 people were killed - 45 civilians, 16 policemen or servicemen and 4 foreign workers - and 151 were injured.
6 aircraft - 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Sterlings were lost. (2 Wellingtons? DF639 of 75 Sqn, and BK313 of 115 Sqn).
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary October 1942.
ORB. 6th Oct. 1942.
12 aircraft (7 from "A" Flight & 5 from "B" Flight) took off on operations between 19.01 hours & 19.50 hours
to attack target OSNABRUCK.
One aircraft failed to return from operations. Wellington Mk III BK313 KO-B, 5 KIA.
One aircraft (A/C. H.B.J.660 - Captain Sgt. BARKER) was forced to abandon the sortie owing to port engine trouble
and returned to base early bringing back its bombs.
One aircraft (A/C. F.X.3447 - Captain P/O. WALLACE) was forced to jettison 6 S.B.C' over the target owing to trouble
with the bomb doors and brought back the remainder to base.
The remaining 9 aircraft successfully located the target and bombing from heights ranging between 9,000 and 12,500 feet
dropped their bombs most of which were seen to ignite in built up areas.
Two good fires and many scattered fires were observed.
One of these aircraft (A/C. X.B.J.879 - Captain Sgt. PATE) was badly damaged in combat with enemy aircraft, and landed at OULTON,
the Rear Gunner being mortally wounded.
01.10 10 aircraft had returned safely to base after operations.
Pate H. - Pilot
Sgt - Service No USA
Age:
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Thurston C. - 2nd Pilot
Sgt - Service No
Age:
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Sewell F. - Observer
Sgt - Service No
Age:
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Dunber J. - WOP
Sgt - Service No
Age:
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Betteridge J. - BA
Sgt - Service No
Age:
Son of
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Cote Joseph John Edward - RG
F/S - Service No R/82472
Age: 21
RCAF
Son of F/S. E. N. Cote, RCAF., and Catharine Cote,
of Ottawa. Ontario, Canada.
Beck Row (St. Johns) Churchyard, Mildenhall, Suffolk. - Row C. Grave 7.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Operation :Picture Me -
more info on Canadian virtual war memorial.