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3/4 February 1943 Wellington Mk III - BK127 - KO-D |
Distress calls heard at 2311, 2320 and 2344. Hull DF plotted
a/c position as 5114N 0207E, approximately 40 miles off Dover.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
263 aircraft - 84 Halifaxes, 66 Stirlings, 62 Lancasters, 51 Wellingtons -
provided by all groups on the first 200-plus raid for more than 2 weeks for a raid on Hamburg.
Icing conditions in cloud over the North Sea caused many aircraft to return early.
The Pathfinders were unable to produce concentrated and sustained marking on H2S and the bombing of the Main Force was scattered.
The results in Hamburg were no better than the attack by a much smaller force a few nights earlier.
The German night fighters operated effectively, despite the bad weather, and 16 bombers were lost -
8 Stirlings, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons and 1 Lancaster, 6.1 per cent of the force.
8 Wellingtons minelaying off Lorient and St Nazaire, 4 OTU sorties.
1 Wellington minelayer lost.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary February 1943.
ORB. 3rd Feb., 1943.
5 aircraft took off between 17.30 and 17.40 hours on MINELAYING OPERATIONS (Area Lorient)
and 7 aircraft took off between the hours of 18.30 hours and 18.55 hours to attack target HAMBURG.
Of the 5 aircraft detailed for MINELAYING, 4 successfully dropped their mines in the allotted area by pinpoint of
PORNICHET, ST. GILDAS POINT or POINT DU PAIN CHATEAU, from heights ranging between 650 feet and 1,000 feet.
One of these (A/C. Q.B.J.756 - Captain F/O. J. F. ANDREWS, swung off runway) owing to shortage of petrol landed on return at
HARROWBEER, damaging on landing both propellers and nose.
The remaining (one) aircraft ( A/C. B.X.3924 - Captain Sgt. RODGERS. J.) was forced to abandon the sortie due to inability of aircraft
to climb and returned to base early bringing back its mines.
Of the 7 aircraft detailed to attack HAMBURG
1 failed to return from operations,
(Captain P/O. C. TUMA, an aircraft was seen to go down in sea ten miles from coast off MANSTON.
Air sea rescue party went out in search but were unsuccessful.)
1 was forced (A/C. M.B.J.879 - Captain F/S. THURSTON. C.) to abandon the sortie due to starboard engine trouble and
returned to base early after jettisoning its bombs safe in the sea,
and 2 attacked alternative targets, due to engine trouble, one (A/C. U.Z.1609 - Captain P/O. F. B. BALDWIN) bombing the town of
HOYA from a height of 13,000 feet without observing any results and the other
(A/C. N.B.K.495 - Captain F/O. W. L. FARQUHARSON) dropping its incendiaries on the aerodrome at GILZE-RIJEN
from a height of 11,000 feet, causing scattered fires and extinguishing the aerodrome lights.
The 3 aircraft which were successful in locating the target HAMBURG, observed marker flares & dropped their bombs
& incendiaries
from heights ranging between 12,000 feet & 13,000 feet without observing any results.
One of these aircraft (A/C. C.B.K.166 - Captain Sgt. ROSS. H.) was attacked three times by a ME110 which was only shaken
off with difficulty, and returned to base with starboard aileron partly shot away.
00.45 11 aircraft had returned safely to base.
Tuma Charles - Pilot
P/O - Service No J16242
Age: 24
RCAF
Son of Charles and Bessie Tuma, of Churchbridge, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 178
Source: CWGC - photo via Canadian fallen heroes - Canadian virtual war memorial.
Spooner Kenneth - Observer
Sgt - Service No 1231251
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Harry and Elsie Spooner, of Blackpool, Lancashire.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 165
Source: CWGC.
Pollard Maurice Arthur - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1434975
Age: 22
RAFVR
Son of Arthur Stephenson Pollard and Elsie Maude Pollard, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool.
Only child, his mother had lost her first husband when the Lusitania was sunk (7 mei 1915).
Runnymede Memorial - panel 162
Source: CWGC - photo thanks to James Chapman.
Potter Frank Stanley - BA
P/O - Service No 130724
Age: 26
RAFVR
Son of Horace Lionel Potter, and of Florence Jane Potter, of Weybridge, Surrey.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 133
Source: CWGC.
McKay Harry Robertson - RG
F/S - Service No R115725
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of Dr. Edward Robertson McKay and Amy Maud McKay, of Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 184
Source: CWGC - Photo via Canadian virtual war memorial.