115 Squadron

17 December 1942

Wellington Mk III - BK274 - KO-T

T/O East Wretham 1733 - target Fallersleben, Germany.
A/C. crashed at Wettbergen, 20.01, cause of loss: Flak. Germany.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

Minor Operations: 27 Lancasters of 5 Group were sent on raids to 8 small German towns
and 16 Stirlings and 6 Wellingtons of 3 Group attempted to attack the Opel works at Fallersleben.
This type of limited operation proved to be a costly failure.
9 of the 27 Lancasters were lost and, at Fallersleben, only 3 aircraft bombed the target, in cloud conditions,
and 6 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons were lost from this part of the night's operations.

Total losses for the night: 18 aircraft out of 104 dispatched, 1.3 per cent.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary December 1942.

ORB. 17th Dec. 1942.
6 aircraft took off on operations between 17.30 hours and 17.45 hours to attack target FALLERSLEBAN.
Two aircraft failed to return from operations. Wellington Mk III BK336 KO-D, 5 KIA.
One aircraft (A/C. N.B.J.990 - Captain P/O. FARQUHARSON) attacked the primary target and
bombing from a height of 3,000 feet, dropped his bombs in the vicinity of the "PEOPLES CAR" Factory.
The remaining three aircraft were unsuccessful in locating the primary target and
one (A/C. G.Z.1694 - Captain S/L. CHILTON) dropped its bombs from a height of 2,000 feet on a built up area
believed to be RHANDERFELIN (Handerfeld?),
another (A/C. S.B.K.275 - Captain Sgt. PLUM - Nienburg - Port wing & propeller holes by either Flak or fighters)
bombed NEINBURG from a height of 2,000 feet and observed its bombs bursting,
and the other (A/C. Q.B.J.756 - Captain Sgt. FINNERTY) bombed the UTZE AREA from a height of 4,000 feet
and observed five of its bombs bursting.
The latter aircraft returned with Flak or fighter damage and damage due to striking tree tops.

23.45 4 aircraft had returned safely to base after operations.