115 Squadron

2 December 1942

Wellington Mk III - BK338 - KO-A

T/O East Wretham 0141 - target Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Crashing near Monzernheim, 14km NW of Worms.

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

112 aircraft - 48 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters, 22 Stirlings, 15 Wellingtons.

There was thick haze and the Pathfinders were unable to establish the location of Frankfurt.
Most of the bombing fell in country areas south-west of the city; it is possible that a decoy fire site was operating.

6 aircraft - 3 Halifaxes, 1 each of the other types - lost, 5.4 per cent of the force.

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

ORB. 2nd Dec. 1942.
10 aircraft (6 from "A" Flight & 4 from "B" flight) took off on operations between 01.41 hours and 02.07 hours to
attack target FRANKFURT.
1 aircraft (A/C. Q.B.J.756 - Captain Sgt. PRAGER) was forced to abandon the sortie owing to intercom trouble
and returned to base early after jettisoning its bombs safe. The bombs exploded on contact with the ground.
1 aircraft failed to return from operations.
The other 8 aircraft successfully located the target and bombed from height ranging between 8,000 and 10,000 feet.
Visibility was poor owing to haze and only a few bursts were seen in the target area.
1 aircraft (A/C. H.X.3393 - Captain F/S. HICKMAN) bombed marshalling yards.
Fires were observed near aiming point as well as many others scattered over a wide area. Photographs were attempted, and
one aircraft (A/C. B.X.3924 - Captain Sgt. RODGERS) on return landed at DETLING due to weather and shortage of petrol.
(A/C. V.B.J.513 - Captain F/S. CRIMMIN - aircraft received a few holes in wing due to Flak)

9 aircraft had returned safely to base by 08.40 hours.