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31 December 1942 Wellington Mk III - X3351 - KO-T |
31 December 1942/1 January 1943 Oboe Trials
8 Lancasters and 2 Oboe Mosquitos of the Pathfinder Force to Düsseldorf. 1 Lancaster lost.
This was a trial raid, with the Mosquitos dropping target markers by Oboe for the small Lancaster force.
Only 1 Mosquito was able to use Oboe.
The Düsseldorf report shows that, out of 9 recorded bombing incidents, 6 were at industrial premises,
though no serious damage was caused.
10 civilians and 2 Flak soldiers were killed, 34 people were injured and 7 more were classified as missing.
Later in the night, 3 more Oboe Mosquitos were sent to attack the German night-fighter control room at
Florennes airfield in Belgium. 2 Mosquitos operated their Oboe equipment satisfactorily and dropped
6 high-explosive bombs from 28,000ft through 10/10ths cloud.
The results are not known. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 29 aircraft minelaying off Biscay ports, 8 OTU sorties.
1 Wellington minelayer lost.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary December 1942.
ORB. 31st Dec. 1942.
6 aircraft (3from "A" Flight & 3 from "B" Flight) took off on GARDENING OPERATIONS
between the hours of 17.10 and 17.15.
1 aircraft (A/C. C.B.K.166 - Captain THURSTON) was forced to abandon the sortie owing to illness of
Navigator (Sgt. F/S. SEWELL) and returned to base early bringing back its mine.
1 aircraft failed to return from operations.
The remaining 4 aircraft dropped their mines in the allotted position from heights ranging between 600 and 1,000 feet,
by pinpoint of Isle d'Oberon and Isle de Re, Isle d'Aix on Isle de Re.
23.55. 5 aircraft had returned safely to base.
Late 1942.
Standing L to R: Les Hickman - Pilot (Coventry), W. O. Pearce - Rear Gunner (Toronto Ontario), Don McKay - Navigator (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada)
Kneeling L to R: Sam W. Walmsley - Wireless Operator (Chilliwack , Brits-Columbia, Canada ?), W. T. Jones - Bomb aimer/Front gunner.
Photo via son in law Paul of F/S. Jones William, thanks.
Hickman L. "Les" - Pilot
F/S. - Service No
Age: POW. - *Stalag Luft 3.
He too was in the march across Germany at the end of the war.
Son of
Source: Photo send by his son Richard Hickman, thanks. - ORB
McKay D. - Nav.
F/S. - Service No
Age: POW
Son of
Source: ORB.
Jones William T. - A.B.
F/S - Service No 415
Age: POW.
RCAF
Son of
Was shot down over a small island and broke an ankle on landing.
Was captured the next day.
All the plane members survived and served as POW's at Stalag VIIIB.
He survived a death march in the closing months of the war.
Source: photo and info via son in law Paul, thanks.
Walmsley Sam W. - W/T. Opr.
Sgt. - Service No
Age: POW
Son of
Source: ORB.
Pearce W. - RG
F/S. - Service No
Age: POW.
Son of
Source: ORB.