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6/7 May 1942 Wellington Mk III - X3466 - KO-N |
Crashed in the vicinity of Laon, Aisne, France.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan
97 aircraft - 55 Wellingtons, 15 Stirlings, 10 Hampdens, 10 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes .
the city and the Bosch factory.
This third raid on Stuttgart was another failure, with crews again blaming ground haze
for their inability to identify the city.
Stuttgart's records show that no bombs fell in the city, though a few fell in woods to the west.
The Lauffen decoy may have been responsible for a raid which developed on the large town of Heilbronn,
only 5 miles from the decoy fire site but 20 miles from Stuttgart.
More than 150 buildings were hit in Heilbronn and 7 people died there.
3 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling lost.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary May 1942.
ORB. 6th. May, 1942.
14 aircraft (8 from "A" Flight and 6 from "B" Flight) (including 1 freshman)
took off between 2101 and 2220 hours to attack targets STUTTGART and NANTES.
The 13 aircraft attacking STUTTGART found weather over the target to be good but
with a ground haze and bombing from heights ranging between 9000 and 15500 feet
dropped their bombs visually observing numerous bursts in the target area.
Some fires were seen and a number of photographs attempted.
Leaflets were also dropped.
The aircraft (A/C. D.X.3749 - Captain Sgt. FRY) attacking NANTES bombing from
a height of 9800 feet dropped his bombs and observed 2 bursts in the target area.
One of the aircraft (A/C. T.X.3724 - Captain Sgt. BECKETT) attacking target STUTTGARD attacked
alternative target KARLSRUHE dropping its bombs and observing bursts and 4 decent sized fires.
One aircraft (A/C. Q.X.3343 - Captain F/S. DAVIS ) attacked the last resort target believed to be
SAARBRUCKEN and dropping its bombs observed bursts but no other results.
this aircraft had starboard engine trouble (and T.R. was unserviceable).
One aircraft (A/C. F.X.3416 - Captain P/O. GEORGE - engine failure) was forced to jettison its bombs
10 miles South West of TRIER due to engine trouble, and abandoned the sortie.
A/C. K.X.3591 (Captain F/L. SWORD) Wellington Mk III - X3591 - KO-K and
A/C. N.X.3466 (Captain F/L. PATERSON) failed to return from operations.
0526. All the remaining aircraft had returned safely to Base after operations.
Paterson Nathaniel - Pilot
F/L - Service No 36261
Age: 25
RAF - NZ
Son of Henry Louis and Enid Meade Paterson,
of Roslyn, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Husband of Barbara Olivia Paterson.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 66
Source: CWGC. - Photo: Auckland museum.com/war-memorial - NZ. war graves org.
Leland Patrick Henry Francis William - Observer
P/O - Service No 403965
Age: 27
RNZAF
Son of Thomas A. Leland and Annie Leland,
of Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand.
Husband of Betty Leland.
Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery - Grave 15.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Auckland museum.com/war-memorial - Find a grave by Peter H.
Smith A. E. - W.Op./Air Gnr
Sgt - Service No 1184107
Age:
RAFVR
POW - No 443 Stalag 357
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan
Ramsbottom B. A. - Air Gnr
Sgt - Service No 1165659
Age:
RAFVR
POW - No 83 Stalag 357
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan
Callander Edward "Ned" - Air Gnr.
Warrant Officer - Service No 1061420 - DFM - 75 Squadron.
Age: ° 1917 - + 7 March 1944.
RAFVR
POW - No 38 Luft 6. Art. story BBC by Giancarlo Rinaldi South of Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website
He escaped from Stalag Luft VI on 5 March 1944 but was recaptured
and taken to Mauthausen concentration camp, where he was executed,
although the exact details and date are unknown.
Source: rafcommands.com - Thread: 440307 - Unaccounted Airmen - 7-3-1944
Son of Edward Callander and of Isabella Callander (nee Bryden).
Runnymede Memorial - panel 213
Source: CWGC - 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan