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12/13 April 1942 Wellington Mk III - X3596 - KO-B |
Shot down by a night fighter,
Crashed at 0100 in the IJsselmeer E of the island of Urk, Netherlands.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
251 aircraft - 171 Wellingtons, 31 Hampdens, 27 Stirlings, 13 Halifaxes, 9 Manchesters.
173 aircraft claimed to have bombed Essen but their bombing photographs showed a wide area of the Ruhr.
Essen's records show a slight improvement in the bombing.
5 high-explosive and 200 incendiary bombs
hit the Krupps factory and a large fire was started there.
28 private dwellings were destroyed and 50 seriously damaged.
27 people were killed, 36 injured and 9 were missing.
This raid concluded a disappointing series of raids on this target,
which was judged to be the heart of the German armaments industry.
There had been 8 heavy raids since the first Gee raid on 8/9 March.
These are the conclusions:
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Essen's records show that industrial damage was caused on only 2 occasions -
a fire in the Krupps factory and a few bombs on some nearby railway lines
- that 63 civilians were killed and that a modest amount of residential property had been hit.
Source: .nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary April 1942.
ORB. 12th. April, 1942.
Sixteen aircraft (7 from "A" Flight and 9 from "B" Flight)
took off between 2144 and 2304 to attack target ESSEN.
All crews found weather to be fair over the target and bombing from heights ranging
between 14000 and 16500 feet bombed by TR Fix and Visual Observations,
some of which were observed to burst in the target area causing several fires.
Other bombs were released on the target but no results were seen.
Leaflets were dropped and photographs attempted.
Seven of the aircraft were damaged by Flak.
One aircraft (A/C. R.X.3591 - Captain F/S. DAVIE) being unable to gain sufficient height jettisoned some bombs alive.
One aircraft (A/C. A.X.3644 - Captain W/C. FREEMAN) brought its bombs back owing to icing conditions.
One aircraft failed to return.
0440. All the remaining aircraft had returned safely to Base.
(A/C. D.X.3412 - Captain F/S. ANDERSON - W/OP. was injured in the leg. Very badly damaged by Flak.)
(A/C. J.X.3635 - Captain Sgt. BUTTERWORTH - Fires were observed all over the RUHR -
Bombing of COLOGNE was observed)
Holder Albert Ernest (Jim) - Pilot
Sgt - Service No 1376202
Age: 27
RAFVR
Son of Albert and Thirza Louisa Holder.
Husband of Winifred May Holder, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
His brother Reg was a radio technician at RAF Honington.
The two brothers often conversed on the radio on the Wellington's
return flight to base and Reg has been best man at Albert's wedding in May 1941.
Source: The Wellington Bomber by Martin W Bowman.
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row D. Grave 12.
Source: CWGC - Photo via, and more info on Aircrew Remembered. - Find a Grave by fulhamrocks.
Blair Noel Hensley - 2nd Pilot
Sgt - Service No 404994
Age: 24
RNZAF
Son of Charles and Clara Blair, of Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand.
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row D. Grave 13.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Auckland museum. - Find a Grave by fulhamrocks.
Barlow Ronald William - Observer
P/O - Service No 106537
Age: 25
RAFVR
Son of Edmund and Ada Miller Barlow, of Stockport, Cheshire.
B.A. Hons. (Oxon.); Scholar of Brasenose College;
Diplomas in Economics and General Science.
President and Captain, Oxford University Lacrosse team, 1937.
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row D. Grave 15.
Source: CWGC - Photo via, and more info on Aircrew Remembered. - Find a Grave by fulhamrocks.
Raiswell Kenneth John - W.Op./Air Gnr
Sgt - Service No 1151893
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of John and Mabel Raiswell, of Gowerton, Glamorgan.
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row C. Grave 13.
Source: GWGC - Photo via The Gowertonian Society - Find a grave by fulhamrocks.
Phillips Thomas James - W.Op./Air Gnr.
Sgt - Service No 977631
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row D. Grave 11.
Source: CWGC - Photo via, and more info on Aircrew Remembered. - Find a Grave by fulhamrocks.
Ryan Thomas - RG
Sgt - Service No 621697
Age: 22
RAF
Son of Johana Ryan.
Amsterdam New Eastern General Cemetery - Plot 85. Row D. Grave 14.
Source: CWGC - Photo via, and more info on Aircrew Remembered.- Find a grave by fulhamrocks.