Wellington X3604 26/27 March 1942

Wellington Mk III - X3604 - KO-Y

T/O Marham ?. Target: Essen, Germany. Came down near the small town of Dieren, Gelderland Netherlands, 14 km of Arnhem.
Shot down by night fighter Leutnant Manfred Meurer. This was his 1st combat mission. He was later awarded the Knights cross after shooting down 65 aircraft*. The story and recovery photo's by ARGA

Also Wellington Mk III X3589 KO-F was lost on this mission. No survivors.

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

104 Wellingtons and 11 Stirlings. 10 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling lost.
The bombing force encountered heavy Flak at the target and many night fighters on the routes. Hits on the Krupps works and fires in Essen were claimed but the raid was actually another failure on this difficult target. Only 22 high-explosive bombs were counted in Essen, with 2 houses destroyed, 6 people killed and 14 injured. The bombers had suffered nearly 10 per cent casualties.

Source: .nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary - Info via Rud Ders. March 1942.* (last update 12/12/2018)

Finch Patrick Austen Gwyer Finch Patrick Austen Gwyer - Pilot

Sgt - Service No 1280951

Age: 27

RAFVR

Son of Frederick Henry and Dorothy Finch, of Garruchos, Corrientes, Argentina.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Grave 4

His brother, Cyril Allan Finch, also died on service, 6 August 1944. Serv. No 2699226, Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Age: 31.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Wouter Van Dijken
Soames Geoffrey Gordon Soames Geoffrey Gordon - 2nd Pilot

P/O - Service No 118096

Age: 23

RAFVR

Son of Ralph Martin Soames and Mary Gooch Soames, of Emsworth, Hampshire.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Coll. grave 2-3.

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Wouter Van Dijken
Mogford William Lionel Mogford William Lionel - Observer

Sgt - Service No 927587

Age: 25

RAFVR

Son of William Charles and Sarah Jane Mogford.
Husband of Cynthia Mogford, of Risca Monmouthshire.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Grave 6

Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Paul ten Broeke
Baker Victor Charles Rudkin Baker Victor Charles Rudkin - W.Op./Air Gnr

Sgt - Service No 1285545

Age: 19

RAFVR

Son of George Frederick Rudkin Baker and Ada Elsie Baker, of Dartford, Kent.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Coll. grave 2-3.

Source: GWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Wouter Van Dijken
Alan Burns Burns Alan - W.Op./Air Gnr.

Sgt - Service No 924900

Age: 20

RAFVR

Son of George Armstrong Burns and Emily Clayton Burns.
Husband of Valerie Joan Burns, of Slough, Buckinghamshire.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Grave 5.

Source: CWGC - photo via Alan Burns (his Great Great Uncle)
Freak Roy Freak Roy - RG

Sgt - Service No 1257107

Age: 21

RAFVR

Son of Archibald and Nellie Freak, of Luton, Bedfordshire.

Warnsveld (Wichmond) General Cemetery - Plot E. Coll. grave 2-3.

Source: CWGC - photo via Pete Crouch, thanks.