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3/4 June 1942 Wellington Mk III - X3724 - KO-T |
Crashed in the North Sea off the Island Texel, Netherlands.
More info: Friesland wartime history page 17
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
170 aircraft of all standard types were dispatched on the first large raid to Bremen since October 1941.
Crews reported only indifferent bombing results but Bremen recorded this as a heavy attack,
the results of which exceeded all previous raids.
Housing areas were heavily hit with 6 streets affected by serious fires.
Damage to the U-boat construction yards and the Focke-Wulf factory is described as 'of no importance'
but there were hits in the harbour area which damaged a pier, some warehouses and the destroyer Z-25.
With 83 people dead, 29 seriously and 229 slightly injured,
this would turn out to be Bremen's third heaviest casualty toll in the war.
11 aircraft - 4 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings, 1 Manchester - lost.
Source: .nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary June 1942.
ORB. 3rd. June, 1942.
15 aircraft (7 from 'A' Flight and 8 from 'B' Flight)
took off between 2251 and 2324 hours to attack target BREMEN
and bombing from heights ranging between 10000 and 16000 feet bombs were dropped in good visibility.
Many bursts were observed and fires were started in the dock area and in the town.
A/C. T.X.3724 (Captain F/S. HUTCHISON) and
A/C. J.X.3635 (Captain P/O. WOOD) Wellington Mk III X3635 KO-J
failed to return from operations.
All the remaining aircraft had returned safely to base after operations by 0525 hours.
Hutchison Jack Leon - Pilot
F/S - Service No R/75946
Age: 25 - washed ashore between
Oudeschild and Nieuweschild on 12 June 1942 at 1900 hrs.
RCAF
Son of Lawrence Leon Hutchison, and of Florence Victoria Hutchison,
of Virgil, Ontario, Canada.
Texel (Den Burg) General Cemetery - Plot K. Row 6. Grave 124.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Canadian virtual war memorial. - Find a grave by Wouter van Dijken.
Plant John Turner - Observer
Sgt - Service No 1083914
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of William Turner Plant and Sarah Ann Plant, of Onchan, Isle of Man.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 91
Source: CWGC
McGrath Terence Allen - W.Op./Air Gnr
Sgt - Service No 1057220
Age: 20-
was found in the sea near Oudeschild om 4 June 1942 at 0730 hrs.
RAFVR
Son George H. S. (+ November 1925) and Lena Susannah McGrath, of Hull.
Texel (Den Burg) General Cemetery -
Plot K. Row 3. Grave 69.
Text grave stone:
'Into the mosaic of victory is placed this precious jewel, my son'
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by Wouter van Dijken
Rowan Thomas Edward - FG
Sgt - Service No 1111475
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Thomas and Ellen Rowan, of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
His brother also RAF died as POW on Burma-Siam railway*
Runnymede Memorial - panel 92
Source: CWGC - *More info and story on Remembrance ni.org -
Harding Eric Roland - RG
Sgt - Service No 1286585
Age: 18
RAFVR
Son of Ernest John and Louisa Jane Harding, of Gravesend, Kent.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 85
Source: GWGC.