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28/29 July 1942 Wellington Mk III - Z1605 - KO-R |
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
256 aircraft - 165 from 3 Group and 91 OTU aircraft - dispatched.
A much larger force had been detailed for this raid but bad weather over the bases of 1, 4 and 5 Groups prevented their participation.
The force which took off comprised 161 Wellington's, 71 Stirlings and 24 Whitley's.
The weather worsened and the OTU aircraft were recalled, although 3 of them went on to bomb Hamburg.
The remaining bomber force became very scattered; many more aircraft turned back and only 68 bombed in the target area.
Hamburg suffered 13 people killed and 48 injured with 56 fires, 15 of them large.
Bomber casualties were heavy.
16 Wellingtons and 9 Stirlings were lost from 3 Group,
15.2 per cent of those dispatched by the group.
4 OTU Wellingtons were lost and a Whitley crashed in the sea.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary July 1942.
ORB. 28th. July, 1942.
9 aircraft (1 from "A" Flight and 8 from "B" Flight)
took off between 2308 and 2330 hours to attack target HAMBURG.
One aircraft (A/C. Q.X.3445 - Captain P/O. A'COURT) only was able to locate target
and bombing from a height of 13000 feet dropped his bombs on the Western edge of the town causing some fires.
One aircraft (A/C. N.B.J.663 - Captain S/L. SANDES) attacked the alternative target BREMEN
and bombing from a height of 14500 feet dropped his bombs causing some fires.
Owing to bad weather and poor visibility 2 of the aircraft brought back their bombs.
3 aircraft were forced to jettison their bombs owing to severe icing conditions.
A/C. D.Z.1624 (Captain P/O. MASON) Wellington Mk III Z1624 KO-D - 2 KIA, 3 POW. and
A/C. R.Z.1605 (Captain Sgt. WILLIAMSON)
failed to return from operations.
0512. All the remaining aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.
Williamson Alan Campbell - Pilot
Sgt - Service No 411487
Age: 21
RNZAF
Son of Alec and Ann Williamson*
of Holgate Road, Kohimarama.
(*Their daughter died at an early age in Scotland,
and the eldest son died in a farming accident in New Zealand.)
Kiel War Cemetery - 1. A. 16
Source: CWGC - photo and info via Auckland museum. - Find a grave by BobBoston.
Brydon John Lovat - Observer
Sgt - Service No 656407
Age: 25
RAF
Son of Catherine Brydon, of Tow Law, Co. Durham.
Kiel War Cemetery, Stadtkreis Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein - 1. A. 15
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave, by BobBoston.
McCrory Robert (Bob) Getgood - W.Op. (Observer?)
Sgt - Service No 1024870
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of Robert and Margaret Elizabeth McCrory,
of Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.
One Brother, David +July 1982
Kiel War Cemetery - 1. A. 12.
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Bernadette.
Hallyburton William - FG
Sgt - Service No 1066233
Age:
RAFVR
Son of
Kiel War Cemetery - 1. A. 13.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by BobBoston.
Fitzsimons Harold Douglas John - RG
P/O - Service No 39097
Age: 21 - °8 September 1920
RNZAF
Son of Harold John and Ada Fitzsimons,
of Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Husband of Merle Evelyn Fitzsimons,
of Bulls, Wellington, New Zealand.
Kiel War Cemetery - 1. A. 14.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by BobBoston.