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28/29 July 1942 Wellington Mk III - Z1624 - KO-D |
Shot down by a night fighter and a/c crashed at 0321 in the IJsselmeer, Netherlands,
10 km SW of Lemmer at a place called Laaksum.
Crew were on their 2nd operation and were attacked on the return journey from the target.
After abandoning the a/c two parachutes were seen to be on fire.
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) and
A/C. R.Z.1605 (Captain Sgt. WILLIAMSON) Wellington Mk III Z1605 KO-R - no survivors.
failed to return from operations.
0512. All the remaining aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.
Mason Leonard Martin - Pilot
P/O - Service No 411429
Age: 25
RNZAF
Son of
Runnymede Memorial - panel 116
Source: CWGC.
Thorpe Charles Frederick - Observer
P/O - Service No 117137
Age:
RAFVR
POW - No 608
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan - photo: www.teunispats.nl
Pelgrim C. B. F. - W.Op.
P/O - Service No J/7496
Age:
RCAF - USA
POW - No 604
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Brogan James Anthony - BA
Sgt - Service No 1072884
Age: 29
RAFVR
Son of
James and Jane Brogan (nee Ryder) of St. Helens Lancs.
Husband of M. Brogan.
His brother in law Bernard Friar (Pioneer Corps) died on 7th May 1941, age 25
Runnymede Memorial - panel 79
Source: CWGC - photo and info: St. Helens rolls of honour.
Rondeau A. J. A. - RG
P/O - Service No J/9064
Age:
RCAF
POW - No 605 Stalag Luft 3.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.