Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HZ357 |
Markings | SE-S |
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 18. E. 15-18.. |
Epitaph | BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES SILENTLY KEPT, WE LOVED YOU TOO DEARLY TO EVER FORGET |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 121 |
Service Number | 1029111 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 431 (Iroquois) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Denby L (Sgt) |
Hunter W A W (Sgt) |
O'Hagan J J (Sgt) |
Start Date | 14-04-1943 |
End Date | 15-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Burn |
Day/Night raid | Night |
Operation | Stuttgart. 462 aircraft, 23 losses (5.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but the bombing was concentrated to the north east. This is an example of a phenomenon called 'creepback' where successive crews would release their bombs earlier and earlier on an effort to turn for home as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bombed suburbs included many industrial installations so some useful damage was caused. An air raid shelter packed with French and Russian PoWs was hit, increasing the death toll to 619, a new record. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on return leg at 17000' and crashed NE of Koblenz, Germany |