Wellington (Total: 4,574, Canadian: 1,229, Group 0)

Vickers Wellington

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Vickers Wellington B. Mk. III (Serial No. X3763), coded KW-E, No. 425 'Alouette' (B) Squadron, RCAF, late summer of 1942

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson, a key feature of the aircraft is its geodetic airframe fuselage structure, which was principally designed by Barnes Wallis. Development had been started in response to Air Ministry Specification B.9/32, issued in the middle of 1932, for a bomber for the Royal Air Force. This specification called for a twin-engined day bomber capable of delivering higher performance than any previous design.

The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft.

It holds the distinction of having been the only British bomber that was produced for the duration of the war, and of having been produced in a greater quantity than any other British-built bomber. The Wellington remained as first-line equipment when the war ended, although it had been increasingly relegated to secondary roles. The Wellington was one of two bombers named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the other being the Vickers Wellesley.

In August 1936, an initial order for 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft, powered by a pair of 1,050 hp (780 kW) Bristol Pegasus radial engines, was received by Vickers; it had been placed so rapidly that the order occurred prior to the first meeting intended to decide the details of the production aircraft. In October 1937, another order for a further 100 Wellington Mk Is, produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company, was issued; it was followed by an order for 100 Wellington Mk II aircraft with Rolls-Royce Merlin X V12 engines. Yet another order was placed for 64 Wellingtons produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. With this flurry of order and production having been assured by the end of 1937, Vickers set about simplifying the manufacturing process of the aircraft and announced a target of building one Wellington per day.

A total of 180 Wellington Mk I aircraft were built; 150 for the RAF and 30 for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) (which were transferred to the RAF on the outbreak of war and used by 75 Squadron). In October 1938, the Mk I entered service with 9 Squadron. The Wellington was initially outnumbered by the Handley Page Hampden (also ordered by the Ministry to B.9/32) and the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley (to B.34/3 for a 'night' bomber) but outlasted both rival aircraft in service. The Wellington went on to be built in 16 separate variants, in addition to two training conversions after the war. The number of Wellingtons built totalled 11,462 of all versions, a greater quantity produced than any other British bomber. On 13 October 1945, the last Wellington to be produced rolled out. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Wikipedia Vickers Wellington

General RCAF - Vickers Wellington

YouTube YouTube Vickers Wellington documentary

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Wellington AD593, III

Wellington AD596, III

Wellington AD599, III

Wellington AD606, III

Wellington AD637, III

Wellington AD647, III

Wellington BB456, IC

s/n BB456

Vickers-Armstrong

BB 456

Wellington BB513, VIII

s/n BB513

Vickers-Armstrong

BB 513

Wellington BJ602, Mk. III

s/n BJ602

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 602

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*J". Lost without a trace on 4/5 September 1942, on mission to Bremen. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Bremen Germany 1942-09-04 to 1942-09-05

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

251 aircraft-98 Wellingtons, 76 Lancasters, 41 Halifaxes, 36 Stirlings. 12 aircraft- 7 Wellingtons, 3 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Stirling - lost, 4·8 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders introduced new techniques on this night, splitting their aircraft into 3 forces: 'illuminators', who lit up the area with white flares; 'visual markers', who dropped coloured flares if they had identified the aiming point; then 'backers¬up', who dropped all-incendiary bomb loads on to the coloured flares. This basic pattern - illuminating, marking and backing-up - would form the basis of most future Pathfinder operations with proper target-indicator bombs and various elec¬tronic bombing aids being employed as they became available. The weather was clear and the Pathfinder plan worked well; heavy bombing of the target followed. Bremen confirms that this was a successful raid.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BJ607, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ608, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ612, III

s/n BJ612

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 612

Wellington BJ615, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ621, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ625,

Wellington BJ646, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ650, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ653, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ657, Mk. III

s/n BJ657

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 657

Served with No. 425 Squadron, RCAF at Dishforth, coded "KW*G". Lost without a trace on mission to Mannheim, 6/7 December 1942. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Manheim Germany 1942-12-06 to 1942-12-07

425 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dishforth

Aircraft disappeared without a trace and without reporting a position by RT.

Wellington BJ658, Mk. III

s/n BJ658

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 658


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-February-07 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining mission, all crew killed. 2019-08-20

Minelaying 1943-02-07 to 1943-02-07

424 (B) Sqn (RAF) Topcliffe

424 Tiger Squadron (Castigandos Castigamus). Wellington aircraft BJ 658 was shot down in the Baltic Sea during a night operation. Flying Officer J.M.Patterson,Warrant Officer E.D. Coates, Pilot Officer E.T. Cox, FS H.M. Duke, and Sergeant F.J. Allen (RAF) were killed. One other member of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed killed.

Wellington BJ662, Mk. lll

s/n BJ662

BJ 662

Wellington BJ664, Mk. lll

s/n BJ664

BJ 664

Wellington BJ673, Mk. lll

s/n BJ673

BJ 673

Wellington BJ674, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ691, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ701, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ710, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ711, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ714, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ714

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 714


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Lorient France 1943-01-26 to 1943-01-26

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

157 aircraft - 139 Wellingtons, 11 Lancasters, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings - dispatched and bombed in poor visibility. 2 Wellingtons and I Lancaster lost.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft BJ 714 missing, presumed over target, presumed enemy action. FSs M.E.Putnam,V.F. McHarg and W.A. Masterman were killed. Three Canadians, Sergeants A.G. Ingram, A.C. Riach, and K.G. Vallis were taken Prisoners of War.


   1943-January-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Lorient, most crew lost, but at least one POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington BJ720, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ727, Mk. lll

s/n BJ727

BJ 727


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington BJ729, Mk. lll

s/n BJ729

BJ 729


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Aachen Germany 1942-10-05 to 1942-10-05

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Wellington aircraft encountered severe icing conditions enroute to the target and failed to return. Two 419 Squadron aircraft did not return from this sortie and four of the Squadron's aircraft had to turn back because of the severe weather conditions

257 aircraft- IOI Wellingtons, 74 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 23 Stirlings. IO aircraft - 5 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons, I Lancaster - lost, 3·9 per cent of the force. A further 6 aircraft crashed in England, possibly in thunderstorms which were present when some squadrons took off for the raid.

The weather continued to be bad over Germany. There was little Pathfinder marking at Aachen and most of the bombing fell in other areas. Aachen reports that the raid on this night was carried out by an estimated 10 aircraft and that the centre of the attack appeared to be in the southern suburb of Burtscheid, where a 4,000-lb bomb severely damaged a hospital and 2 nearby churches. 34 fires were started, 5 of them being classified as large. A moderate amount of housing was hit and, rather surprisingly, 22 industrial buildings were damaged. 5 people were killed and 39 injured.

Many of the bombs intended for Aachen fell in the small Dutch town of Lutterade, 17 miles away from Aachen, and it seems that most of the Pathfinder marking was over this place. The Mayor of Geleen, the Dutch district in which Lutterade is now situated, reports heavy bombing and much damage in Lutterade on that night. More than 800 houses were seriously damaged; 83 people were killed, 22 were injured md 3,000 were made homeless

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BJ755, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ755

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 755

Served with No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, coded "KW*D". Served with No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded AL*Z . Mining operation to "Nectarine" on 25 February 1943. Bombed St. Nazarine on 28 February 1943. Mining operation to "Nectarine" on 2 March 1943. Bombed Hamburg on 3 March 1943. Air sea search on 4 March 1943. Took off for mission to Essen at 19:18 on 5 March 1943, crashed shortly after takeoff. One crew killed, 4 injured.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-06 Accident Crash Crashed on takeoff for attack on Essen. 1 killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BJ756, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ762, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ762

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 762

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded OW*O. During mining operation to the Frisian islands 21/22 January 1943 starboard undercarriage folded on landing. The aircraft was severely damaged but the crew was unhurt. Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by a night fighter, on 29/30 March 1943. Crashed at 23:46 at Nije-Mirdum, Friesland, 20 kilometres south-south-west of Sneek. 3 crew were killed, including Sgt, R.E. Todd, an American in the RCAF, and 2 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by a Nightfighter. 3 crew were killed and 2 POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30

426 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dishforth

426 Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings of Fire) RAF Dishforth. Wellington aircraft BJ 762 OW-O was shot down during an operation against targets in Bochum, Germany by night fighter pilot Major Helmut Lent of the Stab 4/NJG 1, flying Bf 110 G-4 G9+AF from Leeuwarden airfield, Netherlands. The bomber crashed near Sondeler Leien, Gaasterland, Friesland, Netherlands

Flight Sergeant RE Todd (RCAF)(USA), Sergeant JA Bailey (RCAF), and Sergeant JF Gubb (RCAF) were all killed in action

Warrant Officer 1st Class JH Martin (RCAF), and Flight Sergeant J Taylor (RAF) both survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Aviation Safety Network

General Results

General Wellington MkIII - BJ762 - OW-O

Wellington BJ796, Mk. lll

s/n BJ796

BJ 796

Wellington BJ830, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ833, Mk. lll

s/n BJ833

BJ 833

Wellington BJ836, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ840, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ841, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ844, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ886, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ886

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 886

Served with No. 427 Squadron, RCAF, at Dishforth, coded ZL*F. Failed to return from attack at Cologne on 26/27 February 1943. All crew were killed when they were shot down by a night fighter. Crashed at 21:34 local at Boerdonk, Holland.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-February-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Cologne. All were killed when they were shot down by a Nightfighter. 2019-08-20

Wellington BJ897, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ911, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ919, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ919

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 919

Wellington BJ965, Mk. lll

Wellington BJ966, B. Mk. III

s/n BJ966

Vickers-Armstrong

BJ 966

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF at Middleton St. George, coded PT*R. Failed to return from mining operation to the "Nectarines" target, off the Frisian islands, on 21/22 January 1942. All 6 crew lost, first all RCAF Bomber Command crew loss.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian islands, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BJ969, Mk. lll

Wellington BK158, Mk. lll

Wellington BK162, B. Mk. III

s/n BK162

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 162

Served with No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF at East Moor, UK, coded AL*B. Flew at least 16 missions with this unit, starting with mining operation to Tershelling on 21 January 1943. Damaged by flak over Duisburg on 26 March 1943, landed at Coltishall. Bombed Frankfurt April 10/11, 1943. Failed to return from attack on Pilsen (or Mannheim?), 16 / 17 April 1943. Hit by light flak at 12,000 feet near Reims, then attacked by night fighter. Crashed at 02:15 local 8 kilometres south-east of Soissons, France. 5 crew were killed and one evaded. This was last Wellington III lost by 429 Squadron, and last Main Force bombing mission loss of a Wellington III.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-17 Failed to Return Failed to return fromattack on Pilsen. 5 crew were killed and one evaded. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK164, B. Mk. III

s/n BK164

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 164

Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*E. Mining operation January 2/3,1943, first squadron operation under 6 Group control. Pilot was W/C D. Burnside, returned without dropping mine due to poor weather. Flew operation to Lorient January 15/16, 1943. Attack at Essen March 12/13, 1943, hit by flak, 1 killed. Aircraft returned to base, surviving crew awarded a CGM, a bar to a DFC, and other medals.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington BK165, B. Mk. III

s/n BK165

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 165

Served with No. 426 (B) Squadron, RCAF at Dishforth, UK, coded OW*F. Failed to return from mission to attack Lorient harbour on 14/15 January 1943, no survivors. Believed to have been hit by flak over target, crashed at sea. Bodies never found.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-15 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to attack Lorient, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK166, Mk. lll

Wellington BK213, Mk. lll

Wellington BK246, B. Mk. lll

s/n BK246

BK 246

Wellington BK248, Mk. lll

Wellington BK258, Mk. lll

Wellington BK268, B. Mk. III

s/n BK268

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 268

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. With No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "ZL*C". Carried out mining sortie to Frisian Islands 21/22 January 1943 with this unit, returned without dropping mine as they could not find pinpoint. With 427 Squadron when lost. Crashed on landing at Woolfax Lodge after raid on Cologne on 27 February 1943. Witness reported one engine on fire before crash. 5 killed, 1 survivor.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-February-27 Accident Crash Crashed on landing at Woolfax Lodge after raid on Cologne. 5 killed, 1 survivor. 2019-08-20

Wellington Bk269, Mk. lll

s/n Bk269

Bk 269


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Krefeld Germany 1942-10-02 to 1942-10-02

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

188 aircraft- 95 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 31 Lancasters, 23 Stirlings. 7 aircraft - 3 Halifaxes, 2 Wellingtons, r Lancaster, r Stirling - lost, 3·7 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders encountered dense haze and their marking was late. The raid which developed was dispersed and not expected to cause much damage. Krefeld's rather general report on wartime bombing does not class this as a 'Grossangriff' - a major raid; only 3 streets in the northern part of the town are mentioned as being hit but most of the 41 people recorded as being killed by raids in 1942 probably died on this night.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BK270, B. Mk. III

s/n BK270

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 270

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Failed to return from raid on Koln, 16/17 October 1942.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Cologne Germany 1942-10-15 to 1942-10-15

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

289 aircraft - 109 Wellingtons, 74 Halifaxes, 62 Lancasters, 44 Stirlings. 18 aircraft - 6 Wellingtons, 5 Halifaxes, 5 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings - lost, 6·2 per cent of the force.

This was not a successful raid. Winds were different from those forecast and the Pathfinders had difficulty in establishing their position and marking the target suffi¬ciently to attract the Main Force away from a large decoy fire site which received most of the bombs. Cologne reports I 'Luftmine' (out of 71 4,000-pounders carried by the bombing force), 3 other high-explosive bombs (out of 231) and 210 incendiary bombs (out of 68,590). 226 houses were damaged but only 2 of these received what was classed as 'serious damage'; 4 people were injured.

Wellington BK271, Mk. lll

Wellington BK272, Mk. lll

s/n BK272

BK 272


last update: 2025-March-15

Operational 1944-07-08 to 1944-07-08

(OT) OTU (RAF) RAF Turweston

#17 Operational Training UnitÂ’s Vickers Wellington (BK272) took flight in the late evening of 7 Jul 1944 from RAF Turweston on a night training exercise. Early in the morning of July 8th the Wellington collided in mid-air with another #17 OTU Wellington lll (HE325) and crashed near Westbury in Buckinghamshire, taking the lives of the seven airmen on board. Six aircrew of the other aircraft, HE325, also perished when their Wellington crashed

Killed included Pilot Officer Arthur Corck: Flying Officer Walter Haraczay RCAF J/29418 KIA Brookwood Military Cemetery grave 52. D. 1. Sergeant Robert Fred Bradford RAF KIA Edmonton Cemetery, Middlesex Sec. K. Grave 3349. Sergeant Bernard Hadlow RAF KIA St. Vincent Church Littlebourne Row B. Grave 6. Sergeant Jack Benjamin Lemon RAF KIA Stoke Road Cemetery Slough C. of E. Plot. Grave 2866. Pilot Officer Charles Frederick Searles RAF pilot KIA Mitcham Road Cemetery Croydon Plot P.P. Grave 40033. Sergeant Peter John Woods RAF KIA Northampton And Counties Crematorium

.

YouTube Collision of BK272 and HE325

Wellington BK281, Mk. lll

Wellington BK296, B. Mk. III

s/n BK296

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 296

Served with No. 420 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded PT*J. Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 13/14 March 1943, lost without a trace, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK309, Mk. lll

Wellington BK312, Mk. lll

Wellington BK313, Mk. lll

Wellington BK330, B. Mk. III

s/n BK330

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 330

Served with No. 420 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded PT*K. Flew mission to bomb Norden in daylight January 15, 1943. Returned to base, port engine was u/s. Flew mission to attack Essen in daylight January 23, 1943, slight flak damage. Failed to return from mission to Lorient on 13/14 February 1943, crashed in target area, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-February-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to Lorient, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK335, B. Mk. III

s/n BK335

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 335

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*V. Crashed on a training flight on 9 October 1942.
last update: 2025-February-05

Operational 1942-10-10 to 1942-10-10

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Croft. Returning from a cross-country navigation training exercise, Wellington BIII aircraft BK 335 VR-Y suffered a port engine failure in a steep climbing turn after overshooting the landing. The aircraft stalled, crashed and burned at RAF Croft, Yorkshire, England with the loss of the aircraft and three crew

Wellington BK336, B. Mk. III

s/n BK336

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 336

Wellington BK340, B. Mk. III

s/n BK340

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 340

Served with No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded KW*T. Failed to return from attack on Essen on 12/13 March 1943, shot down by a Ju 88 over Holland while returning, all crew POW. Warrant Officer Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne (pilot), Warrant Officer Adrien Walter Brown (navigator) and Warrant Officer Joseph Adrian Vincent Gauthier (bomb aimer) received MID for their efforts to control the aircraft and extinguish fires, providing time for the crew to successfully bail out.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen, shot down by a Nightfighter, All crew POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing 1943-03-12 to 1943-03-13

425 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dishforth

425 Alouette Squadron ((Je te plumerai) RAF Dishforth.

Wellington III aircraft BK 340 KW-T was shot down by a night fighter during an operation to bomb the Krupps Works factories in Essen, Germany. The bomber crashed at Westfriese Dijk, Aartswoud, Noord-Holland with the entire crew surviving and were taken prisoner.

Multiple sources credit the claim for this bomber loss to Leutnant Oscar Kostler of 10/NJG1 but there is also a claim from Feldwebel Hienz Vinke of 11/NJG1 for this same aircraft

Warrant Officer 1st Class Marie Joseph Alfred Jean Aumond (RCAF), Warrant Officer 1st Class Adrien Walter Brown (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Joseph Adrian Vincent Gauthier (RCAF), Sergeant Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne (RCAF) and Warrant Officer 1st Class Joseph Arthur Roland Goulet (RCAF) all survived and were taken as Prisoners of War.

Warrant Officer 1st Class Aumond and Sergeant Goulet were both severely wounded and both were repatriated early, Aumond in October 1943 and Goulet in February 1945

Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1 January - 22 June, 1943 Part 1 by Theo Boiten, page 45

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General 12/13 March 1943 425 Squadron Wellington III BK340 Sergeant Lamontagne

General Aviation Safety Network

General Results

General Vince Gauthier I RCAF 425 Alouettes

Wellington BK341, B. Mk. III

s/n BK341

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 341

Served with No. 426 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded OW*N. Returned to base after enemy fighter attack by single engine aircraft on 16/17 April 1943. No damage, but would have been late over target so returned early. Reported by some sources as returning from raid on Pilsen that night, but more likely was returning from raid on Mannheim.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington BK343, B. Mk. III

s/n BK343

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 343

Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*V. Flew mining operation to the Frisian islands January 09/10, 1943, returned early due to bad weather. Flew operation to Lorient January 15/16, 1943. Bombed St. Nazaire docks on 28 February / 1 March 1943, landed at Tangmere on return due to bad weather. Also reported as crashed at sea on this mission?
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-February-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on the docks at St. Nazaire. 5 crew were killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK344, B. Mk. III

s/n BK344

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 344

Served with No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded KW*B. Flew attack at Oldenburg in daylight January 30, 1943, returned early due to lack of cloud cover. Possibly lost on 3/4 March 1943 during attack on Hamburg, see also BK334.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Hamburg. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK347, Mk. lll

Wellington BK348, B. Mk. III

s/n BK348

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 348


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Essen Germany 1943-03-12 to 1943-03-12

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

457 aircraft - 158 Wellingtons, 156 Lancasters, 91 Halifaxes, 42 Stirlings, IO Mos-quitoes. 23 aircraft- 8 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 6 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings lost, 5·0 per cent of the force.

This was another very successful Oboe-marked raid. The centre of the bombing area was right across the giant Krupps factory, just west of the city centre, with later bombing drifting back to the north-western outskirts. Photographic interpretation assessed that Krupps received 30 per cent more damage on this night than on the . earlier successful raid of 5/6 March. Nearly 500 houses were also destroyed in the raid. The number of people killed is variously reported between 169 and 322, with 198 probably being the most accurate figure, made up of 64 men, 45 women, 19 children, 4 soldiers, 61 foreign workers and 5 prisoners of war.

German records say that one third of the bombs dropped on this night did not hit Essen and that 39 people were killed in other towns with Bottrop, just north of Essen, being the worst hit, but these towns were all close to Essen and there was often no clear division between overlapping built-up areas.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded QB*J when failed to return from attack at Essen on 12 / 13 March 1943. All crew were killed. Crashed on the north bank of the Waal, 4 kilometres east-north-east of Tiel, near Echteld or Gelderland, Holland.


   1943-March-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK361, Mk. lll

Wellington BK367, Mk. lll

Wellington BK387, 111

s/n BK387

BK 387


last update: 2025-March-15

Flying Incident - Court Martial 1944-01-01 to 1944-01-02

82 (B) OTU (RAF) RAF Ossington

The aircraft flew into a hillside at Tewitt Hall Wood above Oakworth. A stone unveiled recently in West Yorkshire was the work of the Oakworth Village Society, helped by a generous donation from an anonymous villager. Under the RCAF badge are the names of the six crew, all Canadians, who were killed in the crash. The memorial at the isolated crash site was dedicated on 4 July 1993 at a service attended by more than 500 people. Keighley Squadron, ATC, personnel from RAF Leeming and officers from The Canadian Armed Forces were present and a BBMF Spitfire made several low passes. Detail provided by David E. Thompson, Middlesborough, England.

Wellington BK389, B. Mk. III

s/n BK389

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 389

Served with No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded ZL*L. Flew mining mission January 2/3,1943, hit by flak resulting in a one foot square hole in the starboard wing. This was first squadron operation under 6 Group control. Failed to return from attack at Oldenburg in daylight on 30 January 1943, lost without a trace, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Oldenburg in daylight, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK401, B. Mk. III

s/n BK401

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 401

Served with No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF at Dishforth, coded KW*B. Served with No. 426 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded OW*M when lost without a trace. Failed to return from attack on Essen on 5/6 March 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-06 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK429, B. Mk. III

s/n BK429

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 429

Served with No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF at East Moor, coded AL*Q. Bombed Wilhelmshaven on 19 February 1943. Mining operation to Nectarine 2 area on 25 February 1943, and to Nectarine 1 on 27 February 1943. Bombed St. Nazarine on 28 February 1943. Mission to Nectarine 1 on 2 March 1943, brought mines back due to bad weather. Bombed Hamburg on 3 March 1943. Mining to Nectarine 2 on 7 March 1943. Failed to return from mission on 9/10 March 1943, no survivors. Reported as raid on Munich and as mining in Carrot area.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-10 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Munich, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK435, B. Mk. III

s/n BK435

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 435

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded QB*U, in the UK. Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 20 / 21 February 1943, shot down by Oblt Rudolf Sigmund of IV/NJG I into the North Sea, all were killed. Reported shot down at 19:46 local, 50 kilometres north of Texel. Crew was one RNZAF, 2 RCAF and 2 RAF.
last update: 2025-February-05

Minelaying Frisian Islands Netherlands (Nectarines) 1943-02-20 to 1943-02-20

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded QB*U, in the UK. Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 20 / 21 February 1943, shot down by Oblt Rudolf Sigmund of IV/NJG I into the North Sea, all were killed. Reported shot down at 19:46 local, 50 kilometres north of Texel. Crew was one RNZAF, 2 RCAF and 2 RAF.


   1943-February-21 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands, shot down by a Nightfighter into the North Sea, all were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK440, B. Mk. III

s/n BK440

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 440

Served with No. 426 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded OW*V. Flew attack at Wilhelmshaven February 24/25, 1943. Attacked 5 times by Ju 88, large hole in fuselage. Flew attack at Essen March 12/13, 1943. Attacked by fighter, no damage. Flew attack on Kiel April 4/5, 1943. Attacked by single engine fighter, no damage.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington BK441, Mk. lll

s/n BK441

BK 441

Wellington BK459, Mk. lll

Wellington BK463, Mk. lll

Wellington BK468, B. Mk. III

s/n BK468

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 468

Served with No. 420 (B) Squadron, RCAF at Middleton St. George, coded PT*R. Failed to return from attack at Cologne on 26/27 February 1943. All 5 crew were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-February-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Cologne. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK495, Mk. lll

Wellington BK506, Mk. lll

Wellington BK512, Mk. lll

Wellington BK513, Mk. lll

Wellington BK517, Mk. lll

Wellington BK536, Mk. lll

Wellington BK540, B. Mk. III

s/n BK540

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 540

Served with No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF at East Moor, coded AL*C when lost. Bombed Lorient on 26 January 1943. Bombed Wilhelmshaven on 19 February 1943. Bombed Cologne on 26 February 1943. Returned early from mission to St. Nazarine on 28 February 1943, due to electrical fire in bomb bay. Landed at Abington. Bombed Essen on 5 March 1943. Mining operation to Nectarine 1 on 7 March 1943. Mining operation to Trefoil on 22 March 1943. Bombed Duisburg on 26 March 1943. Bombed St. Nazaire on 28 March 1943. Failed to return from attack on Berlin on 29/30 March 1943. Last reported position was 53:33N - 01:40E at 20:43 UK time. All 5 crew were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington BK549, Mk. lll

Wellington BK552, Mk. lll

Wellington BK557, B. Mk. III

s/n BK557

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 557

Served with No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, at Dishforth, coded KW*S. Lost on mission to Hamburg on 9/10 November 1942, possibly brought down by flak west of target. Claimed by 8 Flak Division. Five crew killed, one PoW. Crashed near Bad Zwischenahn, 14 kilometres west-north-west of Oldenburg, Germany, at 21:35 local time.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington BK559, Mk. lll

s/n BK559

BK 559

Wellington BK564, B. Mk. III

s/n BK564

Vickers-Armstrong

BK 564

Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 2 December 1942, coded NA*R. Bombed Lorient on 4/5 and 7/8 February 1943. Failed to return from attack on Bochum / Berlin on 29/30 March 1943. Crashed near Gelsenkirchen, 4 crew were killed and 1 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-29

428 () () RAF Dalton

   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin. Crashed near Gelsenkirchen, 4 crew were killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30

428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dalton

428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finem) RAF Dalton. Wellington BIII aircraft BK 564 NR-A was shot down during a raid on targets in Bochum, Germany and crashed near Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Pilot Officer JLRVF Cartier (RCAF) Flight Sergeant PB Gustavsen (RCAF) and Flying Officer JF Spencer (RAFVR) were killed in action. Two crew members were able to bail. One, Sergeant HF Rhodes (RAFVR) was injured and he survived to reach the ground but died from his injuries 1943-04-12 in hospital. Sergeant D King (RCAF) survived and was taken as Prisoner Of War

There were two 428 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial HE 175 NA-V for additional information

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Daily Operations

Wellington BK361, Mk. III

s/n BK361

BK361

Plt Offr B M MARION (J/22552) Evader Wellington III BK361 1943-04-08 166 Sqdn

Sgt George Stanley BARCLAY (413369) Wellington III BK361 1943-04-08 166 Sqdn Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug
Sgt Arthur Herbert CONRAD (1263438) Wellington III BK361 1943-04-08 166 Sqdn Stalag 357 Kopernikus
Sgt Robert Wesley HART (1391223) Wellington III BK361 1943-04-08 166 Sqdn Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug
Sgt Ronald Francis LIMAGE (1391336) Wellington III BK361 1943-04-08 166 Sqdn Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe)
last update: 2024-December-25

Wellington DF615, Mk. III

s/n DF615

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 615

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "PT*S". Failed to return from attack on the dock area of Lorient on 29/30 January 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on the dock area of Lorient, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington DF626, Mk. III

s/n DF626

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 626

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF coded "PT*Y". Dispatched for attack on the dock area of Lorient on 29 / 30 January 1943, crashed near Woodbury Common, near Exeter in Devon outbound, only 2 survived. Marine Sgt. W. West received BEM for rescue efforts at the crash site.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-30 Accident Crash Dispatched for attack on the dock area of Lorient, crashed near Exeter outbound, only 2 survived. 2019-08-20

Wellington DF635, Mk. III

s/n DF635

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 635

Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF coded "NA*I". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 8/9 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter at 18,000 feet over the target. All crew were POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-09 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, shot down by a night fighter. All crew were POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington DF636, Mk. III

s/n DF636

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 636

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF coded "PT*S". Lost on 13/14 October 1942, crashed at Leeming at 01:38 local, while attempting go-around after returning from mission to Kiel. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington DF637, Mk. III

s/n DF637

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 637

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF coded "PT*F". Damaged on 19/20 February 1943 during a raid on Wilhelmshaven, by night fighter and by flak. Port engine quit after night fighter attack, one crew member bailed out. Landed at Coltishall on one engine.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-19 to 1943-02-20

420 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St George

Aircraft was damaged by flak and then attacked by a Bf 110 night fighter. The rear gunner Warrant Officer 2nd Class Beresford baled out but did not survive. The pilot, Flight Sergeant RE Taylor (RCAF), managed to fly the damaged aircraft on one engine back to a safe landing in Coltishall, England. Taylor was awarded a DFM for this sortie. D Parker, R Koval, FF Years

Wellington DF639, Mk. III

s/n DF639

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 639

Wellington DF664, Mk. III

s/n DF664

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 664

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Coded "VR*E" when lost on 13/14 October 1942 during raid on Kiel. Crashed in North Sea off Brockeswalde, Germany. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Kiel Germany 1942-10-13 to 1942-10-13

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

288 aircraft - roo Wellingtons, 82 Lancasters, 78 Halifaxes, 28 Stirlings. 8 aircraft- 5 Wellingtons, 1 each of other types - lost, 2·8 per cent of the force.

A decoy fire site was operating and at least half of the bombing was drawn away into open countryside, but the rest of the attack fell on Kiel and its immediate surroundings. The Kiel diarist records a now familiar list of area-bombing damage, the only items of particular interest being that 17 omnibuses were destroyed in their garage or parking area and that much of the bombing fell on the south-eastern suburbs of Elmschenhagen. He also refers to a constantly recurring theme in recent raids, the vast amount of roof damage and glass breakage with the increasing use by Bomber Command of high-capacity blast bombs. 250,000 square metres of roof tiling and 150,000 square metres of glass were blown away in Kiel on this night. Casualties were 41 killed and 101 injured. Finally, Herr Boelck writes: 'Amazingly, the Flak hardly opened fire for some time although the bombers were over the town.* This withholding of fire was a ploy which the German defences developed to hinder the identification of a target by the bombers, particularly when a nearby decoy site was being used. There were often disagreements between local party officials who wanted their people to see the Flak banging away vigorously, and the local Luftwaffe Flak commanders who were attempting this tactical deception.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington DF665, Mk. III

s/n DF665

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 665


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Saarbrucken Germany 1942-08-28 to 1942-08-28

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

II3 aircraft - 71 Wellingtons, 24 Halifaxes, 17 Hampdens, I Stirling. This was an experimental raid by a

force of oddments - Halifaxes of 4 Group which were being rested from major operations,

Hampdens of 5 Group and new crews from other groups. There were no Pathfinders. The moon was four fifths full and it was judged that this relatively undefended target, just inside Germany, could be successfully attacked while the main raid on Nuremberg was taking place.

The raid was not a success; bombing was scattered over a wide area. 15 houses were destroyed and 51 seriously damaged in Saarbriicken and one woman was killed. 7 aircraft - 4 Hampdens, 2 Halifaxes, I Wellington - lost, 6·2 per cent of the force.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Vickers Wellington B. Mk. III s/n DF665 and code VR*Q, was shot down by a BF 110 night-fighter flown by Oberluetnant Kurt Martinek 9./NJG 4 operating from Laon-Athies airfield in France.

The 'Wimpy' as the Wellington was affectionately known as, crashed at 23:30 hours at Petit-Deische, Namur, Belgium on the border with France and roughly 2 km's north-west of the French town of Givet. Only one crewmember survived and became an evader. R.C.A.F. Sergeant W. H. Ledford made it back to England on the 2nd of November, 1942.

Sadly after returning to ops, Ledford was killed in action on the 23rd of August while a member of No. 434 'Bluenose' (B) Squadron.

Oberleutnant Kurt Martinek and Oberfeldwebel Fritz Gudjons were both killed in crash of Bf 110E-4 w.n.3818 C9+AL of 3/NJG5 at Neudorf 5km's north-west of Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany on the night of the 3rd/4th of November,1942. It had been a non-operational flight.

source: Chris Charland

.

Wellington DF683, Mk. III

s/n DF683

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 683

Wellington DF686, Mk. X

s/n DF686

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 686

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, in North Africa in 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Briatico Cape Semero Sicily 1943-08-17 to 1943-08-18

420 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairuan Tunisia

Mission: 11 aircraft were bombed up and took of to attack beach targets between Briatico and Capo Suvero Italy. There were no noticeable concentrations of personnel or barges on the beaches. Bombs were seen to burst in the vicinity of the aiming point. It is believed fuel storage supplies were struck, causing flames to reach 400 feet.

DF686 and crew not heard from again. Some sources say targeting Pizzo Italy

Wellington DF709, Mk. III

s/n DF709

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 709

Wellington DF728, Mk. III

s/n DF728

Vickers-Armstrong

DF 728

Wellington DV411, 1C

Wellington DV457, 1C

Wellington DV458, 1C

s/n DV458

DV 458

Wellington DV475, 1C

Wellington DV483, 1C

Wellington DV510, 1C

Wellington DV520,

Wellington DV543, 1C

s/n DV543

DV 543


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington DV564, 1C

Wellington DV569, 1C

Wellington DV579, 1C

s/n DV579

DV 579


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Rostock Germany 1942-04-25 to 1942-04-25

(B) Sqn (RAF) Elsham Wolds

ROSTOCK 128 aircraft of 6 types,110 to the town and 18 to the Heinke! factory. No aircraft were lost although crews reported that Rostock's Flak defences had been strengthened. (ORB confirms that DV579 was lost on this raid)

Heavy bombing of the town and many fires were achieved. Some aircraft also hit the Heinke! factory for the first time; the crews achieving this were flying Manchesters from 106 Squadron, which was commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington DV643, 1C

Wellington DV653, 1C

Wellington DV663, 1C

s/n DV663

DV 663

Wellington DV674, 1C

Wellington DV695, 1C

Wellington DV699, Mk. IC

s/n DV699

Vickers-Armstrong

DV 699

Wellington DV700, 1C

s/n DV700

DV 700

Wellington DV703, 1C

Wellington DV715, 1C

Wellington DV726, 1C

Wellington DV773, 1C

Wellington DV816, 1C

Wellington DV828, 1C

Wellington DV831, 1C

Wellington DV866, 1C

Wellington DV867, 1C

Wellington DV875, 1C

Wellington DV885, 1C

Wellington DV931, 1C

s/n DV931

DV 931

Wellington DV944, 1C

Wellington HD955, Mk. IC

s/n HD955

Vickers-Armstrong

HD 955

Wellington HD977, Mk. IC

s/n HD977

Vickers-Armstrong

HD 977

Wellington HD984, Mk. IC

s/n HD984

Vickers-Armstrong

HD 984

Wellington HD985, Mk. IC

s/n HD985

Vickers-Armstrong

HD 985

Wellington HE126, Mk. IC

s/n HE126

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 126

Wellington HE132, Mk. IC

s/n HE132

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 132

Wellington HE152, B. Mk. X

s/n HE152

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 152

Wellington HE155, B. Mk. X

s/n HE155

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 155

Wellington HE157, B. Mk. X

s/n HE157

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 157

Served with No. 420 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*U". Used by No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*N" when lost. Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 12/13 May 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE159, B. Mk. X

s/n HE159

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 159


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-April-11 Accident Crash Serious engine problems during attack at Frankfurt. 1 bailed out rest killed when a/c crashed near Rolvenden. 2019-08-20

Bombing Frankfurt Germany 1943-04-10 to 1943-04-11

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming

Battle of the Ruhr

502 aircraft- r44 Wellingtons, r36 Lancasters, r24 Halifaxes, 98 Stirlings. 2r aircraft - 8 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes - lost, 4·2 per cent of the force.

Complete cloud cover in the target area again led to a failure. The bombing photographs of every aircraft showed nothing but cloud and Bomber Command had no idea where bombs had fallen. Frankfurt reports only a few in the suburbs of the city south of the River Main. The only damage listed was fires in a paper-goods store and in the rafters of a few neighbouring houses. The Frankfurt report says that there were no casualties in the city, but another report says that 18 people died, presumably in country areas.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 159 had engine failure and crashed at Lambs Ponds, near Tenterden, Kent, England. WO. R.M. Buie, FS A.W. Kimmerly, and P/Os L.K.Taylor, R.W. Thompson (RAF) were killed.

Wellington HE161, B. Mk. X

s/n HE161

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 161

Wellington HE170, B. Mk. X

s/n HE170

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 170

Wellington HE173, B. Mk. X

s/n HE173

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 173

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 8 December 1942. Coded "NA*S", when it crashed 1 mile NW of Dishforth after takeoff on night training flight, 31 January 1943. Caught fire shortly after take off, 3 crew killed and 1 injured. First aircraft lost by this squadron.
last update: 2025-February-28
   1943-January-31 Accident Crash Crashed on training flight, see comments. 2019-08-20

Operational 1943-01-30 to 1943-01-31

428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dishforth

428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finem) RAF Dalton. Flying out of RAF Station Dishforth, Yorkshire rather than the Squadron home field of RAF Dalton, Wellington X aircraft HE 173 NA-S was on a night flying exercise when it crashed one mile north-west of the aerodrome at RAF Dishforth. The aircraft had already been flown on a cross-country flight earlier that night and the crew had reported no issues with the aircraft, although an engine starter motor issue had prevented this aircraft from participation in operations the night of January 28/29. The crew then made three successful take-off and landing circuits from RAF Dishforth and at 02:12 they began a fourth. The aircraft climbed normally to between 300 and 500 feet, but then gradually descended until it crashed just north-east of the airfield. The crash-site was near Lingham Lane Farm and three of the four aboard were killed. It was thought that the pilot was so pre-occupied in making sure that the flaps and undercarriage were raised after take-off that he failed to keep the aircraft's nose up. The rear gunner was the only survivor. A Wellington bomber would normally have a crew of five but the Squadron Operations Record Book confirms the number of four aircrew aboard for this flight.

This accident was the first fatal accident 428 Squadron had sustained since it formed in November 1942

Flying Officer George Wood (RCAF), Flying Officer Norman Gorick (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant William Mossop (RAFVR) were all killed in this training flying accident

The rear gunner, Sergeant John Welsh (RAFVR) was the only survivor from this crash

(detail provided by John Jones, London, UK)

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General ircraft accidents in Yorkshire

General 428 Squadron Wellington X HE173 NA-S Flying Officer Gorick

Wellington HE176, B. Mk. X

s/n HE176

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 176

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*F". Bombed Kiel on 4/5 April 1943. Shot down while on a raid to Stuttgart on 14/15 April 1943. Crashed at Freiburg, Germany.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-15 Accident Crash Shot down while on a raid to Stuttgart. Crashed at Freiburg, Germany. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE177, B. Mk. X

s/n HE177

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 177

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*G". Bombed Cologne on 26/27 February 1943, attacked by night fighter. Crashed after an overshoot at East Moor on 22 May 1943 after mining operation to the Frisian Islands (Nectarine target area). 1 survivor.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-22 Accident Crash Crashed after an overshoot at East Moor after mining operation to the Frisian Islands (Nectarine target area). 1 survivor. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE182, B. Mk. X

s/n HE182

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 182


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, shot down by flak. 4 crew were killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Berlin Germany 1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

329 aircraft - r 62 Lancasters, r 03 Halifaxes, 64 Stirlings. 21aircraft - 11 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings - lost, 6·4 per cent of the force.

,

Weather conditions were difficult, with icing and inaccurately forecast winds. The marking for the raid appeared to be concentrated but in a position which was too far south and the Main Force arrived late. Most of the bombs fell in open country 6 miles south-east of Berlin. German records say that 148 people were killed in Berlin and 148 buildings were totally destroyed but there is some doubt about the accuracy of these figures.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 182 missing, presumed over the target, presumed enemy action. Sergeants E.J. Aspden (RAF), R. Davies (RAF), and J.H. Kinnber (RAF) were also killed. One other member of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed killed.

Wellington HE183, B. Mk. X

s/n HE183

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 183


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-May-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum. No survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Bochum Germany 1943-05-13 to 1943-05-14

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

442 aircraft - 135 Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings, IO Mosquitoes; 5 Group did not take part in this raid. 24 aircraft- 13 Halifaxes, 6 Wellingtons, 4 Stirlings, 1 Lancaster - lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.

This raid started well but, after 15 minutes, what were believed to be German decoy markers drew much of the bombing away from the target. The only information available from Germany is that 394 buildings in Bochum were destroyed, 716 were seriously damaged and 302 people were killed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 183 missing, presumed over the target, presumed enemy action. Squadron Leader T.B. Marshall (RAF), Flying Officer D.J. Macmillan and Sergeant A.E. Quaife (RAF) were killed. F/0.s D. Coales (RAF) and D.S. Gooderham (RAF) were also killed.

Wellington HE199, B. Mk. X

Wellington HE201, B. Mk. X

s/n HE201

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 201

Served with No. 431 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "SE*T". Claimed two night fighters shot down during mission to Stuttgart on 14/15 April 1943, one substantiated by German records.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE213, B. Mk. X

s/n HE213

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 213


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-April-11 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Frankfurt, 3 crew were POWs and 2 killed after ditching near the Channel Islands. 2019-08-20

Bombing Frankfurt Germany 1943-04-10 to 1943-04-11

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

502 aircraft- 144 Wellingtons, 136 Lancasters, 124 Halifaxes, 98 Stirlings. 21 aircraft - 8 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes - lost, 4·2 per cent of the force.

Complete cloud cover in the target area again led to a failure. The bombing photographs of every aircraft showed nothing but cloud and Bomber Command had no idea where bombs had fallen. Frankfurt reports only a few in the suburbs of the city south of the River Main. The only damage listed was fires in a paper-goods store and in the rafters of a few neighbouring houses. The Frankfurt report says that there were no casualties in the city, but another report says that 18 people died, presumably in country areas.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 213 failed to return from operations. Sergeant A. Holden (RAF) was also killed. Three others of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed.

Wellington HE228, B. Mk. X

s/n HE228

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 228

Wellington HE231, B. Mk. X

s/n HE231

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 231

Wellington HE238, B. Mk. X

Wellington HE243, B. Mk. X

s/n HE243

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 243

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK 1943, coded "OW*E". Failed to return from attack on Bochum on 13/14 May 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE261, B. Mk. X

s/n HE261

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 261

Used by No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, in North Africa in 1943, coded "R". Crashed into the sea off Cap Bon, near Hacquarhe, Tunisia on 6 August 1943, while attempting a go-around. All 5 crew killed.



last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE266, B. Mk. X

s/n HE266

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 266

Wellington HE272, B. Mk. X

s/n HE272

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 272


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Messina Sicily Italy 1943-06-29 to 1943-06-29

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan/Zina (approx.) N.Africa

Wellington aircraft HE 272 failed to return from operations over Sicily.W/O 1st cl. H.E.Mayer, Flying Officer L.R. Nussbaum, Pilot Officer P.J. McManus, FSs W.R. Roberts, and L.A. Ferguson were killed. There were two 424 Sqdn. aircraft lost on this date. The following RAF personnel were also killed; Sergeants J. Canning, S.D. Rollinson, A.C. Whiteman, F/Os W.H.J. Pickard, and K. Marsland.

Wellington HE276, B. Mk. X

s/n HE276

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 276

Wellington HE280, B. Mk. X

s/n HE280

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 280

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*V". Failed to return from attack at Essen on 5/6 March 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-06 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE281, B. Mk. X

s/n HE281

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 281

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*D". Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 23/24 May 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-24 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dortmund. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE284, B. Mk. X

s/n HE284

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 284

Wellington HE290, B. Mk. X

s/n HE290

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 290

Wellington HE293, B. Mk. X

s/n HE293

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 293


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Milan Italy 1944-07-13 to 1944-07-13

142 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Regina, Foggia, Italy

142 Squadron (Determination) RAF Regina, Foggia, Italy. Wellington BX aircraft HE 293-D had been struck by flak and was struggling in poor weather conditions when it crashed in the Passo della Portula, near Bergamo, 50 miles north east of the target, the Lambrate Marshalling Yards in Milan, Italy

Pilot Officer E A W Dawson (RCAF), Flight Sergeant G E Smith (RCAF), Flight Sergeant K E Fairclough (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant E Berwick (RAFVR) and Sergeant W Kirkland (RAFVR) were all killed in action and were buried by local partisans near the crash site. They were later exhumed and now rest in the Milan War Cemetery.

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General 142 Squadron Wellington losses

Wellington HE294, B. Mk. X

s/n HE294

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 294


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-May-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Essen, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Essen Germany 1943-05-27 to 1943-05-28

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

518 aircraft - 274 Lancasters, 151 Halifaxes, 81 Wellingtons, 12 Mosquitoes. 23 aircraft- I I Halifaxes, 6 Lancasters, 5 Wellingtons, 1 Mosquito -lost, 4·4 per cent of the force.

The weather was cloudy and sky-marking had to be used. The main bombing was scattered, with many aircraft undershooting. The limited damage caused in Essen was mainly in the central and northern districts. 488 buildings were destroyed. 196 people were killed and 547 injured. Bombs fell in 10 surrounding Ruhr towns.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 294 missing from night operations over Essen, Germany. R.G. Allan, R.M. Murray, J.A. Farnham, R.E Taylor and A.G. Bailey were killed.

Wellington HE319, B. Mk. X

s/n HE319

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 319

Wellington HE320, B. Mk. X

s/n HE320

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 320

Wellington HE321, B. Mk. X

s/n HE321

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 321

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*Z". Shot down by ObIt August Geiger in a III./NJG 1 night-fighter on 13 May 1943 while on a mission to Duisburg. The aircraft crashed near Deuringen, Holland.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE322, B. Mk. X

s/n HE322

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 322

Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*J". Crashed on takeoff from Dalton on 11 June 1943, for attack on Dusseldorf. 1 survivor.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-11

428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dalton

428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finem) RAF Dalton. Wellington BX aircraft HE 322 NA-J was carrying a 4,000 lb. bomb when it swung off the runway during take-off for an operation against targets in Dusseldorf Germany. The Wellington hit the ridge at the end of the aerodrome with the bomb exploding on impact

FS JCE Jette (RCAF), FS JER Marchand (RCAF), Sergeant MP Scullion (RCAF) and Sergeant R Askew (RAFVR) were all killed in action

The sole survivor was pilot Sergeant W Lachman (RCAF), who was badly injured

Most of this crew, Jette, Lachman, Askew and Marchand had been rescued at sea 1943-05-28 following the ditching of 428 Squadron Wellington X aircraft MS 481 NA-Q returning from an operation to Essen, Germany. The starboard engine was disabled by flak over Essen and the bomber turned for home, ditching off the coast of England, near Grimsby near the Humber Estuary. Sadly, the tail section had broken away from the aircraft with the loss of the rear air gunner, FS AF O'Rourke (RCAF)

General Wellington X HE322 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...


   1943-June-12 Accident Crash Crashed on takeoff from Dalton, for attack on Dusseldorf. 1 survivor. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE324, B. Mk. X

s/n HE324

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 324

Wellington HE348, B. Mk. X

s/n HE348

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 348


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-August-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to Brest, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Minelaying Brest France (Jellyfish) 1943-08-13 to 1943-08-13

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Failed to return from mining operation to Brest on 12/13 August 1943, no survivors.

Wellington HE353, B. Mk. X

s/n HE353

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 353


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Aachen. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Aachen Germany 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-14

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

374 aircraft - 214 Halifaxes, 76 Wellingtons, 55 Stirlings, 18 Lancasters, 11 Mos-quitoes; 5 Group did not take part in this raid. 20 aircraft-« 15 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost, 5·3 per cent of the force.

A strong tail wind brought the first waves of the Main Force into the target area before Zero Hour with the result that, when the first Pathfinder markers were released, an unusually large number of aircraft bombed in the first minutes of the raid. The visibility was good and large areas of Aachen appeared to burst into flame at once. In the words of the report from Aachen, 'A Terrorangriff of the most severe scale was delivered.I" 2,927 individual buildings were destroyed. These contained 16,828 flats/apartments and there was the familiar list of public and cultural buildings hit. Among those classed as severely damaged were the cathedral, the Rathaus, the town theatre, the police headquarters, the local prison, the main post office, two infantry barracks and an army food depot, and 8 large industrial premises including an aero-engine factory, a rubber factory, a tyre factory and a wagon works. 294 people were killed and 745 injured and 28,500 people appear to have fled the town and were still absent when new ration cards were issued nearly 7 weeks later.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BX aircraft HK 353 QO-R missing from a trip to Aachen, Germany, cause not determined. The entire crew were killed

General Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

General HE353 432 Sqdn Halifax

General Aviation Safety Network

General HE353 432 Sqdn Halifax

Wellington HE367, B. Mk. X

s/n HE367

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 367

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*V". Used by No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*F". Piloted by Sergeant R.C. White R128793. Overshot on landing at Topcliffe while with this unit, crashed into a field adjacent to No. 5 Hangar when the landing gear collapsed, early 1943.

On 1943-04-02, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, a Technical Officer at Topcliffe, wrote in his diary:

Well, we had another crash, or prang as they say over here, today. A 424 sqdn Wellington came in too hot & overshot the runway. He touched down about 3/4 of the way along , run off the end, ballooned over a ditch, through a wooden fence & ended up on his nose on a farmers field just outside my hanger. Nobody hurt but the aircraft is practically a complete wash out. It appears that the pilot had not checked his a/c carefully enough & the Pitot head cover was left on giving him no instruments and thus no I.A.S. He touched down doing about 135mph.

last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE369, B. Mk. X

s/n HE369

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 369


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-February-25 Accident Crash On return from attack at Wilhelmshaven, crashed on the perimeter track burst into flames, killing 3 crew. 2019-08-20

Bombing Wilhelmshaven Germany 1943-02-24 to 1943-02-25

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Topcliffe

424 Tiger Squadron (Castigandos Castigamus) RAF Topcliffe, Wellington BX aircraft HE 369 QB-P crashed on the aerodrome at Topcliffe, Yorkshire, returning from an operation to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The cause of the crash was not determined

Pilot Officer RSB Worley (RCAF), FS J Banks (RAFVR) and Sergeant AA Wiles (RAFVR) were killed in action in the crash

FS WA Sparrow (RCAF), Sergeant J Harrison (RCAF) and Sergeant FWN Trowbridge (RAFVR) survived, injured

General Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire

Wellington HE374, B. Mk. X

s/n HE374

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 374


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-04-14 to 1943-04-15

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

462 aircraft- 146 Wellingtons, 135 Halifaxes, 98 Lancasters, 83 Stirlings. 23 aircraft - 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters - lost, 5.0 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders claimed to have marked the centre. of this normally difficult target accurately but the main bombing area developed to the north-east, along the line of approach of the bombing force. This was an example of the 'creepback', a feature of large raids which occurred when Main Force crews- and some Pathfinder backers-up - failed to· press through to the centre of the marking area but bombed - of re-marked - the earliest markers visible. Bomber Command was never able to eliminate the creepback tendency and much bombing fell outside city areas because of it

.

On this night the creepback extended over the suburb of Bad Canstatt, which was of an industrial nature, and some useful damage was caused, particularly in the large railway-repair workshops situated there. The neighbouring districts of Munster and Miihlhausen were also hit and the majority of the 393 buildings destroyed and 942 severely damaged and the 200-plus civilian casualties were in these northern areas.

Only a few bombs fell in the centre of Stuttgart but the old Gedachtnis church was destroyed. In the district of Gaisburg, just east of the centre, 1 bomb scored a direct hit on an air-raid shelter packed with French and Russian prisoners of war. 257 Frenchmen and 143 Russians were killed. This tragedy brought the total death roll in Stuttgart to 619, a new record for raids to Germany.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington HE379, B. Mk. X

s/n HE379

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 379


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Mannheim Germany 1943-04-16 to 1943-04-16

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

271 aircraft - 159 Wellingtons, 95 Stirlings, 17 Halifaxes. 18 aircraft- 9 Wellingtons,7 Stirlings,, 2 Halifaxes - lost, 6·6 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders marked this target accurately and an effective attack followed. 130 buildings were totally destroyed and nearly 3,000 damaged. Production was stopped or reduced at 41 industrial premises. 130 people were killed, 269 injured and 6,954 bombed out of their homes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt


   1943-April-17 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Pilsen. 4 crew were POWs and one crew was killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE382, B. Mk. X

s/n HE382

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 382

With No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*Y". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 26/27 April 1943. All 6 crew were killed. Came down at Bornerbroek, Holland, near Almelo.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE385, B. Mk. X

s/n HE385

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 385

Wellington HE391, B. Mk. X

s/n HE391

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 391

Wellington HE392, B. Mk. X

s/n HE392

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 392


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, crashed into the sea. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

431 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

783 aircraft - 326 Lancasters, 202 Halifaxes, 143 Wellingtons, 99 Stirlings, 13 Mosquitoes. This was the first night that more than 200 Halifaxes took part in a raid. 38 aircraft- 14 Lancasters, 12 Halifaxes, 10 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings - lost, 4·9 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinder marking plan proceeded excellently until an Oboe Mosquito inadvertently released a load of target indicators 14 miles north-east of Dusseldorf. This caused part of the Main Force to waste its bombs on open country. But the main bombing caused extensive damage in the centre of Dusseldorf, where 130 acres were claimed as destroyed, and this proved to be the most damaging raid of the war for this city.

Dusseldorf reports that the fire area measured 8· km by 5 km, covering the city centre - both the old and new parts, the Derendorf district and the south of the city. No less than 8,882 separate fire incidents were recorded of which 11,144 were classified as large. 1,292 people were killed. 140,000 people were bombed out of their homes The list of destroyed and seriously damaged industrial and public buildings coven typed pages in the Dusseldorf report! 42 industries connected with the war effort suffered complete stoppages of production and 35 more suffered a partial reduction. 20 military establishments were hit. 8 ships were sunk or damaged. The Gau (province) local government headquarters was destroyed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington X aircraft HE 392 SE-L shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Heinz Grimm of the Stab IV/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Leeuwarden airfield, Netherlands during bombing operations against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Wellington crashed at Slikkerdijk, Oudesluis, Noord-Holland, Netherlands, although the wreckage was not located until 1991

FS ES Rheaume (RCAF) was killed in action and the only crew member recovered, identified and buried at the time of the crash

Flying Officer CA MacDougall (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 JG Breen (RCAF), Squadron Leader WE Mulford (RAF) and Sergeant JR Bell (RAFVR) were all missing presumed killed in action and were commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

In September 1991, the wreckage of Wellington HE 392 was recovered by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Aircraft Recovery Team along with the remains of four missing members of the crew. The entire crew were laid to rest together in a formal ceremony with Canadian, British and Netherlands military and officials in attendance in the Bergen-op-Zoom Cemetery June 16, 1993

There were three 431 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HF 543 SE-P and HE 184 SE-M for additional information

Addendum: Changes to the crew list. Pilot Officer(s) Burrow and McAusland were not part of this crew. Wellington aircraft HE 392 SE-L missing during a night attack against Dusseldorf, Germany. FS ES Rheaume,Warrant Officer JG Breen, Sergeant JR Bell (RAF), and Squadron Leader WE Mulford (RAF) were also killed in action

General Results

General Aviation Safety Network

General Wellington X HE392 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HE393, B. Mk. X

s/n HE393

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 393


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HE412, B. Mk. X

s/n HE412

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 412

Wellington HE419, B. Mk. X

s/n HE419

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 419

Wellington HE422, B. Mk. X

s/n HE422

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 422

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*Q". Became lost after attack at Frankfurt on 10/11 April 1943. Very low on fuel over England on return, crew bailed out. 1 man landed in Carmarthen Bay near Tenby, South Wales and drowned, remainder of crew uninjured.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE432, B. Mk. X

s/n HE432

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 432

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, first coded "NA*C". Coded "NA*B" when lost. Failed to return from attack on Kiel on 4/5 April 1943, went down off coast of Holland. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-05 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Kiel, went down off coast of Holland. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE440, B. Mk. X

s/n HE440

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 440


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-05-12 to 1943-05-13

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

572 aircraft - 238 Lancasters, 142 Halifaxes, 112 Wellingtons, 70 Stirling», 10 Mosquitoes. 34 aircraft 10 Lancastcrs, 10 Wellingtons, 9 Halifaxes, 5 Stirlings lost 5·9 per cent of the force.

This was the fourth raid on Duisburg so far during the Battle of the Ruhr, the first 3 raids having been only partially successful. The Pathfinder marking on this night however, was near perfect and the Main Force bombing was particularly well concentrated. The centre of Duisburg and the port area just off the River Rhine, the larges inland port in Germany, suffered severe damage. I ,596 buildings were totally destroyer and 273 people were killed. 4 of the August Thyssen steel factories were damaged Nearly 2,000 prisoners of war and forced workers were drafted into Duisburg to repair windows, roofs and other bomb damage. In the port area, 21 barges and 13 other ship totalling 18,921 tons were sunk and 60 further ships of 41,000 tons were damaged. lt was not deemed necessary to attack Duisburg again during this period.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BX aircraft HE 440 SE-Y was lost over Holland, shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Manfred Meurer of the 3/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Venlo airfield, Netherlands, while on an operation against the port area, industrial targets and the Thyssen steel works at Duisburg, Germany

The Wellington crashed at Huppel F20, northeast of Winterswijk, Gelderland with the loss of the entire crew

Sergeant GRY Wood (RAF), Sergeant S Cresswell (RAFVR), Sergeant EL Gummer (RAFVR), Sergeant IE Mobley (RAF) and Sergeant TH Smith (RAFVR) were all killed in action

General search T/R number

Wellington HE464, B. Mk. X

s/n HE464

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 464

Wellington HE466, B. Mk. X

s/n HE466

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 466

Wellington HE475, B. Mk. X

s/n HE475

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 475

Used by No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, at Disforth, UK. Coded "KW*E". Failed to return from attack on Pilsen on 16/17 April 1943. 3 crew were POWs and 2 were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-17 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Pilsen. 3 crew were POWs and 2 were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE480, B. Mk. X

Wellington HE491, B. Mk. X

s/n HE491

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 491

Served with No.425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "KW*U". Failed to return from mining operation to Texel on 11/12 April 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to Texel. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE492, B. Mk. X

s/n HE492

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 492


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Battipaglia Italy 1943-09-06 to 1943-09-06

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan

Wellington aircraft HE 492 missing during an operation to Battipaglia, Italy. Flying Officer A. Pitkethly,Warrant Officer J.A. Langlois, Flight Sergeant J.L.Sills; Sergeants W.J. Ingram, and L. Allen (RAF) were killed.

Wellington HE501, B. Mk. X

s/n HE501

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 501

Wellington HE503, B. Mk. X

s/n HE503

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 503


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-March-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1943-03-26 to 1943-03-27

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

455 aircraft- 173 Wellingtons, 157 Lancasters, 114 Halifaxes, 9 Mosquitoes, 2 Stirl-: ings. 6 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, I Halifax, 1 Lancaster, 1 Mosquito - lost, 1·3 per cent of the force. The Mosquito lost was the first Oboe Mosquito casualty. A message. was received from the pilot, Flight Lieutenant L. J. Ackland, that he was having to ditch in the North Sea. His body was never found but his navigator, Warrant Officer F. S. Sprouts, is believed to have survived.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

This raid was one of the few failures of this series of attacks on Ruhr targets. It was a cloudy night and, for once, accurate Oboe sky-marking was lacking because 5 Oboe Mosquitoes were forced to return early with technical difficulties and a sixth was lost. The result was a widely scattered raid. The only details reported from Duisburg were 15 houses destroyed and 70 damaged, with II people killed and 36 injured.

Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 26 / 27 March 1943, no survivors. Believed to have crashed in the North Sea. The 5 fatalities included pilot Flight Lieutenant G. Eades, RAFVR, a published poet and playwright, on the first mission of his second tour. One crew member washed ashore in Sweden. May have been shot down by Halifax of 51 Squadron, but this is not confirmed.

Wellington HE514, B. Mk. X

s/n HE514

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 514


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Essen Germany 1943-07-25 to 1943-07-26

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of Hamburg

705 aircraft - 294 Lancasters, 221 Halifaxes, 104 Stirlings, 67 Wellingtons, 19 Mosquitoes. 26 aircraft - I0 Halifaxes, 7 Stirlings, 5 Lancasters, 4 Wellingtons - lost, 3·7 per cent of the force. The commander of the American VIII Bomber Command, Brigadier-General Fred Anderson, observed this raid as a passenger in an 83 Squadron Lancaster.

This was an attempt to achieve a good raid on this major target while the effects of Window were still fresh. The raid was successful, with particular damage being recorded In Essen's industrial areas in the eastern half of the city. The Krupps works suffered what was probably it's most damaging raid of the war. The next morning, Doktor Gustav Krupp had a stroke from which he never recovered; this saved him from being charged with war crimes after the war. 51 other industrial buildings were destroyed and 83 seriously damaged. 2,852 houses were destroyed, 500 people were killed, 12 were missing and 1,208 were injured. The 500 dead are recorded as follows: 165 civilian men, II8 women, 22 children, 22 servicemen, 131 foreign workers and 42 prisoners of war.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BX aircraft HE 514 QO-K, flak damaged, was ditched into the English Channel off Cromer, Norfolk, England returning from a raid to Essen, Germany

Squadron Leader CB Sinton (RCAF)(UK), Sergeant GW Sharpe (RAF), Pilot Officer SA Sinclair (RAF), Sergeant RE Pearce (RAF) and Pilot Officer KR Patterson (RAF) all survived the ditching at sea and were rescued

General Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

General Aviation Safety Network

General Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

Wellington HE515, B. Mk. X

s/n HE515

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 515


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Taranto Italy 1943-08-26 to 1943-08-26

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan

Wellington aircraft HE 515 was seen to go down in the target area, Taranto, Italy. Flying Officer F.P. Wilson, FS s A.C. McLenahan, J.G. Brislan and Sergeant E. Munstemian were killed. One member of the crew, not Canadian, missing believed killed.

Wellington HE519, B. Mk. X

s/n HE519

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 519

Wellington HE522, B. Mk. X

s/n HE522

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 522

Used by No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, in North Africa in 1943, coded "KW*B".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE536, B. Mk. X

s/n HE536

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 536


last update: 2025-March-15

Unspecified 1943-07-10 to 1943-07-10

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan/Zina (approx.) N.Africa

Wellington X aircraft HE 536 QB-E was taking off on an operational flight when the tire blew out on the port wheel causing the aircraft to crash on the runway. The bomb load exploded on impact completely disintegrating the aircraft,

Flying Officer JC Kennedy (RCAF), Flying Officer JFXJ Bittner (RCAF), FS W Trofanenko (RCAF), FS GWA Patterson (RCAF) and FS J McGrogan (RCAF) were killed.

Wellington HE543, B. Mk. X

s/n HE543

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 543

Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*D". Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 28/29 April 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-29 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE547, B. Mk. X

s/n HE547

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 547

Served with No.427 (B) Squadron, RCAF at Croft, UK, coded "ZL*D". Failed to return from attack on Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943, 4 crew were POWs and one was killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE548, B. Mk. X

s/n HE548

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 548

Wellington HE550, B. Mk. X

s/n HE550

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 550

Served with No.420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*C". Failed to return from attack on Stuttgart on 14 / 15 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-15 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Stuttgart, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE553, B. Mk. X

s/n HE553

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 553


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-May-30 Accident Crash crashed into a hill on return from attack on Wuppertal, near Richmond in Yorkshire, 2 killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Wuppertal Germany 1943-05-29 to 1943-05-30

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

719 aircraft- 292 Lancasters, 185 Halifaxes, 118 Stirlings, 113 Wellingtons, 11 Mosquitoes. 33 aircraft - IO Halifaxes, 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 7 Lancasters - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

This attack was aimed at the Barmen half of the long and narrow town of /uppertal and was the outstanding success of the Battle of the Ruhr. Both Pathfinder marking and Main Force bombing was particularly accurate and a large fire area developed in the narrow streets of the old centre of the town, It is probable that this fire was so severe that the first small form of what would later become known as a 'firestorm' developed. Because it was a Saturday night, many of the town's fire and air-raid officials were not present, having gone to their country homes for the weekend, and the fire services of the town - in their first raid - were not able to control the fires.

Approximately 1,000 acres - possibly 80 per cent of Barmen's built-up area - was destroyed by fire. 5 out of the town's 6 largest factories, 2II other industrial premises and nearly 4,000 houses were completely destroyed. The number of buildings classed as seriously damaged - 71 industrial and 1,800 domestic - indicates the high proportion of complete destruction. Various figures were given for the number of people killed but our expert on Ruhr raids, Norbert Kruger, advises that the figure of 'approximately 3,400' is the nearest reasonable estimate.

The above figures indicate that the property damage in this raid was about twice as severe as any previous raid on a German city, while the number of people killed in this comparatively unprepared backwater of the Ruhr was about 5 times greater than any previous city raid.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington HE568, B. Mk. X

s/n HE568

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 568

Served with No. 432 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "QO*Y".
last update: 2025-February-05

Ferry Flight 1943-06-01 to 1943-06-01

420 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St George

420 Snowy Owl Squadron (Pugnamus Finitum), RAF Middleton St George. 420 Squadron RCAF was detached from Bomber Command from 1943-05-15 until 1943-11-06 and sent to the Middle East. Wellington X aircraft HE 568 lost in a daylight transit flight from RAF Portreath in Cornwall to Ras El Ma, North Africa, when the Wellington was intercepted and shot down over the Bay of Biscay by Oblt Hermann Horstmann of 13/KG 40

Aircrew: Flight Sergeant AT Sodero (RCAF), Flying Officer GH Hubbell (RCAF), Pilot Officer WR King (RCAF), Pilot Officer RS Hollowell (RCAF), Warrant Officer 2nd Class HL Davis (RCAF) as well as Ground Crew: Corporal JF MacKenzie (RCAF) and Leading Aircraftman TA Brookes (RCAF), were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known graves and are all commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

Wellington X HE 568 was one of a group of 20 aircraft transferring air and ground crew to North Africa and one of two aircraft shot down within minutes of each other by German fighters during the transit flight. Please see serial HE 961 for casualty list on that aircraft

Addendum: - FS Sodero was 23 years old at the time of death, not 21 Detail provided by DA Stallard, Trenton, Nova Scotia

General [Royal air Force serial and Image Database]...

General HOWARD'S END

Wellington HE580, B. Mk. X

s/n HE580

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 580

Wellington HE590, B. Mk. X

s/n HE590

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 590

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*P". Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf on 25 / 26 May 1943, shot down Oblt W. Telge II/NJG 1 at 02:40 near Zemst. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-26 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, shot down Oblt W. Telge II/NJG 1 at 02:40 near Zemst. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE591, B. Mk. X

s/n HE591

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 591

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF at Dushforth, UK, coded "OW*R". Failed to return from attack on Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-17 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Pilsen, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE592, B. Mk. X

s/n HE592

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 592

Used by No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK, mid 1943. Coded "KW*Q". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg 8 / 9 April 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-09 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE593, B. Mk. X

s/n HE593

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 593

Used by No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*Z". Bombed Duisberg on 26/27 April 1943. Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf on 11 / 12 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew killed and one evaded.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew killed and one evaded. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF East Moor. Wellington BX aircraft HE 593 AL-Z was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Bruno Eikmeier of the 2/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Gilze-Rijen airfield, Netherlands during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany. The Wellington crashed near Zijtaart, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Warrant Officer Class 1 GA Leitch (RCAF), Pilot Officer GR Densmore (RCAF), FS GA Nelson (RCAF), and Sergeant JNG Burns (RCAF)(USA) were all killed in action

FS RF Conroy (RCAF) was lone survivor from his crew and became an Evader. FS Conroy was aided by various people in the Bourgogne Escape Line and eventually made it to Gibraltar from where he returned to the UK and his unit 1943-10-02

There were three 429 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HF 542 AL-O and HZ 355 AL-G for additional information

General Crash Site Vickers Wellington B Mark X - Zijtaart - TracesOfWar.com

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General Results

General Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire

General Wellington X HE593, [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HE600, B. Mk. X

s/n HE600

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 600

Wellington HE630, B. Mk. X

s/n HE630

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 630


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-04 Accident Crash After attack on Cologne, directed to West Malling on return due to poor weather. With fog and low fuel, crashed into a house near Gravesend, 3 killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

53 aircraft - 293 Lancasters, 182 Halifaxes, 89 Wellingtons, 76 Stirlings, 13 Mos¬uitoes. 30 aircraft - 9,Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 8 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

The aiming point for this raid was that part of Cologne situated on the east bank f the Rhine. Much industry was located there. Pathfinder ground marking was accurately maintained by both the Mosquito Oboe aircraft and the backers-up, allowing the Main Force to carry out another heavy attack on Cologne. 20 industrial remises and 2,200 houses were completely destroyed. 588 people were killed, approximately 1,000 were injured and 72,000 bombed out.

'l'hls night saw the first operations of' a new German unit, .Jagdgeschwader 300, equipped with single-engined fighters using the Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) technique. In this, a German pilot used any form of illumination available over a city being bombed - searchlights, target indicators, the glow of fires on the ground - to pick out a bomber for attack. Liaison with the local Flak defences was supposed to ensure that the Flak was limited to a certain height above which the Wild Boar fighter was free to operate. R.A.F. crews were not used to meeting German fighters over a target city and it was some time before the presence of the new danger was realized. The reports on this night from 4 bombers that they had been fired on over the target by other bombers were almost certainly the result of Wild Boar attacks. The new German unit claimed 12 bombers shot down over Cologne but had to share the 12 available aircraft found to have crashed with the local Flak, who also claimed 12 successes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

After attack on Cologne on 3/4 July 1943 directed to West Malling on return due to poor weather. With fog and low fuel, crashed into a house near Gravesend, 3 killed.

Wellington HE652, B. Mk. X

s/n HE652

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 652

Used by No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*H". Failed to return from attack at Frankfurt on 10 / 11 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-11 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Frankfurt, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE656, B. Mk. X

s/n HE656

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 656

With No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*L", when it bombed Kiel on 4/5 April 1943. Later served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*A". Crashed into the sea off Gravelines after a raid to Duisburg on 13 May 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-13 Accident Crash Crashed into the sea off Gravelines after a raid to Duisburg. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE658, B. Mk. X

s/n HE658

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 658

Wellington HE682, B. Mk. X

s/n HE682

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 682

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF at Middleton St. George, UK, coded "PT*T". Failed to return from attack on Pilsen on 16 / 17 April 1943, exploded over Luxembourg after being attacked by a night fighter of I / NJG 4 en route to target. 4 crew were killed and one POW, Sgt. K.T.P. Allan.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-17 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Pilsen, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew were killed and one POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE690, B. Mk. X

s/n HE690

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 690

Operated by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*U". Failed to return from attack at Essen on 12 / 13 March 1943. Hit by flak and crashed 22:26 local time at Brielle (Zuid Holland), 21 km WSW from the centre of Rotterdam. 4 POW 1 killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack at Essen, shot down by flak. 4 POW 1 killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE692, B. Mk. X

s/n HE692

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 692


last update: 2025-March-15

Operational 1943-05-02 to 1943-05-02

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Overshot on landing and crashed into a stand of trees at Penrhos while on a cross country flight on 2 May 1943.

Wellington HE693, B. Mk. X

s/n HE693

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 693

Operated by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*W". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 26 / 27 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE696, B. Mk. X

s/n HE696

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 696

Wellington HE697, B. Mk. X

s/n HE697

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 697

Operated by No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*M". Failed to return from attack on Bochum on 13 / 14 May 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE727, B. Mk. X

s/n HE727

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 727

Used by No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*K". Failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943. Crashed NW of Utrecht, Holland. 3 crew killed and 2 were POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-05 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dortmund. Crashed NW of Utrecht, Holland. 3 crew killed and 2 were POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE728, B. Mk. X

s/n HE728

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 728

Used by No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*B". Coded "NA*D" when lost. Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 28/29 April 1943. All were killed. One of two squadron aircraft lost on this mission.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-29 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE729, B. Mk. X

s/n HE729

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 729


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

434 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Skipton-on-Swale

783 aircraft - 326 Lancasters, 202 Halifaxes, 143 Wellingtons, 99 Stirlings, 13 Mos¬quitoes. This was the first night that more than 200 Halifaxes took part in a raid. 38 aircraft- 14 Lancasters, 12 Halifaxes, IO Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings - lost, 4·9 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinder marking plan proceeded excellently until an Oboe Mosquito inadvertently released a load of target indicators 14 miles north-east of Diisseldorf. This caused part of the Main Force to waste its bombs on open country. But the main bombing caused extensive damage in the centre ofDiisseldorf, where 130 acres were claimed as destroyed, and this proved to be the most damaging raid of the war for this city.

Diusseldorf reports that the fire area measured 8· km by 5 km, covering the city centre - both the old and new parts, the Dcrcndorf district and the south of the city. No less than 8,882 separate fire incidents were recorded of which 1,444 were classified as large. 1,292 people were killed. 140,000 people were bombed out of their homes. The list of destroyed and seriously damaged industrial and public buildings coven typed pages in the Diisseldorf report! 42 industries connected with the war effort suffered complete stoppages of production and 35 more suffered a partial reduction 20 military establishments were hit. 8 ships were sunk or damaged. The Gau (province) local government headquarters was destroyed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BX aircraft HE 729 QO-U failed to return from operations over Dusseldorf, Germany, lost without a trace

The Wellington crashed into the North Sea or possibly IJsselmeer, Noord-Holland. There are multiple night fighter claims for the loss of this aircraft, but neither the actual crash location or correct night fighter pilot has been absolutely identified to date

Pilot Officer HD Warner (RCAF), FS JAM Philpott (RCAF), FS DS McRae (RCAF), Flying Officer GA McClintock, (RCAF) and Flight Lieutenant LA Bourgeois (RCAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known grave and are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

General Aviation Safety Network

General Wellington X HE729 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HE737, B. Mk. X

s/n HE737

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 737

Used by No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*V". Used by No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*B" when it failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 26 / 27 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew were killed and 3 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew were killed and 3 POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE743, B. Mk. X

s/n HE743

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 743

With No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded X. Returned early from raid on Duisberg on 26 March 1943, after port engine failed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE744, B. Mk. X

s/n HE744

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 744

Used by No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "ZL*J". Failed to return from attack on Berlin on 29 / 30 March 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Berlin, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE746, B. Mk. X

s/n HE746

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 746

Wellington HE749, B. Mk. X

s/n HE749

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 749

Wellington HE751, B. Mk. X

s/n HE751

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 751

Wellington HE756, B. Mk. X

s/n HE756

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 756

Wellington HE760, B. Mk. X

s/n HE760

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 760

Wellington HE771, B. Mk. X

s/n HE771

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 771

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*F". Crashed near Leiston, on appraoch to Darlington, while returning from attack on Duisberg on 26 / 27 April 1943. 1 killed, Sgt. C.D. Alder.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-27 Accident Crash Crashed near Leiston while returning from attack on Duisberg. 1 killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE793, B. Mk. X

s/n HE793

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 793

Wellington HE795, B. Mk. X

s/n HE795

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 795


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-10-02 to 1943-10-02

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Hani East, Tunisia

Hani East Landing Ground, Tunisia. Wellington X aircraft HE 795 QB-F failed to return, lost over Mediterranean on a sortie to Formia, Italy, cause unknown

FS HD Dauk (RCAF), FS JR Cote (RCAF), FS IA Martin (RCAF), FS EF Warr (RCAF) and Sergeant GD Dodson (RAF) were missing, presumed killed

They have no known graves and are commemorated on the Malta War Memorial

Wellington HE803, B. Mk. X

s/n HE803

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 803

Served with No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*W". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 25 / 26 July 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 1 crew was killed and 4 POWs.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-July-26 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Essen, shot down by a night fighter. 1 crew was killed and 4 POWs. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE810, B. Mk. X

s/n HE810

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 810

Wellington HE817, B. Mk. X

s/n HE817

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 817


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Hanover Germany 1943-09-27 to 1943-09-27

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Eastmoor

Battle of Berlin

678 aircraft - 312 Lancasters, 231 Halifaxes, 111 Stirlings, 24 Wellingtons. 5 B.17s also took .part, 38 Bomber Command aircraft - 17 Halifaxes, I0 Lancasters, I0 Stirlings, 1 Wellington - lost, s-6 per cent of the force, and l B-I7 also lost.

The use by the Pathfinders of faulty forecast winds again saved the centre of Hannover. The bombing was very concentrated but fell on an area 5 miles north of the city centre. No details are available from Germany but R.A.F. photographic evidence showed that most of the bombs fell in open country or villages north of the city.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington X aircraft HE 817 QO-K failed to return from night operations over Hanover, Germany. The aircraft was coned by searchlights over the target and possibly hit by flak. The Wellington was attacked by a night fighter which collided with the bomber during the attack and it crashed at Schulenburger, Landstrasse, Hanover, Germany

Only two crew members survived

FS LF Cook (RCAF), Pilot Officer SK Atkinson (RCAF), FS ICR Bowden (RAF), and Pilot Officer AW Chubb (RAFVR) were missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known graves and are all commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

Sergeant WA Grant (RCAF), and M/Sergeant SC Bybee (USAAF) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War

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General 432 Squadron Wellington X HE817 QO-K P/O. Atkinson, Hanover...


   1943-September-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hannover. 4 crew were killed and 2 POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE855, B. Mk. X

s/n HE855

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 855

Wellington HE862, B. Mk. X

s/n HE862

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 862

Wellington HE863, B. Mk. X

s/n HE863

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 863

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*G". Failed to return from attack on Stuttgart on 14 / 15 April 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 2 crew were killed, 2 evaded capture, and 1 was a POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-15 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Stuttgart, shot down by a night fighter. 2 crew were killed, 2 evaded capture, and 1 was a POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE864, B. Mk. X

s/n HE864

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 864

Used by No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*W". Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*D" when it failed to return from attack on Dortmund on 4 / 5 May 1943, shot down by Uffz Emil Heinzelmann in a IV./NJG 1 night-fighter. 3 were POWs and 2 killed. Crashed near Zwolle, Holland.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-05 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dortmund, shot down by Uffz Emil Heinzelmann in a IV./NJG 1 night-fighter. 3 were POWs and 2 killed. Crashed near Zwolle, Holland. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dortmund Germany 1943-05-04 to 1943-05-05

428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dalton UK

Aircraft shot down by a night fighter 2 miles southeast of Zwolle during a raid on Dortmund. Three of the crew survived and were captured. Prosnyck and Johnson killed. Three Canadians: Boyd, Thomson, and Levasseur were taken Prisoners of War.

Wellington HE899, B. Mk. X

s/n HE899

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 899

Used by No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Served with No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*B", when it failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands on 21 / 22 May 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to the Frisian Islands, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE905, B. Mk. X

s/n HE905

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 905

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK 1943. Coded "OW*V". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 12 / 13 May 1943, shot down by flak. 4 crew were POWs, one killed, and one evaded capture.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-13 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, shot down by flak. 4 crew were POWs, one killed, and one evaded capture. 2019-08-20

Wellington HE906, B. Mk. X

s/n HE906

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 906


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-August-03 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hamburg. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-08-02 to 1943-08-03

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of Hamburg

740 aircraft - 329 Lancasters, 235 Halifaxes, 105 Stirlings, 66 Wellingtons, 5 Mos-quitoes. 30 aircraft- 13 Lancasters, IO Halifaxes, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4·1 per cent of the force.

The bombing force encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany and the raid was a failure. Many crews turned back early or bombed alternative targets. At least 4 aircraft, probably more, were lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning. No Pathfinder marking was possible at Hamburg and only scattered bombing took place there. Many other towns in a 100-mile area of Northern Germany received a few bombs. A sizeable raid developed on the small town of Elmshorn, 12 miles from Hamburg. It is believed that a flash of lightning set a house on fire here and bomber crews saw this through a gap in the storm clouds and started to bomb the fire. 254 houses were destroyed in Elmshorn and 57 people were killed, some of them refugees from recent raids on Hamburg.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HE 906 failed to return from a night operation over Hamburg, Germany. All were killed.

Wellington HE929, B. Mk. X

Wellington HE952, B. Mk. X

s/n HE952

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 952

Wellington HE961, B. Mk. X

s/n HE961

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 961

With No. 420 (B) Squadron, RCAF, when shot down on 1 July 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05

Ferry Flight 1943-06-01 to 1943-06-01

420 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Middleton St George

420 Snowy Owl Squadron (Pugnamus Finitum), RAF Middleton St George. 420 Squadron RCAF was detached from Bomber Command from 1943-05-15 until 1943-11-06 and sent to the Middle East. Wellington X aircraft HE 568 lost in a daylight transit flight from RAF Portreath in Cornwall to Ras El Ma, North Africa was intercepted and shot down over the Bay of Biscay by Uffz Heinz Hommel of 13/KG 40

Aircrew: Flight Sergeant JC Nichol (RCAF), Flying Officer GS McCulloch (RCAF), Flying Officer PJM Greig (RCAF), Flight Sergeant GD McDougall (RCAF), Flight Sergeant KM Gillies (RCAF) as well as Ground Crew: Corporal ACJ Coates (RCAF), and Leading Aircraftman JB Leitch (RCAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known graves and are all commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

Wellington X HE 961 was one of a group of 20 aircraft transferring air and ground crew to North Africa and one of two aircraft shot down by German fighters within minutes of each other during the transit flight. Please see aircraft HE 568 for additional information

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General HOWARD'S END

Wellington HE962, B. Mk. X

s/n HE962

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 962


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-07-17 to 1943-07-17

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan/Zina (approx.) N.Africa

Wellington HE 962 developed trouble immediately it was airborne. The temperature started to go up the oil at 75 degrees and the engine started to cut out. As soon as this was noticed the Pilot jettisoned this bombs over the mountains. At this time the A/C was losing height rapidly. The starboard motor was in flames and the temperature needle was off the clock. The Captain ordered the crew to get ready to bail out. The B/A stated that all the crew repeated the instructions and answered ready and that the Captain bailed out last, eight minutes after giving the order to bail. The Captain jumped from 500 feet. Unfortunately the Navigator and the A/G did not jump and were killed.

CAPT.(RCAF) Sergeant A.R La Farge (R130741), broken ankle; NAV (RCAF) R F Thayer, killed; B/A (RCAF) Sergeant Sinclair (R 167646) , Bruises; W/O (RAF) 1332301, Sergeant J.C. Waltoin bruises; A/G RAF) 64462,, Sergeant L W Norton killed.

source: 424 Squadron ORB-540

Wellington HE963, B. Mk. X

s/n HE963

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 963


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Messina Sicily Italy 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-13

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan/Zina (approx.) N.Africa

Wellington X aircraft HE963 missing on bombing mission to Messina Italy. Flying Officer W.C. Davidson,Warrant Officer RE. Vanderbeck, Pilot Officer R.F.Mang, FS D. Campbell (RAF), and Sergeant J.P.M. Garland (RAF) were killed. Flight Sergeant K.M. Gillies, Flying Officer P.J.M. Greig, electrician Cpl A.C.J. Coates, aero engine mechanic Leading Aircraftman J.B. Leitch, Flying Officer G.S. McCulloch, Flight Sergeant G.D. McDougall and Flight Sergeant J.C. Nicol missing.

Wellington HE967, B. Mk. X

s/n HE967

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 967

SOn the morning of 2nd August 1943, Wellington HE967 took off at 0035 hours to carry
out a bombing operation over Randazzo, Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after
take off, and it failed to return to base.
Crew:
RAAF 420435 Flt Flight Sergeant S C Bowker, Captain (Pilot)
RAF Flight Sergeant T A Hallam, (Navigator)
RAF Flight Sergeant R C Dixon, (Bomb Aimer)
RAF Flight Sergeant F C Daniels, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF Flight Sergeant H G Shoobert, (Air Gunner)
The aircraft crashed and exploded on impact in the vicinity of Mt Etna, Sicily,
presumably as a result of enemy aircraft. All the crew were killed and they are buried in
the Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, Italy.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE971, B. Mk. X

s/n HE971

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 971


last update: 2025-March-15

Unspecified 1943-07-06 to 1943-07-06

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Kairouan/Zina (approx.) N.Africa

Wellington X HE971 QB-G aircraft which had just been bombed up and fuelled for an operation suddenly burst into flames and had it's bomb load explode at it's dispersal in Tunisia. A second Wellington HZ371 QB-E was caught in the rain of debris and also caught fire.

Squadron personnel rushed to put out the flames and aero engine mechanic Leading Aircraftman Snelling started a third undamaged Wellington and taxied it clear of the area, while flight engineer Flying Officer Doehler and air frame mechanic Sergeant Campbell brought out a fourth.

The second aircraft also blew up before the fire was brought under control, aero engine mechanic Leading Aircraftman N.L. Bardgett killed, Leading Aircraftman H.J. Allen and Leading Aircraftman D.A. Whyte and two others seriously injured (424 SH). research by Paul Squires

Wellington HE979, B. Mk. X

s/n HE979

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 979

Used by No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, in North Africa in 1943, coded "KW*Y".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE983, B. Mk. X

s/n HE983

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 983

Served with No. 431 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "SE*A".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HE995, B. Mk. X

s/n HE995

Vickers-Armstrong

HE 995

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*R". Hit by flak attack on Dortmund on 23/24 May 1943, severe damage to the fuselage and caught fire. 2 crew bailed out, crash-landed at Martlesham Heath.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-24 Accident Crash Hit by flak attack on Dortmund, severe damage to the fuselage and caught fire. 2 crew bailed out, crash-landed at Martlesham Heath. 2019-08-20

Wellington HF119, B. Mk. XII

s/n HF119

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 119

Wellington HF124, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF124

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 124

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF c.1943, coded "C1*Q". Disappeared on 27 September 1943, while searching for MP593 which had disappeared the day before. 6 crew missing, including the Squadron commander W/C J.C. Chilton, RAF. Only one body recovered.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HF142, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF142

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 142

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF c.1943/44, coded "C1*H". Stalled and crashed on takeoff from Limavady on the morning of 15 February 1944, killing pilot Lt. D.B. Bleser, USAAF and one RCAF and three RAF crew.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HF143, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF143

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 143

Wellington HF149, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF149

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 149

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF c.1943/44, coded "C1*C". Joined with No. 224 Squadron Liberator to badly damage U-989 in the English Channel on 6 June 1944. Failed to return to base, pilot Squadron Leader D.W. Farrell and crew lost.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HF172, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF172

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 172

Wellington HF177, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF177

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 177

Wellington HF187, B. Mk. XIV

Wellington HF246, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF246

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 246

Wellington HF284, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF284

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 284

Wellington HF296, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF296

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 296

Wellington HF311, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF311

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 311


last update: 2025-March-15

Reconnaissance 1944-03-11 to 1944-03-11

(GR) Sqn (RCAF)

With No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "H", when it was lost on 11 March 1944 during an attack on U-256. Conflicting reports if U-boat flak downed aircraft, or if it crashed for some other reason. Pilot was Flying Officer E. OConnell, DFC. Pilot Officer I.E.Smithson's body washed up in Derrygimbla, near Clifden, Ireland some months later and is buried there.

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society

Wellington aircraft HF 311 did not return from an anti-sub patrol. F/Os E.M. O'Donnell, H.C. Sorley, P/Os I. E.Smithson, C. Grant, R.C. Gaudet, and F.L. Travers were killed. On September 7, 1943 this crew sank German U-boat U 669 in the Bay of Biscay.

Wellington HF359, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF359

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 359

Wellington HF361, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF361

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 361

Wellington HF396, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF396

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 396

Wellington HF412, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF412

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 412

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF c.1943/45, coded "C1*P".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HF450, B. Mk. XIV

s/n HF450

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 450

Wellington HF457, B. Mk. X

s/n HF457

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 457

With No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*H". Failed to return from attack on Mulheim on 22/23 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 were killed and 2 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-23 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Mulheim, shot down by a night fighter. 3 were killed and 2 POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HF459, B. Mk. X

s/n HF459

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 459

Wellington HF460, B. Mk. X

s/n HF460

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 460

Wellington HF471, B. Mk. X

s/n HF471

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 471

Wellington HF518, B. Mk. X

s/n HF518

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 518


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Krefeld, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Krefeld Germany 1943-06-21 to 1943-06-22

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

705 aircraft - 262 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, I 17 Stirlings, I05 Wellingtons, 12 Mosquitoes. 44 aircraft - 17 Halifaxes, 9 Lancasters, 9 Wellingtons, 9 Stirlings - were lost, 6·2 per cent of the force.

This raid was carried out before the moon period was over and the heavy casualties were mostly caused by night fighters .. 12 of the aircraft lost were from the Pathfinders; 35 Squadron lost 6 out of its 19 Halifaxes taking part in the raid.

The raid took place in good visibility and the Pathfinders produced an almost perfect marking effort, ground-markers dropped by Oboe Mosquitoes being well backed up by the Pathfinder heavies. 619 aircraft bombed these markers, more than three quarters of them achieving bombing photographs within 3 miles of the centre of Krefeld. 2,306 tons of bombs were dropped. A large area of fire became established and this raged, out of control, for several hours. The whole centre of the city - approximately 47 per cent of the build-up area - was burnt out. The total of 5,517 houses destroyed, quoted in Krefeld's records, was the largest figure so far in the war. 1,056 people were killed and 4,550 were injured. 72,000 people lost their homes; 20,000 of these were billeted upon families in suburbs, 30,000 moved in with relatives or friends and 20,000 were evacuated to other towns.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HF 518 failed to return from operations. Flying Officer B.S. Fudge. Flying Officer J.B.G. Bailey D.F.C. (RAF), W/O2ndCl Fawns, H.S., Pilot Officer G.C.W. Parslow D.F.M. (RAF), and W/C. J. Coverdale were killed.

Wellington HF533, B. Mk. X

s/n HF533

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 533

Wellington HF535, B. Mk. X

s/n HF535

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 535

Wellington HF542, B. Mk. X

s/n HF542

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 542

With No. 429 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*O". Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf on 11 / 12 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF East Moor. Wellington BX aircraft HF 542 AL-O was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Manfred Meurer of the 3/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Venlo airfield, Netherlands during an operation on targets in Dusseldorf, Germany

The Wellington crashed and blew up at Westendorp near Wisch, Gelderland, Netherlands

Flying Officer RP Davies (RCAF), FS DE Campbell (RCAF), and FS AJ MacLachlan (RCAF) were all killed in action

FS R Zeidel (RCAF) and Warrant Officer Class 2 LPR Taillefer (RCAF) were missing, presumed killed in action. The missing have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

There were three 429 squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HE 593 AL-Z and HZ 355 AL-G for additional information

General Aviation Safety Network

General Results

General Wellington X HF542 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HF568, B. Mk. X

s/n HF568

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 568


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to Lorient and Brest, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Minelaying Brest France (Jellyfish) 1943-06-26 to 1943-06-27

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

Wellington aircraft HF 568 failed to return from a night mine-laying operation

Wellington HF572, B. Mk. X

s/n HF572

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 572


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-25 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Wuppertal Germany 1943-06-24 to 1943-06-25

432 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Skipton-on-Swale

630 aircraft - 251 Lancasters, 171 Halifaxes, IOI Wellingtons, 98 Stirlings, 9 Mos-quitoes. 34 aircraft- IO Halifaxes, IO Stirlings, 8 Lancasters, 6 Wellingtons- lost, 5'4 per cent of the force.

This attack was aimed at the Elberfeld half of Wuppertal, the Barmen half of the town having been devastated at the end of May. The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the Main Force bombing started well but the creep back became more pronounced than usual. 30 aircraft bombed targets in more western parts of the Ruhr; Wuppertal was at the eastern end of the area. These bombing failures were probably a result of the recent run of intensive operations incurring casualties at a high level: However, much serious damage was again caused to this medium-sized Ruhr town. The post-war British survey estimated that 94 per cent of the Elberfeld part of Wuppertal was destroyed on this night and Wuppertal's own records show that more bombs fell in Elberfeld than had fallen in Barmen on the last raid. 171 industrial premises and approximately J;OOO houses were destroyed; 53 industrial premises and 2,500 houses were severely damaged. Approximately ·1,800 people were killed and 2,400 injured.

There was a dramatic incident in Gelsenkirchen, 20 miles north of Wuppertal, when an R.A.F. 4-engined bomber crashed into the hall of a building which had been taken over by the Wehrmacht. The bomber blew up 'with a terrific explosion'. A German officer, 13 soldiers, the caretaker of the building and 5 Dutch trainee postal workers were killed and 2 more soldiers died later.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington BX aircraft HF 572 QO-J missing from operations over Wuppertal, Germany, shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Werner Baake of the 1/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Gilze-Rijen airfield, Netherlands

The bomber crashed at 'Kleine Ipperakker' Kerkdriel, Gelderland, Netherlands. The entire crew was lost

FS WA Sparrow (RCAF), Sergeant N Goldie (RAFVR), Sergeant CK Killick (RAFVR), Sergeant G Liddle (RAFVR) and Sergeant FWN Trowbridge (RAFVR) were all killed in action

The air crew were initially buried at a Cemetery at Breda, later exhumed and reburied at the Canadian War Cemetery, Bergen-op-Zoom, Netherlands

There was a second 432 Squadron Wellington X aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serial HF 572 QO-J for additional information

General Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General The Wuppertal Raid-Webflow

General search T/R number

General Aviation Safety Network

Wellington HF594, B. Mk. X

s/n HF594

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 594

Wellington HF595, B. Mk. X

s/n HF595

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 595

Wellington HF596, B. Mk. X

s/n HF596

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 596

Wellington HF601, B. Mk. X

s/n HF601

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 601

Wellington HF675, Mk. lll

Wellington HF690, Mk. lll

Wellington HF697, Mk. lll

Wellington HF700, Mk. lll

Wellington HF752, Mk. lll

Wellington HF763, B. Mk. III

s/n HF763

Vickers-Armstrong

HF 763

Wellington HF800, Mk. lll

Wellington HF811, Mk. lll

Wellington HF813, Mk. lll

Wellington HF831, Mk. lll

Wellington HF835, Mk. lll

Wellington HF838, Mk. lll

Wellington HF838, Mk. Vlll

s/n HF838

HF 838


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HF847, 1C

Wellington HF848,

Wellington HF856, 1C

s/n HF856

HF 856

Wellington HF868,

Wellington HF881, MK Vlll

s/n HF881

HF 881


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HF907, MK Vlll

Wellington HF918, 1C

Wellington HP868,

s/n HP868

Vickers

HP 868

Wellington HX365, 1C

Wellington HX400, MK Vlll

Wellington HX424, MK Vlll

Wellington HX427, B. Mk. X

s/n HX427

HX 427


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HX430, MK Vlll

Wellington HX431, 1C

Wellington HX433, 1C

Wellington HX444, MK Vlll

Wellington HX484, 1C

Wellington HX489, MK Vlll

Wellington HX512, MK Vlll

Wellington HX527, 1C

Wellington HX566, 1C

Wellington HX576, MK Vlll

Wellington HX580,

Wellington HX596, MK Vlll

Wellington HX603, 1C

s/n HX603

HX 603


last update: 2025-March-15

Ferry Flight 1942-08-15 to 1942-08-15

1446 (T) FTU (RAF) RAF Hastings, Sierra Leone

1446 (Ferry Training) Flight, RAF Hastings, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Wellington Ic aircraft HX603, bound for Lagos, Nigeria, crashed on take-off when the undercarriage was retracted too early. The aircraft skidded on it's belly into trees and caught fire

Flight Sergeant GB Simpson (RCAF) was killed in the crash. Sergeant HG Lawrence (RAFVR) initially survived but succumbed to his injuries later that day. Flight Sergeant JW Cullen (RCAF) and Sergeant JD Nelson (RAAF) were severely injured and died the following day in the General Hospital at Freetown, Sierra Leone

Sergeant F Browning (RCAF), survived, safe

General Aviation Safety Network

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

General Aviation Safety Network

Wellington HX627,

s/n HX627

HX 627

Wellington HX645,

Wellington HX646, MK Vlll

Wellington HX677, MK Vlll

s/n HX677

HX 677

RAAF Sqn
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing 1943-04-27 to 1943-04-27

458 () ()
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). The No. 458 Squadron Operations Record Book recorded the following: "On the night of 27/28th April 1943 one special Wellington took off at 2015 hours to search for enemy shipping off the west coast of Italy. At 2325 hours two medium size merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer were sighted in position 39.10N 13.22E, course 270 deg, speed 8 knots. A sighting report was sent to base. The aircraft acknowledged a signal from base at 0124 hours but it failed to return from the mission." Casualties from Wellington HX677 included: RCAF Pilot Officer R.W.J. Hudson (navigator); RAFVR Flying Officer M. Tuckwell (pilot); and RAFVR Sgt's. J.R. Hunter (special equipment (radar) operator), W.S. Lees (air gunner), T.E. Musto (second pilot), and K.T. Bates (wireless operator).

Wellington HX689,

s/n HX689

HX 689

Wellington HX690, MK Vlll

Wellington HX703, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n HX703

HX 703


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HX726, MK Vlll

s/n HX726

HX 726


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-02-13 to 1943-02-13

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Luqa, Malta
458 Australian Squadron (We Find and Destroy). The pilot of Wellington aircraft HX 726 turned back from an operation because of engine trouble and overshot the landing. The aircraft crashed and caught fire in a quarry near the Luqa aerodrome, Malta. Casualties included RCAF W/O H.E. Stanley (wireless operator / air gunner), W/O II P.E.E. Brown (wireless operator / air gunner), Pilot Officer L.H. Gleason (pilot), Pilot Officer M.M. Kempton (observer); and RAFVR Sgt. E.A. Brown (second pilot).

Wellington HX732,

Wellington HX735, MK Vlll

s/n HX735

HX 735

Failed to Return
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HZ104, MK Vlll

Wellington HZ207,

s/n HZ207

HZ 207

Wellington HZ247,

Wellington HZ253, Mk. X

s/n HZ253

HZ 253


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington HZ260, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ260

HZ 260

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*K". Lost on mining operation to the Frisian Islands, shot down over the sea, 1 survivor, date unknown.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HZ261, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ261

HZ 261

Used by No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*L". Bombed Dusseldorf on 25/26 May 1943. Failed to return from raid on Dusseldorf on 11/12 June 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from raid on dusseldorf, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

426 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dishforth

426 Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings of Fire) RAF Dishforth. Wellington BX aircraft HZ 261 OW-L did not return from a night attack against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany, lost without a trace

There are multiple possible night fighter claims for this aircraft on this night, none definite and the Wellington may have crashed into the North Sea or near IJsselmeer, Netherlands

FS CE Schamehorn (RCAF), Pilot Officer ND Hayes (RCAF), Flying Officer JL Rawson (RCAF), FS DG Richardson (RCAF) and FS DA MacKenzie (RCAF) were all missing, presumed killed in action

The missing have no known grave and all are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

General Aviation Safety Network

General Hon. Roll 1

General Wellington HZ261 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HZ263, Mk. X

Wellington HZ273, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ273

HZ 273


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1943-04-14 to 1943-04-15

424 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Leeming

Battle of the Ruhr

462 aircraft- 146 Wellingtons, 135 Halifaxes, 98 Lancasters, 83 Stirlings. 23 aircraft - 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 4 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters - lost, 5.0 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders claimed to have marked the centre. of this normally difficult target accurately but the main bombing area developed to the north-east, along the line of approach of the bombing force. This was an example of the 'creep back', a feature of large raids which occurred when. Main Force crews- and some Pathfinder backers-up - failed to· press through to the centre of the marking area but bombed - of re-marked - the earliest markers visible. Bomber Command was never able to eliminate the creep back tendency and much bombing fell outside city areas because of it

On this night the creep back extended over the suburb of Bad Canstatt, which was of an industrial nature, and some useful damage was caused, particularly in the large railway-repair workshops situated there. The neighbouring districts of Munster and Miihlhausen were also hit and the majority of the 393 buildings destroyed and 942 severely damaged and the 200-plus civilian casualties were in these northern areas.

Only a few bombs fell in the centre of Stuttgart but the old Gedachtnis church was destroyed. In the district of Gaisburg, just east of the centre, 1 bomb scored a direct hit on an air-raid shelter packed with French and Russian prisoners of war. 257 Frenchmen and 143 Russians were killed. This tragedy brought the total death roll in Stuttgart to 619, a new record for raids to Germany

.

Used by No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK, mid 1943, coded "QB*G". Shot down while on a mission to Stuttgart on 15 April 1943. All crew baled and were captured POW.

Wellington HZ277, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ277

HZ 277

Used by No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943. Coded "KW*F".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HZ303, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ303

HZ 303

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington HZ312, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ312

HZ 312

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943, coded "AL*F". Failed to return from attack on Mulheim on 22/23 June 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-23 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Mulheim. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ353, Mk. X

s/n HZ353

HZ 353

Wellington HZ355, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ355

HZ 355

Used by No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943. Coded "KW*D". With No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*G", when lost. Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf on 11/12 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter, 3 crew were POWs, one evaded and one killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-12 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf, shot down by a night fighter, 3 crew were POWs, one evaded and one killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Dusseldorf Germany 1943-06-11 to 1943-06-12

429 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF East Moor

429 Bison Squadron (Fortunae Nihil) RAF East Moor. Wellington BX aircraft HZ 355 AL-G was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Werner Baake of the 1/NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Gilze-Rijen airfield, the Netherlands during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany. The Wellington crashed near Ophoven, Limburg, Belgium

Pilot Pilot Officer RC Ellison (RAF) maintained control of the bomber until his crew were able to bail but was himself, killed in action

Sergeant WG Bailey (RCAF), FS WJ Mullaney Jr (RCAF), Sergeant EC Nicholson (RAF) and Sergeant HEJ Horton (RAF) survived and initially became Evaders. Sergeant Bailey escaped with the assistance of the Comet Escape Line but Mullaney , Horton and Nicholson were betrayed and arrested and became Prisoners of War. Three Belgians assisting the airmen to escape were arrested and executed

There were three 429 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HF 542 AL-O and HE 593 AL-Z for additional information

General Aviation Safety Network

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington HZ365, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ365

HZ 365

Used by No. 428 Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*U". Failed to return from attack on Duisberg on 26/27 April 1943, 4 crew were killed and 1 POW. Crashed near Dulmen.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-27 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Duisberg, 4 crew were killed and 1 POW. Crashed near Dulmen. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ407, Mk. Xl

Wellington HZ437, B. Mk. X

Wellington HZ471, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ471

HZ 471

With No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*M". Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal on 29/30 May 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ476, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ476

HZ 476

With No. 428 Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*A". Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf on 25/26 May 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-26 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Dusseldorf. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ481, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ481

HZ 481


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Cologne. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

53 aircraft - 293 Lancasters, 182 Halifaxes, 89 Wellingtons, 76 Stirlings, 13 Mos¬uitoes. 30 aircraft - 9,Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 8 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

The aiming point for this raid was that part of Cologne situated on the east bank f the Rhine. Much industry was located there. Pathfinder ground marking was accurately maintained by both the Mosquito Oboe aircraft and the backers-up, allowing the Main Force to carry out another heavy attack on Cologne. 20 industrial remises and 2,200 houses were completely destroyed. 588 people were killed, approximately 1,000 were injured and 72,000 bombed out.

'l'hls night saw the first operations of' a new German unit, .Jagdgeschwader 300, equipped with single-engined fighters using the Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) technique. In this, a German pilot used any form of illumination available over a city being bombed - searchlights, target indicators, the glow of fires on the ground - to pick out a bomber for attack. Liaison with the local Flak defences was supposed to ensure that the Flak was limited to a certain height above which the Wild Boar fighter was free to operate. R.A.F. crews were not used to meeting German fighters over a target city and it was some time before the presence of the new danger was realized. The reports on this night from 4 bombers that they had been fired on over the target by other bombers were almost certainly the result of Wild Boar attacks. The new German unit claimed 12 bombers shot down over Cologne but had to share the 12 available aircraft found to have crashed with the local Flak, who also claimed 12 successes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft HZ 481 was shot down at St Puond, Belgium during a night trip to Cologne, Germany. L.H.A. McCormick P.K. Chambers, B.L. Owen, B.H. Garoutte, and R.F. Moore were killed. These airmen had all been slightly injured on April 16, 1943 when their 427 Squadron Wellington aircraft had engine failure and made a forced landing at Clear Hill, Bedford, England.

Wellington HZ485, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ485

HZ 485

Used by No. 428 Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*G". Failed to return from attack on Essen on 27/28 May 1943, no survivors. May have been shot down on way to target, coming down at Haps-Rijkevoort, SE Noord-Brabant province, Holland at 01:30 on 28 May 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Essen, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ517, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ517

HZ 517

With No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*M". Failed to return from attack on Krefeld on 21 / 22 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Krefeld, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ518, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ518

HZ 518


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-June-25 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Wuppertal Germany 1943-06-24 to 1943-06-25

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

630 aircraft - 251 Lancasters, 171 Halifaxes, IOI Wellingtons, 98 Stirlings, 9 Mos-quitoes. 34 aircraft- IO Halifaxes, IO Stirlings, 8 Lancasters, 6 Wellingtons- lost, 5'4 per cent of the force.

This attack was aimed at the Elberfeld half of Wuppertal, the Barmen half of the town having been devastated at the end of May. The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the Main Force bombing started well but the creep back became more pronounced than usual. 30 aircraft bombed targets in more western parts of the Ruhr; Wuppertal was at the eastern end of the area. These bombing failures were probably a result of the recent run of intensive operations incurring casualties at a high level: However, much serious damage was again caused to this medium-sized Ruhr town. The post-war British survey estimated that 94 per cent of the Elberfeld part of Wuppertal was destroyed on this night and Wuppertal's own records show that more bombs fell in Elberfeld than had fallen in Barmen on the last raid. 171 industrial premises and approximately J;OOO houses were destroyed; 53 industrial premises and 2,500 houses were severely damaged. Approximately ·1,800 people were killed and 2,400 injured.

There was a dramatic incident in Gelsenkirchen, 20 miles north of Wuppertal, when an R.A.F. 4-engined bomber crashed into the hall of a building which had been taken over by the Wehrmacht. The bomber blew up 'with a terrific explosion'. A German officer, 13 soldiers, the caretaker of the building and 5 Dutch trainee postal workers were killed and 2 more soldiers died later.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington X aircraft HZ 518 QO-O crashed into the North Sea 10 km west of Den Haag, Zuid-Holland during an operation to Wuppertal, Germany. The Wellington was shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein of the Stab IV/NJG 5 (detached to 1/NJG 1), flying a Ju 88 C-6 from Gilze-Rijen airfield., Netherlands

FS JMC Lagace (RCAF), FS MR Deverell (RCAF), FS JJ.Mercier (RCAF), Flying Officer JR Gingras (RCAF), and Sgt. MP Tobin (RAFVR) were initially missing presumed killed

FS Lagace's body washed ashore 1943-07-10

Flying Officer Gingras's body washed ashore 1943-08-29

FS Deverell's body washed ashore near Ouddorp, Netherlands, date unknown

All three are buried in cemeteries in the Netherlands

FS Mercier and Sergeant Tobin remain missing and are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial

There was a second 432 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see Sparrow, W for information on Wellington HF 572 QO-J

General Daily Operations 6bombergroup.ca

General search T/R number

General Aviation Safety Network

General The Wuppertal Raid-Webflow

Wellington HZ519, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ519

HZ 519

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943, coded "AL*L". Failed to return from attack on Krefeld on 21/22 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter, into the sea. All were killed. At least two bodies found in life raft washed ashore some days later.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Krefeld, shot down by a night fighter, into the sea. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ520, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ520

HZ 520

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943, coded "AL*Z". Failed to return from attack on Krefeld on 21/22 June 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 2 crew killed and 3 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Krefeld, shot down by a night fighter. 2 crew killed and 3 POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ521, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ521

HZ 521

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943, coded "AL*W". Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal on 24 / 25 June 1943. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-June-25 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington HZ531, B. Mk. X

s/n HZ531

HZ 531

Wellington HZ582, B. Mk. X

Wellington HZ594, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n HZ594

HZ 594


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-07-22 to 1943-07-22

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy) Wellington XIII aircraft HZ 594 was on an anti-shipping strike operation over the Mediterranean, west of Sardinia and from Corsica to Toulon. At 0135, the crew broadcast a sighting report. At 0320 hours, the aircraft sent a message to base requesting instructions, and was directed to return to base. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft which did not return to base. It is believed to have been shot down by flak near Bastia, Corsica. Casualties included RCAF Flight Lieutenant G.L. Baker (pilot); RAAF Flt. Sgt. I. Kippenberger (navigator); RAFVR Sgt's. L.S. Hill (wireless operator / air gunner), L.H. Johnson (wireless operator / air gunner), F.C. Kingston (pilot), and R. Wilkinson (pilot).

Wellington HZ598, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington HZ703, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington HZ726, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington HZ727, B. Mk. XII

Wellington HZ963, MK Vlll

Wellington JA114, B. Mk. X

s/n JA114

JA 114

Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*A". Failed to return from attack on Hamburg on 27 / 28 July 1943, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew were killed and 2 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-July-28 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hamburg, shot down by a night fighter. 3 crew were killed and 2 POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-07-27 to 1943-07-28

(B) Sqn (RCAF) East Moor

For this Hamburg op of the 9 crews dispatched including the CO and his crew, W/C Piddington and B Flight Commander, Squadron Leader French and his crew. There were 2 early returns, Sergeant Tighe with his Gee becoming US and Flight Lieutenant Pentony because the starboard engine became US. The crews returned from 0357 to 0423.

The squadron waiting, to no avail, W/C Piddington and his crew failed to return on this op.According to his tail gunner, Reg Scarth, they were flying a brand new kite that night and it was developing too much power. W/C Piddington couldn't throttle back enough because it would cause the engines to overheat. Because of the excessive power their kite was about two minutes ahead of the bomber stream and a sitting duck for the enemy radar and night fighters. They were attacked by Ofw. Karl Kades at 0049 hrs. The aircraft was on fire from the attack and the crew were attempting to exit the plane when it broke apart from an explosion. Sergeant L. Reineck was catapulted through the side of the fuselage. He didn't know what happened to the rest of the crew. He was told by the German interrogation officer, in Frankfurt on 6 Aug 1943 that W/C Piddington was found at the controls of the wrecked aircraft. Sergeant Reineck doesn't know what happened to the rest of the crew. Sergeant L Reineck (WAG) RAF and Sergeant R Scarth (AG) RAF would spend the rest of the war as POWs. Many recalled W/C Piddington as a very popular and well-liked officer. He was quiet, he had a sense of humour and he earned the respect of both his crew and the squadron. W/C Piddington's grave marker is at Hamburg Cemetery.

The story finally comes to life again when Ellen Renton, the wife of Flying Officer Paul Renton (BA) RAFVR age 27 typed a letter to the RAF on 6 July 1945 saying that a soldier friend of hers had made enquires for her in Germany and found that a plane was brought down at Rensdburg on July 27th, 1943. She goes on to describe that there were three airmen in the plane, 2 were identified as W/C Piddington, the other as DO NOT Remove 14805, this is Flying Officer Farquhar number, but the third in someway has been recorded as an American in the book and on the gravestone, yet my friend found a certificate confirming their death and on this they were down as English. She asked that if this unidentified airmen is her husband she would rather know and have his name on the cross, rather than being in the state of mind of not knowing anything for the past two years. She closed the letter by saying If my husband has made the supreme sacrifice, I would rather know where his body lies. She enclosed a photograph of the cross her friend found.

The MREU section, under Flight Lieutenant S.G. Uerdal, takes up the story in May 1946. Herr Oehme, the local policeman at the time of the crash, was looking skyward on the night of 26/27 July 1943. He said he saw a Dornier 217 attack a British aircraft. The Dornier crashed at the same time, presumably shot down by the British aircraft. Herr Oehme arrived at the scene of the crash about one and a half hours later, finding pieces of the aircraft scattered over a wide area and burning fiercely. He identified it as a twin engine aircraft. He placed a guard on the aircraft and reported it to the Landraft at Rendsburg and to the Luftwaffe airfield at Neumunster. The Luftwaffe came out and took charge of the crash scene. Herr Oehme stated that he was told by Hauptman Vollert, from Neumunster that the aircraft was identified as a Wellington. He stated that three bodies were recovered from the crash site with one badly burned. Two of the bodies were identified as Piddington rectly identifies Stovell,not Renton}}and Farquhar. The third body couldn't be identified. They were buried with full military honours on 30 Jul 1943 at Neumunster. The original graves, in 1946, showing Stovell on the marker.

Uerdal reports that the graves were extremely well cared for with flowers on them and a grass verge around them with two crosses of pine with the names of W/C Piddington and Flying Officer Allan Ronald Armitage Farquhar's (N) RCAF age 21 names on the crosses in white lettering. The third cross is marked at Flight Lieutenant C. Stovel 16835. The bodies were exhumed to confirm identities. The first body was badly burned and decapitated. Because of this there was no possible means of positively identifying it. The next body exhumed had false upper dentures and a dark moustache. Obviously W/C Piddington. Since Farquhar and Piddington were positively identified and the third body was part of the same crash. They came to the conclusion the grave was incorrectly labelled at Flight Lieutenant Stovel and was in fact Pilot Officer Paul Renton. (J16835 Flight Lieutenant C.C Stovel RCAF, of 408 sqn was also killed that night. He is buried at the Hamburg Cemetery). Based on their findings they considered the matter was closed and the graves registered.

source: Greg Kopchuck, Bomber Command Museum of Canada

Wellington JA118, B. Mk. X

s/n JA118

JA 118


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-August-31 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Munchen. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Monchengladbach Germany 1943-08-31 to 1943-08-31

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of Berlin

660 aircraft - 297 Lancasters, l 85 Halifaxes, 107 Stirlings, 57 Wellingtons, 14 Mosquitoes. 25 aircraft - 8 Halifaxes, 7 Lancasters, 6 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons - lost, 3·8 per cent of the force.

This was a 'double' attack, with a z-minute pause after the first phase while the Pathfinders transferred the marking from Monchengladbach to the neighbouring town of Rheydt. It was the first serious attack on both towns. The visibility was good and the Oboe-assisted marking of both targets was described in Bomber Command's records as 'a model' of good Pathfinder marking. The bombing was very concentrated with little creepback. Approximately half of the built-up area in each town was destroyed.

Only short reports are available from Germany. Mdnchengladbach recorded 1,059 buildings destroyed - 171 industrial, 19 military and 869 domestic, with II7 people killed. The town's telegraph office is the only building mentioned by name.

The number of buildings destroyed in Rheydt is given as 1,280 with damage to the main railway station and many rail facilities being stressed, and with 253 people being killed. A further 2,152 people were injured and 12 were missing but these last figures are combined ones for the two towns.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft JA 118 missing during night operations to Monchengladbach, Germany.Warrant Officer B.J. Pierce, P/Os D. Collins (RAF), R.C. White (RAF), Flying Officer G. Jarvis (RAF), FS J.E. Pendelton and FS Jacob Jensky (RAF) were killed.

Wellington JA119, B. Mk. X

s/n JA119

JA 119


last update: 2025-March-15

Operational 1943-07-16 to 1943-07-16

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Aircraft disintegrated in flight during a test flight and crashed at 11:50 on 16 July 1943. Came down 2 miles west of Malton, Yorkshire. All 6 crew killed.

Wellington JA142, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n JA142

JA 142


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Mediterranean Sea 1943-11-27 to 1943-11-27

458 () Sqn (RAAF) Tahir
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft JA 142 crashed in hill country off Cape Bougaroun, Algeria, while engaged in a search and rescue mission for a downed long-range Beaufighter aircraft doing anti-submarine convoy patrol. Casualties included RCAF W/O I A. Aikman (navigator); RAFVR Sgt. M.V. Angier (pilot); and RAAF Sgt's. R.T.A. Freeman (wireless air gunner), L.J. Muschialli (special equipment / radar operator), G.K. Reid (wireless operator), and J. Richards (2nd pilot).

Wellington JA192, B. Mk. X

Wellington JA296, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n JA296

JA 296

Wellington JA415, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington JA455, B. Mk. X

s/n JA455

JA 455

Wellington JA563, B. Mk. Xll

Wellington JA572, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington JA580, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington L4323, Mk. l

Wellington L4348, Mk. l

Wellington L4387, Mk. l

Wellington L7795, Mk. l

Wellington L7803, Mk. l

Wellington L7805, Mk. I

Wellington L7810,

Wellington L7873, Mk. l

s/n L7873

L 7873

Wellington LA971, MK Vlll

Wellington LA993, TB. Vll

s/n LA993

LA 993


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-06-28 to 1943-06-28

458 () ()
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft LA 993 was flying at 300 feet when the starboard engine caught fire. The aircraft crashed six miles south-west of Landing Ground 106. All crew members were killed and buried in the El Alamein Cemetery, Egypt. Casualties included: RCAF W/O II D.J. Somers (pilot); RAFVR Flying Officer D.J. Carter; and RAFVR Sgt's. H.J. Ferrier, F.W. Machin (wireless operator), F. O'Neill, J. Shutt, and H. Taylor (wireless operator).

Wellington LA995, MK Vlll

Wellington LB134, MK Vlll

s/n LB134

LB 134


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-02-25 to 1943-02-25

458 (B) () RAF Luqa Malta
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft LB 134 went down in the sea off Italy. All Canadian members of the RCAF crew died: W/O II R.A. Sheffield (pilot), W/O II L.M. Clark (observer), Sgt. F.S. Jenkins (wireless air gunner), Sgt. J.F. Kirk (wireless air gunner), Sgt. A.F.W. McLeod (wireless air gunner), and Flt. Sgt. P. King (second pilot).

Wellington LB169, MK Vlll

s/n LB169

LB 169


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-04-29 to 1943-04-29

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Luqa, Malta
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington LB169 took off from RAF Luqa at 2018 hours on the night of 29/30 April 1943 to carry out a shipping search off western Sicily. At 0223 hours a weather report was received at base from the aircraft. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and it failed to return from the mission. Casualties of the entire crew included: RAAF Flt. Sgt. R.D. Armour (gunner); and RCAF W/O II's G.J. Banks (special equipment (radar) operator), J.R. Grasley (wireless operator), N.A. Stelter (second pilot), and R.M. Westman (pilot); and RCAF Sgt. G.A.D. Cameron (navigator).

Wellington LB172, MK Vlll

s/n LB172

LB 172


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Naples Italy 1943-03-25 to 1943-03-25

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Luqa, Malta
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington LB172 was equipped with torpedoes to carry out an armed shipping search covering an area East of Sardinia, Maritime, Palermo, and Naples. The aircraft requested a bearing back to Base while it was between Palermo and Naples. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and the aircraft failed to return. The cause of the crash was unknown. All crew members were taken Prisoners of War: RCAF Sgt. T.J. Crouch; RNZAF W.P. Hermann; RAAF Pilot Officer H.T. Lambie; RAAF Sgt. R.W. Mellor; RAAF Sgt. F.O. Raymond; and RAAF W/O J.G. Shierlaw. W/O Shierlaw was subsequently killed during a mistaken allied air attack on Prisoners of War near the German village of Gresse in 1945.

Wellington LB195, MK Vlll

s/n LB195

LB 195


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-06-16 to 1943-06-16

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington LB195 was on an anti-submarine patrol escorting a convoy. It sent suddenly off the RDF plot and did not return to base. Casualties included: RCAF W/O II T.P. Scandiffio (navigator); RAAF Flt. Sgt. J.E. Flecknoe (air gunner); RAF Sgt. E.B. Bottomley (pilot); RAFVR Flt. Sgt. J.D. Reynolds (air gunner); RAFVR Sgt's. J.R. Cousines (wireless operator / air gunner), and B.L. Pottage (second pilot).

Wellington LM293, Mk. l

Wellington LN185, B. Mk. X

s/n LN185

LN 185

Wellington LN238, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN263, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN284, B. Mk. X

s/n LN284

LN 284


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Cologne, shot down by a night fighter. 4 crew were killed and 1 POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Burn

Battle of the Ruhr

653 aircraft - 293 Lancasters, 182 Halifaxes, 89 Wellingtons, 76 Stirlings, 13 Mosquitoes. 30 aircraft - 9.Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 8 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

The aiming point for this raid was that part of Cologne situated on the east bank of the Rhine. Much industry was .located there. Pathfinder ground marking was accurately maintained by both the Mosquito Oboe aircraft and the backers-up, allowing the Main Force to carry out another heavy attack on Cologne. 20 industrial premises and 2,200 houses were completely destroyed, 588 people were killed, approximately 1,000were injured and 72,000 bombed out.

.

This night saw the first operations of a new German unit, Jagdgeschwader 300 equipped with single-engined fighters using the Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) technique. Ii this, a German pilot used any form of illumination available over a city being bomber - searchlights, target indicators, the glow of fires on the ground - to pick out : bomber for attack. Liaison with the local Flak defenses was supposed to ensure tha the Flak was limited to a certain height above which the Wild Boar fighter was free t, operate. R.A.F. crews were not used to meeting German fighters over a target city and it was some time before the presence of the new danger was realized. The report on this night from 4 bombers that they had been fired on over the target by ot he bombers were almost certainly the result of Wild Boar attacks. The new German unit claimed 12 bombers shot down over Cologne but had to share the 12 available aircraft found to have crashed with the local Flak, who also claimed 12 successes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington LN285, B. Mk. X

s/n LN285

LN 285


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Cologne. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Cologne Germany 1943-07-03 to 1943-07-04

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

53 aircraft - 293 Lancasters, 182 Halifaxes, 89 Wellingtons, 76 Stirlings, 13 Mos¬uitoes. 30 aircraft - 9,Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 8 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

The aiming point for this raid was that part of Cologne situated on the east bank f the Rhine. Much industry was located there. Pathfinder ground marking was accurately maintained by both the Mosquito Oboe aircraft and the backers-up, allowing the Main Force to carry out another heavy attack on Cologne. 20 industrial remises and 2,200 houses were completely destroyed. 588 people were killed, approximately 1,000 were injured and 72,000 bombed out.

'l'hls night saw the first operations of' a new German unit, .Jagdgeschwader 300, equipped with single-engined fighters using the Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) technique. In this, a German pilot used any form of illumination available over a city being bombed - searchlights, target indicators, the glow of fires on the ground - to pick out a bomber for attack. Liaison with the local Flak defences was supposed to ensure that the Flak was limited to a certain height above which the Wild Boar fighter was free to operate. R.A.F. crews were not used to meeting German fighters over a target city and it was some time before the presence of the new danger was realized. The reports on this night from 4 bombers that they had been fired on over the target by other bombers were almost certainly the result of Wild Boar attacks. The new German unit claimed 12 bombers shot down over Cologne but had to share the 12 available aircraft found to have crashed with the local Flak, who also claimed 12 successes.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft LN 285 missing from night operations over Cologne,

Wellington LN288, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN294, B. Mk. X

s/n LN294

LN 294


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-July-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hamburg, shot down by a night fighter. 4 were killed and one POW. 2019-08-20

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1943-07-29 to 1943-07-30

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of Hamburg

177 aircraft - 340 Lancasters, 244 Halifaxes, 119 Stirlings, 70 Wellingtons, 4 Mos¬[uitoes, 28aircraft-11 Halifaxes, 11 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons -lost, 3·6 per cent of the force.

The marking for this raid was again all by H2S. The intention was to approach Hamburg from almost due north and bomb those northern and north-eastern districts which had so far not been bombed, 't'he Pathfinders actually came In more than 2 miles too far to the east and marked an area just south of the devastated firestorm area. The Main Force bombing crept buck about 4 miles, through the devastated urea, but then produced very heavy bombing in the Wandsbek and Barmbek districts and parts of the Uhlenhorst and Winterhude districts. These were all residential areas. 707 aircraft dropped 2,318 tons of bombs. There was a widespread fire area - though no firestorm - which the exhausted Hamburg fire units could do little to check. The worst incident was in the shelter of a large department store in Wandsbek. The building collapsed and blocked the exits from the shelter which was in the basement of the store. 370 people died, poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes from a burning coke store near by.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft LN 294 was shot down by a night fighter. twenty-six miles south-east of the target at Lunenburg, Germany during a night raid against Hamburg, Germany. 4 were killed and one POW.

Wellington LN296, B. Mk. X

s/n LN296

LN 296

With No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, dates and code unknown. Used by No. (B) 429 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK mid 1943. Coded "AL*P" when lost. Failed to return from attack on Cologne on 3/4 July 1943, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-July-04 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Cologne, shot down by a night fighter. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Wellington LN324, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN330, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN336, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN338, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN424, B. Mk. X

s/n LN424

LN 424

Used by No. 428 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*E". Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal on 29/30 May 1943, crashed after catching fire. No survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal, crashed after catching fire. No survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington LN429, B. Mk. X

s/n LN429

LN 429

Used by No. 427 (B) Squadron, RCAF.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington LN435, B. Mk. X

s/n LN435

LN 435


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-May-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Wuppertal. 3 crew were POWs and 2 were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Wuppertal Germany 1943-05-29 to 1943-05-30

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Skipton-on-Swale

Battle of the Ruhr

719 aircraft- 292 Lancasters, 185 Halifaxes, 118 Stirlings, 113 Wellingtons, 11 Mosquitoes. 33 aircraft - IO Halifaxes, 8 Stirlings, 8 Wellingtons, 7 Lancasters - lost, 4·6 per cent of the force.

This attack was aimed at the Barmen half of the long and narrow town of /uppertal and was the outstanding success of the Battle of the Ruhr. Both Pathfinder marking and Main Force bombing was particularly accurate and a large fire area developed in the narrow streets of the old centre of the town, It is probable that this fire was so severe that the first small form of what would later become known as a 'firestorm' developed. Because it was a Saturday night, many of the town's fire and air-raid officials were not present, having gone to their country homes for the weekend, and the fire services of the town - in their first raid - were not able to control the fires.

Approximately 1,000 acres - possibly 80 per cent of Barmen's built-up area - was destroyed by fire. 5 out of the town's 6 largest factories, 2II other industrial premises and nearly 4,000 houses were completely destroyed. The number of buildings classed as seriously damaged - 71 industrial and 1,800 domestic - indicates the high proportion of complete destruction. Various figures were given for the number of people killed but our expert on Ruhr raids, Norbert Kruger, advises that the figure of 'approximately 3,400' is the nearest reasonable estimate.

The above figures indicate that the property damage in this raid was about twice as severe as any previous raid on a German city, while the number of people killed in this comparatively unprepared backwater of the Ruhr was about 5 times greater than any previous city raid.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft LN 435 missing over Holland. One of the crew, not Canadian, was killed. Sergeant W.H. Grigg, and two crew members, not Canadians, taken Prisoners of War.

Wellington LN439, B. Mk. X

s/n LN439

LN 439

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*D", probably in the UK. Used by No. 429 Squadron, RCAF, coded "AL*N" when it failed to return from attack on Bochum on 13 / 14 May 1943. Possibly shot down by flak, also reported as shot down by night fighter just before starting bombing run. Came down at Kleinerbroich, about 6 kilometres east of Munchen Gladbach. 4 crew were killed and one POW.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-May-14 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Bochum, shot down by flak. 4 crew were killed and one POW. 2019-08-20

Wellington LN451, B. Mk. X

s/n LN451

LN 451


last update: 2025-March-15
   1943-October-09 Failed to Return Failed to return from attack on Hannover. All were killed. 2019-08-20

Bombing Hanover Germany 1943-10-08 to 1943-10-09

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Eastmoor

Battle of Berlin

504 aircraft- 282 Lancasters, 188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitoes. This was the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellingtons took part. 300 (Polish) and 432 (Canadian) Squadrons provided the 26 Wellingtons which operated on this night; they all returned safely. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. 27 aircraft- 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5·4 per cent of the force.

Conditions over Hannover were clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creepback of only 2 miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's worst attack of the war. The local report describes extensive damage in the centre of. the city and in many other parts except the west. The telephone system and electricity supply failed at the beginning of the raid and many water mains were quickly broken. A large area of fire quickly developed in the centre and south-central districts. Acting upon instructions from the Party Headquarters and from district air-raid posts, the population were shepherded to collecting places in open areas between the fires. This action is believed to have saved many lives but 1,200 people were killed and 3,345 were injured, 449 seriously so. A further 6,000-8,000 people received eye injuries because of smoke and heat. 3,932 buildings were completely destroyed and more than 30,000 were damaged in varying degree, but no individual buildings are named. R.A.F. reconnaissance, however, showed that the important Continental rubber factory and the Hanomag machine works were badly hit.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft LN 451 missing, presumed over the target Hanover, Germany. WO.s D.C. Baker, G.W. Thompson, C.N Hurl and Sergeants J. Taylor, J.Black (RAF) were killed.

Wellington LN516,

s/n LN516

LN 516

Wellington LN540, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN554, B. Mk. X

s/n LN554

LN 554


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Hanover Germany 1943-09-22 to 1943-09-23

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Eastmoor

Battle of Berlin

711 aircraft - 322 Lancasters, 226 Halifaxes, 137 Stirlings, 26 Wellingtons - on the first major raid to Hannover for 2 years; this was the first of a series of 4 heavy raids on this target. 5 American B-17s also took part in the raid, their first night raid on Germany. 26 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 7 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons - lost, 3 ·7 per cent of the force.

Visibility in the target area was good but stronger winds than forecast caused the marking and the bombing to be concentrated between 2 and 5 miles south-south-east of the city centre. It has not been possible to obtain a German report but it is unlikely that serious damage was caused.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington X aircraft LN 554 QO-P had to ditch in the North Sea sixty miles off the British Coast. Two Canadians, Sergeants Higgins and Mayo were rescued after spending twelve hours in a dinghy.

This wasWarrant Officer Barlow's fifth operation. ExWarrant Officer Andrew Higgins of Port Elgin, Ontario had this to say about the sortie, "We were on our 5th op. to Hanover and were badly hit over the target. Ron did a wonderful job of getting us to within 60 miles of the British Coast and landing successfully in rough water off Flamborough Head. I had a tough job getting out of the rear turret and swimming to the dinghy. Ron, our pilot, never got out and our RAF Wireless Air Gunner , FS Fred Reeson was also lost. Sergeant Alex Buchan, our Nay, Sergeant Bill Mayo our BA, and myself spent 12 hours in the dinghy. Flying Officer A Mercer and his crew located our dinghy and stood by until a British Navy rescue launch arrived and took us to Innnigham Hospital at Grimsby. We got 30 days leave and back to 432 Sqdn. on Lancs." (R. Koval)

Please see FS WJ Mayo for details of a second crash involvingWarrant Officer Higgins.

Wellington LN566, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN591,

Wellington LN689, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN716, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN760, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN766, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN811, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN857, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN896, B. Mk. X

s/n LN896

LN 896


last update: 2025-March-15

Operational 1944-04-20 to 1944-04-21

28 (OT) OTU (RAF) RAF Wymeswold

28 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wymeswold. The crew of Wellington BX aircraft LN 896 FU was engaged in dropping leaflets (Nickeling exercise) over Northern France in preparation for the D-Day landings, their first operational flight. On the return leg they ran out of fuel, fooled by German radio messages to continue flying. They eventually abandoned the aircraft near Mael-Pestivien, France, and the Wellington crashed between Kebars and Kerlosquer, 13 k m SW of Guingamp, France

Sergeant J Kempson (RAFVR) was severely injured when he fractured his skull on a rock during his parachute jump landing and died in hospital 1944-04-25

Sergeant EJ Trottier (RCAF), Flying Officer HJ Brennan (RCAF), Pilot Officer AJ Houston (RCAF), Sergeant RJ Dickson (RCAF) and Sergeant A Elder (RCAF) all survived and evaded capture with the aid of French locals and Resistance groups, even surviving a German attack against the Resistance in the town of St Fiacre. They stayed together as a group and were repatriated to the UK by boat (MGB 503) 1944-07-12/13

General Research of France-Crashes 39-45

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington LN900, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN914, B. Mk. X

Wellington LN948, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP127, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP130, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP155, B. Mk. X

s/n LP155

LP 155

Wellington LP189, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP204, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP249, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP258, B. Mk. X

s/n LP258

LP 258

Wellington LP284, B. Mk. X

s/n LP284

LP 284

Wellington LP404, B. Mk. X

s/n LP404

LP 404

Wellington LP514, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP568, B. Mk. X

s/n LP568

LP 568

Wellington LP729, BX

Wellington LP759, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP760, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP826, B. Mk. X

Wellington LP844, B. Mk. X

Wellington ME878, B. Mk. X

Wellington MF120, B. Mk. X

Wellington MF139,

Wellington MF238, B. Mk. X

s/n MF238

MF 238

Wellington MF374, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington MF375, B. Mk. Xlll

Wellington MF494, Mk, XII (L/L)

s/n MF494

MF 494

With No. 415 Squadron, RCAF, coded "NF*G" when it failed to return from an anti-shipping patrol on 12/13 July 1944. May have been shot down by night fighter, off coast of Holland. This was last night of 415 Squadrons Coastal Command service, moving to 6 Group the next day.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington MF562, B. Mk. X

Wellington MF591, B. Mk. X

s/n MF591

MF 591

Wellington MP505, B. Mk. Xll

s/n MP505

MP 505


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-03-04 to 1943-03-04

() (RAF) RAF Chivenor

The squadron was formed on 4 April 1942 at RAF Chivenor from No. 1417 (Leigh Light) Flight, and was part of 19 Group, Coastal Command. The squadron had been formed to continue the work of the development flight to use the new Leigh Light in conjunction with ASV radar on anti-submarine patrols. The Leight Light was a powerful (22 million candles) searchlight used to illuminate the surface of the sea and any submarines caught on the surface. It operated from bases such as Malta, Gibraltar and the Azores to exploit the new invention and it was also used to attack surface vessels. The squadron re-equipped with the Wellington Mark XIII and the rate of sorties increased, although the aircraft losses also increased as they were hunted by German night-fighters in the Western Approaches Source Wikipedia.

At 21.31 hours, the outbound boat was surprised by Wellington MP505 in the Bay of Biscay. But when the aircraft switched on the Leigh Light, it was hit by AA fire and crashed burning into the sea after passing over the boat, killing the crew of six. Two of the four depth charges dropped actually hit U-333, but one broke up without detonating and the other bounced of and caused only light damages.The same aircraft and crew had sunk U-268 on 19 Feb, 1943.Source Amrit RAF Commands

Wellington MP514, B. Mk. Xll

Wellington MP515, B. Mk. Xll

Wellington MP538,

s/n MP538

MP 538

Wellington MP565, B. Mk. Xl

s/n MP565

MP 565

Wellington MP618, Mk. XII(L/L)

s/n MP618

MP 618

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "C1*S". Crashed in early morning of 29 April 1943. Had left Chivenor 3 hours earlier on patrol, radioed report of engine trouble and attempting return to base. Radio contact lost when aircraft was off Hartland Point. Aircraft reported crashed NNW of Morte Point, in Morte Bay, off Woolacombe, is believed to have been this aircraft. All 6 crew killed or missing.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington MP624, B. Mk. Xll

Wellington MP627, B. Mk. Xl

s/n MP627

MP 627

Wellington MP629, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP629

MP 629


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Sardinia 1943-07-13 to 1943-07-13

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP 629 was on an arrmed reconnaissance patrol and reported a contact at 2320 hours. No further contact was received and the aircraft failed to return from a sea search off Sardinia. It was presumed to have been shot down by a night fighter or anti-aircraft fire. Casualties included: RCAF F/O's W.C. Hailstone (pilot) and J.A. Diggins (navigator), RCAF W/O II's H.E. Bradley (wireless air gunner), D.H. McConechey (wireless air gunner), and W.W. Wright (wireless air gunner); RAFVR Flt. Sgt. F.G. Crocker (second pilot); RAFVR Sgt. J. Tindal (wireless air gunner); and RAAF Flt. Lt. K.J. Neill (navigator).

Wellington MP631, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP631

MP 631


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-07-15 to 1943-07-15

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP631 was on an armed reconnaissance patrol north-east of Sardinia. At 2330 hours, the aircraft was diverted to attack a convoy sighted by another Wellington between Corsica and Sicily. Apart from a signal at 0216 hours saying it had sighted the convoy and requesting another Wellington to illuminate the convoy, nothing further was heard from Wellington MP631 which failed to return to base. Post-war inquiries with local inhabitants established that the aircraft was shot down by flak and crashed into the sea between Palau and Maddalena, a small island off the coast about 5 km north of Palau. Casualties included: RCAF F/O's G.H. Lawson (pilot), E.A. McCorkell (wireless air gunner), A.R. Pagan (wireless air gunner), A. Renton, and M.H. Tarrison; RAAF Flying Officer L.Y. Hazeldine; and RAFVR Sgt. R.E. Burrows (navigator).

Wellington MP641, B. Mk. Xl

s/n MP641

MP 641

Wellington MP652, Mk. XII(L/L)

s/n MP652

MP 652

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "C1*S". Crashed into high ground on 20 August 1943, at Bunkercombe Hill (or Buncombe Hill?), Summerset, while returning to Chivenor after being diverted on return from a raid. 5 crew killed, one seriously injured.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington MP656, B. Mk. Xll

Wellington MP702, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP702

MP 702


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-07-15 to 1943-07-15

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington MP702 was on a cross over patrol in the Mediterranean Sea between the Straits of Bonnifacie and south of Elba. Apart from a signal that it had sighted a convoy, nothing further was heard from the aircraft and it failed to return to base after the mission. Caualties included: RCAF W/O II T.E. Griggs (wireless air gunner) and RAFVR Sgt. E. Stanfield (wireless air gunner). Taken Prisoners of War were: RCAF Flying Officer W.J. Markowsky (pilot), RAAF Flt. Sgt. E.J. Colclough (second pilot), RAFVR Sgt. E.J.W. Blackler (wireless air gunner), RAFVR Pilot Officer H.W.J. Filmer (wireless air gunner), and RAFVR Flying Officer R. Leonard (navigator).

Wellington MP703, B. Mk. Xl

Wellington MP706, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP706

MP 706


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-08-24 to 1943-08-24

458 () Sqn (RAAF)
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP 706 was one of 4 aircraft carrying out an offensive shipping search in the Civitaveschia-Elbe-Leghorn area. Wellington MP 706became overdue for its return to base, and was deemed lost off Leghorn, Italy. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Lt. R.C. Scott (pilot) and Flying Officer M.L. Brechin (2nd pilot); RAFVR Sgt's. W.E. Dixon (wireless air gunner), J. Whittaker (wireless air gunner), and M.E. Windsor (wireless air gunner); and RAFVR Flying Officer J. Hillen (navigator).

Wellington MP710, B. Mk. XlV

Wellington MP713, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP713

MP 713


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1943-08-02 to 1943-08-02

458 () Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP713 was on an armed reconnaissance anti-shipping mission off the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia. After attacking an enemy light cruiser, it was likely shot down by flak. RCAF W/O II H.E. Kontzie (wireless air gunner) was killed. The rest of the surviving crew were picked up by an Italian Red Cross seaplane and taken to the port of Portoli, where they became Prisoners of War: RAFVR Flt. Lt. J.H. Douglas (pilot); RAAF Pilot Officer L.J. Netherway (2nd pilot); RAAF Sgt. B.F. Wheatley (navigator); RCAF Sgt. K.F. McLelland (wireless operator); and RAAF W/O C.M. Ryan (wireless operator / air gunner).

Wellington MP715, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP715

MP 715


last update: 2025-March-15

Reconnaissance 1943-08-01 to 1943-08-02

458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)

On the night of 1/2 August 1942, MP715 was one of three No. 458 Squadron aircraft on a reconnaissance patrol off Sardinia, Corsica and the west coast of Italy. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced to ditch. Five crew members survived and were rescued and taken prisoner by Italian Forces.

The crew members of MP715 were:

  • Flight Lieutenant John Hardy Douglas DFC (108524) (RAFVR) (Pilot) PoW
  • Sergeant Herbert Edwin Kontzie (R/101976) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Remembered: Alamein Memorial, Egypt
  • Sergeant K McLellan (R/89760) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator / Radar Operator) PoW: Escaped
  • Pilot Officer Leonard James Netherway (409508) (Second Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 October 1945
  • Warrant Officer Cecil Mannix Ryan (412708) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 November 1945
  • Sergeant Basil Freeth Wheatley (400851) (Navigator) PoW: Escaped, Discharged from the RAAF: 4 November 1944

References:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans' Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/29/37 (Netherway)
Operations Record Book No. 458 Squadron Entry for 2 August 1943

Bibliography:

Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959
RAAF Directorate of Public Relations, RAAF Saga, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 1944 "“ Chapter: Escape from Italy

Wellington MP742,

Wellington MP744, B. Mk. Xlll

s/n MP744

MP 744


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Corsica 1943-07-30 to 1943-07-30

458 () Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP744 was on an armed reconnaissance operation along the east coast of Corsica and Sardinia and the approaches to Spezia. At 2157 hours near Plane Island, the aircraft sent a message to base advising engine trouble. It jettisoned its load of flares and returned to base, but collided with a parked aircraft during a forced landing. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Lt. D.D. Graham (pilot) and Flying Officer F.K. Verhaest (pilot). The rest of the crew suffered burns and injuries but survived the mission: RCAF Flying Officer Hicks (3rd pilot / navigator), and RAFVR Sgt.'s Birchall (wireless air gunner), Flying Officer Healy (wireless air gunner), and Sgt. Robertson (wireless operator / air gunner); and RAFVR Flying Officer L. Gundy (navigator).

Wellington MS471, B. Mk. X

s/n MS471

MS 471

Wellington MS481, B. Mk. X

s/n MS481

MS 481

Used by No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK, mid 1943, coded "QB*Q". Also with No. 428 Squadron, RCAF, coded "NA*Q" when lost. While enroute to the target at Essen the starboard engine failed. The aircraft was then struck by flak. The port engine then began to cause problems and the aircraft was eventually ditched off Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Essen Germany 1943-05-27 to 1943-05-28

428 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Dalton

428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finern) RAF Dalton. Wellington BX aircraft MS 481 NA-Q was hit by flak over the target at Essen, Germany, losing an engine. Crossing the Dutch coast the aircraft was hit by flak in the tail and dove several thousand feet but managed to return to England where it ditched off shore when the remaining engine faltered off the Estuary of Humber. Four survivors were picked up.

Gunner FS AF O'Rourke (RCAF) was in the rear turret and was lost sometime after the aircraft was shot up and ditched. FS O'Rourke is believed to have drowned when the rear turret broke off the aircraft (possibly off Holland) and was missing, presumed killed in action (R Koval, FF Years)

FS O'Rourke has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Four survivors, Sergeant W Lachman (RCAF), Sergeant JCE Jette (RCAF), Sergeant JER Marchand (RCAF) and Sergeant R Askew (RAFVR) were all rescued at sea

The survivors would be involved in a crash on take-off of 428 Squadron Wellington BX aircraft HE 322 NA-J at RAF Dalton, 1943-06-1. Jette, Marchand, Askew and Sergeant MP Scullion (RCAF) would be killed in action. Pilot Sergeant Lachman would be the sole survivor, badly injured

General Wellington BX MS481 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...

Wellington MS482, B. Mk. X

s/n MS482

MS 482

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK in 1943, coded "PT*Y".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington MS484, B. Mk. X

s/n MS484

MS 484

Used by No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK in 1943, coded "PT*V". Lost 29/30 March 1943, on raid to railway yards at Bochum. Hit by flak over target, coned by searchlights. Port engine hit and failed, crew ordered to bail out, aircraft then exploded in flight. Also claimed by German night fighter of I/NJG. Came down over large area in a pasture near Peelkant, Holland, south of Nijmegen. Lone survivor POW. Four bodies found in wreckage.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington MS492, B. Mk. X

s/n MS492

MS 492

Used by No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, in North Africa in 1943. Coded "KW*F".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington N2745, 1C

s/n N2745

N 2745

Wellington N2758, 1C

Wellington N2765, 1C

s/n N2765

N 2765


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington N2769, 1C

Wellington N2780, 1C

Wellington N2818, 1C

s/n N2818

N 2818

Wellington N2826, 1C

Wellington N2844, 1C

s/n N2844

N 2844


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington N2844, 1C

s/n N2844

N 2844

Wellington N2849, 1C

s/n N2849

N 2849

Wellington N2851, 1C

Wellington N2939,

Wellington N2949, Mk lA

s/n N2949

N 2949

Wellington N2953, Mk. lA

Wellington N3004, Mk. IA

s/n N3004

Vickers-Armstrong

N 3004

Wellington NB805, Mk. XIV

Wellington NB811, Mk. XIV (L/L)

s/n NB811

NB 811

Served with No. 407 (GR) Squadron, RCAF c.1943/45, coded "C1*S". Operating out of Wick, Scotland for a patrol along the Norwegian coast on 26 September 1944. Crash landed at German airfield near Bergan in the dark, crew escaped capture. Returned to the UK by 13 October 1944, with help of Norwegian underground.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington NB880, Mk. XIV

Wellington NC627, Mk. XIII

s/n NC627

Vickers-Armstrong

NC 627

Loran RAF Mullaghmore, near Ballymoney, County Antrim, North Ireland, took off at 0021 hours on 13 November 1944 on a Loran training exercise. The route was Mullaghmore 53.30N 06.48W 54.33N 12.25W and return by reciprocal track. After take off nothing further was heard from the aircraft. An aircraft day & night search was carried out with nil result. It was assumed aircraft and crew were lost at sea. Training Unit using a 407 aircraft.

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society

last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington NC848, Mk. XIV (L/L)

Wellington NC2818, 1C

s/n NC2818

NC 2818


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington NC2826, 1C

s/n NC2826

NC 2826


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington NC2844, 1C

s/n NC2844

NC 2844


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington P2515, Mk. IA

s/n P2515

Vickers-Armstrong

P 2515

Wellington P2524, Mk. IA

s/n P2524

Vickers

P 2524

Wellington P9229, Mk. lA

Wellington P9243, Mk. lC

Wellington P9275, Mk. IC

s/n P9275

Vickers

P 9275

Wellington R1027, IC

s/n R1027

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1027

Wellington R1038, IC

s/n R1038

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1038

Wellington R1040, IC

s/n R1040

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1040

Wellington R1066, IC

s/n R1066

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1066

Wellington R1068, IC

s/n R1068

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1068

Wellington R1085, IC

s/n R1085

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1085

Wellington R1093, IC

s/n R1093

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1093

Wellington R1095, IC

s/n R1095

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1095

Wellington R1146, IC

s/n R1146

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1146

Wellington R1155, IC

s/n R1155

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1155

Wellington R1162, IC

s/n R1162

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1162

Wellington R1171, IC

s/n R1171

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1171

Wellington R1213, IC

s/n R1213

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1213

Wellington R1221, IC

s/n R1221

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1221

Wellington R1222, IC

s/n R1222

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1222

Wellington R1235, IC

s/n R1235

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1235

Wellington R1272, IC

s/n R1272

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1272

Wellington R1275, IC

s/n R1275

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1275

Wellington R1279, IC

s/n R1279

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1279

Wellington R1323, IC

s/n R1323

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1323

Wellington R1326, IC

s/n R1326

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1326

Wellington R1341, IC

s/n R1341

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1341

Wellington R1343, IC

s/n R1343

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1343

Wellington R1345, IC

s/n R1345

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1345

Wellington R1346, IC

s/n R1346

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1346

Wellington R1369, IC

s/n R1369

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1369

Wellington R1374, IC

s/n R1374

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1374

Wellington R1380, IC

s/n R1380

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1380

Wellington R1394, IC

s/n R1394

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1394

Wellington R1395, IC

s/n R1395

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1395

Wellington R1396, IC

s/n R1396

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1396

Wellington R1405, IC

s/n R1405

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1405

Wellington R1411, IC

s/n R1411

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1411

Wellington R1440, IC

s/n R1440

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1440

Wellington R1442, IC

s/n R1442

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1442

Wellington R1474, IC

s/n R1474

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1474

Wellington R1500, IC

s/n R1500

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1500

Wellington R1517, IC

s/n R1517

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1517

Wellington R1520, IV

s/n R1520

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1520

On returning to Nutts Corner from a 4hr night navigational exercise, the aircraft flew in to Rushey Hill, Ballymacward.

No local insight in to crash at Rushey Hill available, but location is given in unit ORB and accident record card, Form 1180

source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society

last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington R1522, IC

s/n R1522

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1522

Wellington R1524, IC

s/n R1524

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1524

Wellington R1537, IC

Wellington R1539, IC

s/n R1539

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1539

Wellington R1597, IC

s/n R1597

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1597

Wellington R1604, IC

s/n R1604

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1604

Wellington R1608, IC

s/n R1608

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1608

Wellington R1609, IC

s/n R1609

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1609

Wellington R1613, IC

s/n R1613

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1613

Wellington R1614, IC

s/n R1614

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1614

Wellington R1617, IC

s/n R1617

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1617

Wellington R1624, IC

s/n R1624

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1624

Wellington R1644, IC

s/n R1644

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1644

Wellington R1661, IC

s/n R1661

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1661

Wellington R1662, IC

s/n R1662

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1662

Wellington R1701, IC

s/n R1701

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1701

Wellington R1714, IC

s/n R1714

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1714

Wellington R1722, IC

s/n R1722

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1722

Wellington R1726, IC

s/n R1726

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1726

Wellington R1728, IC

s/n R1728

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1728

Wellington R1789, IC

s/n R1789

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1789

Wellington R1798, IC

s/n R1798

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1798

Wellington R1803, IC

s/n R1803

Vickers-Armstrong

R 1803

Wellington R3152, 1C

Wellington R3170, 1C

s/n R3170

R 3170


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Cologne Germany 1940-02-24 to 1940-02-24

(B) Sqn (RAF) Newmarket

On the evening of July 6, 1940 eight aircraft from 99 Squadron departed Newmarket at 21:45 including Wellington IC R3170 piloted by Bob Willis destined for Cologne Germany. In very poor weather conditions they were forced to abandoned their primary target and, on their return, attempted to bomb Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Their left engine was hit with flak and the aircraft burst into flames. Bob managed to belly-land the aircraft in a field in Haarlem coming to rest partially in a row of farmers cottage on a roadside. The rear gunner Sergeant Sexton died in the crash and subsequent fire, but the remainder of the crew, P/Os Willis and Perkins and Sergeants McArthur and Scanlon survived. Pilot Officer Perkins's foot was injured in the crash so they split up with Bob staying with John Perkins and McArthur and Scanlon able to travel more quickly to the east.

source: The Bob Willis Story, Bill Dawson

Wellington R3175, Mk. lC

Wellington R3202, Mk.lc

Wellington R3208, Mk. Ic

s/n R3208

R 3208

Wellington R3295, 1C

Wellington T2470, IC

s/n T2470

T 2470

Wellington T2501, IC

Wellington T2503, IC

s/n T2503

T 2503

Wellington T2506, IC

Wellington T2515, IC

s/n T2515

T 2515


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Calais France 1941-03-12 to 1941-03-12

40 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Alconbury

40 Squadron RAF (Hostem A Coelo Expellere) RAF Alconbury. Wellington IC aircraft T2515 BL-U was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Boulogne, France, crashing near Wimille, France (Pas-de-Calais)

Sergeant T H Rose (RCAF), Sergeant D W Gough (RNZAF), Sergeant T G Webb (RNZAF), Sergeant H Jones (RAFVR), Sergeant F Stones (RAFVR) and Sergeant W J Morgan (RAFVR) were all killed in action

This inexperienced crew were on their first operational sortie

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General 40 Squadron Wellington IC T2515 BL-U Sgt. Gough

General Search for France - Crashes 39-45

Wellington T2545, IC / II

s/n T2545

T 2545

Wellington T2566, IC

s/n T2566

T 2566

Wellington T2575, IC

Wellington T2716, IC

s/n T2716

T 2716

Wellington T2722, IC

Wellington T2729, IC

Wellington T2734, IC

s/n T2734

T 2734

Wellington T2743, IC

s/n T2743

T 2743

Wellington T2805, IC

Wellington T2821, IC

Wellington T2834, IC

s/n T2834

T 2834

Wellington T2879, IC

Wellington T2891, IC

Wellington T2896, IC

Wellington T2913, IC

s/n T2913

T 2913

Wellington T2967, IC

Wellington T2973, IC

s/n T2973

T 2973

Wellington T2985, IC

Wellington T2997, IC

Wellington W5365, Mk. II

Wellington W5371, Mk. II

Wellington W5379, Mk. II

s/n W5379

W 5379

Wellington W5381, Mk. II

s/n W5381

W 5381

Wellington W5387, Mk. II

Wellington W5390, Mk. II

s/n W5390

W 5390

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*X", at Pocklington, UK. Lost on 15 April 1942, on raid to Dortmund. Radioed for assistance at 05:18, no further trace.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Dortmund Germany 1942-04-15 to 1942-04-15

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*X", at Pocklington, UK. Lost on 15 April 1942, on raid to Dortmund. Radioed for assistance at 05:18, no further trace. Flt Sgt Howard William BYDWELL (R/56197); Sgt Peter Melton CROWE (1168054); Sergeant Frederick John Alfred HESSELDEN (971361) Plt Off William Richard SAMSON (110660); Plt Off Percy Collins TOFT (J/5825). All POW

Wellington W5397, Mk. II

Wellington W5401, Mk. II

Wellington W5418, Mk. II

s/n W5418

W 5418

Wellington W5427, Mk. II

s/n W5427

W 5427

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*N". Lost on 14/15 April 1942, on raid to Dortmund, out of Pocklington, UK. Believed to have crashed at Bruhl, 16 km SSW of Koln.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Dortmund Germany 1942-04-14 to 1942-04-15

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
405 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Dortmund, Germany, 15 April 1942. With photographs.. Flight Sergeant John CORMACK (R/59294) Wireless Op; Sergeant Alan Godfrey HARVEY (1375987) Observer; Sergeant Malcolm David JONES (1006968) Wireless Op.; Sergeant Donald Malcolm MACFARLANE (1108340) Pilot. ;Pilot Officer William Stone TYLER (J/15855) Air Gunner

Wellington W5432, Mk. II

Wellington W5443, Mk. II

s/n W5443

W 5443

Wellington W5448, Mk. II

s/n W5448

W 5448

Wellington W5452, Mk. II

Wellington W5454, Mk. II

Wellington W5459, Mk. II

s/n W5459

W 5459

Wellington W5461, Mk. II

Wellington W5476, Mk. II

s/n W5476

Vickers-Armstrong

W 5476

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*H". Lost 30 November / 1 December 1941, on raid to Hamburg, out of Pocklington. Radioed they were returning to base, believed lost at sea.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1941-11-30 to 1941-11-30

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*H". Lost 30 November / 1 December 1941, on raid to Hamburg, out of Pocklington. Radioed they were returning to base, believed lost at sea. Last heard on W/T at 1835 reporting the aircraft was returning to base.

Wellington W5478, Mk. II

s/n W5478

W 5478

With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*N". Failed to return from raid on El Alamein on 30 October 1942.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington W5483, Mk. II

s/n W5483

W 5483

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941, coded "LQ*J". Lost on 2/3 Augst 1941, on raid to Berlin, out of Pocklington, UK.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Berlin Germany 1941-08-02 to 1941-08-03

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Poclington
No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941, coded "LQ*J". Lost on 2/3 Augst 1941, on raid to Berlin, out of Pocklington, UK.Flight Lieutenant T R Kipp (RCAF), Pilot Officer R F Terry (RAAF), Sergeant R S Skan, Sergeant J W Murfin, Sergeant G A Pruette, Sergeant W Menzies (RCAF): prisoners of war; aircraft crashed at sea of the coast of Holland, Wellington W5483, 405 Squadron, 3 August 1941.

Wellington W5488, Mk. II

s/n W5488

W 5488

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941, coded "LQ*B". Lost on 28/29 August 1941, on raid to Duisburg, out of Pocklington, UK.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1941-08-28 to 1941-08-29

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
Sergeant D M Hughes (RCAF), Sergeant J W T Davies, Sergeant R J Hollobone, Pilot Officer E M Watts: killed; Sergeant D S McLeod, Sergeant I B Quinn (RCAF): prisoners of war; aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Duisburg, Germany, Wellington W5488, 405 Squadron,28 August 1941. With photographs.

Wellington W5491, Mk. II

s/n W5491

W 5491

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 6 May 1941. Damaged by German intruder raid on Driffield, 4 June 1941, but repaired. Lost after leaving this unit.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Cologne Germany 1941-08-16 to 1941-08-17

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Poclington
Sergeant R P Payton (RCAF): killed; Sergeant G M Jackson (RCAF), Sergeant R Craig (RCAF), Sergeant A E Moyanyk (RCAF), Sergeant J A McEachern (RCAF): uninjured; aircraft hit by enemy anti aircraft fire over target, and then fighter, Wellington W5491, 405 Squadron, 17 August 1941. Returned safely.

Wellington W5492, Mk. II

s/n W5492

W 5492

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941. Damaged in mid-air on 8 August 1941, repaired. Lost on local wireless test flight on 18 September 1941. Dingy came loose and fouled elevator controls. Aircraft enter steep dive, broke up in flight, crashed and exploded at Northfield Farm, 3 miles NNE of Pocklington. 8 fatalities.
last update: 2025-February-05

Operational 1941-09-18 to 1941-09-18

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington

405 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1941. Lost on local wireless test flight on 18 September 1941. Dingy came loose and fouled elevator controls. Aircraft enter steep dive, broke up in flight, crashed and exploded at Northfield Farm, 3 miles NNE of Pocklington. 8 fatalities

Aircraftman 1st Class Harry ARMITAGE (1039943);Sergeant Ronald George CHANDOS (950324) Pilot; Sergeant Charles Harold FLETCHER (1165250) Wireless Op; Sergeant James Matthew MAXON (R/54040) Air Gunner; Sergeant Gabriel PHILLIPS (976646); Sergeant Walter Irvine STROTHER (755999) Wireless Op; Sergeant Norman Watson THOMPSON (402914) Pilot; Sergeant Frederick Peter TURTON (937811) Observer

Wellington W5493, Mk. II

Wellington W5496, Mk. II

s/n W5496

W 5496

With No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*M", when lost on raid to Hannover on 14 / 15 August 1941.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Magdeburg Germany 1941-08-15 to 1941-08-15

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Poclington
Pilot Officer G H Fleming (RCAF), Sergeant J F B Dawson (RCAF), Sergeant A B Lesley (RCAF), Sergeant E Stott, Sergeant E Stansfield, Sergeant J P Molloy (RCAF): missing believed killed; aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Magdeburgh, Germany, Wellington W5496, 405 Squadron, 15 August 1941.

Wellington W5514, Mk. II

s/n W5514

W 5514

Wellington W5516, Mk. II

s/n W5516

Vickers-Armstrong

W 5516

With No. 405 (B) Sqaudron, RCAF when lost on raid to Kiel on 26 / 27 February 1941. Was coded "LQ*D".
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Kiel Germany 1942-02-26 to 1942-02-26

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus). Wellington aircraft W 5516 failed to return from a bombing, photography, and leaflet-dropping trip to Kiel, Germany. Flight Sergeant John Henry DYSON (402569); Wing Commander Gordon Dale MACALLISTER (C/169); Flight Sergeant Edmund Cecil PHILLIPS (R/60734); Flight Sergeant William Stapleton PIERS (R/56087); Flight Lieutenant James Alexander ROBSON (68798);Flight SergeantMelvin Peter Frederick ROBSON (R/65815). The pilot of an accompanying aircraft reported severe icing conditions in the area.

Wellington W5521, Mk. II

s/n W5521

W 5521

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*P". Lost on raid to Berlin, 7 / 8 September 1941. Shot down by night fighter, entire crew POW. Came down 2 kilometres north-east of Nienburg, near Erichshagen.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Berlin Germany 1941-09-07 to 1941-09-08

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Pocklington

405 Vancouver Squadron RCAF (Ducimus), RAF Pocklington. Wellington Mk II aircraft W 5521 LQ-P was lost during an operation against targets in Berlin, Germany. The bomber was intercepted and shot down near the target area by night fighter ace Oberleutnant Helmut Woltersdorf of the 7/NJG1. The Wellington crashed 2 km northeast of Nienborg, Heek, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany with the entire crew surviving.

Warrant Officer Class 2 James Alexander Smith (RCAF), Pilot Officer William Kenneth MacKay (RCAF), Sergeant Percival Stephenson MacNutt (RCAF), Sergeant Ronald Perkin (RAFVR) and Sergeant Joseph Stanley Courtnall (RAFVR) all survived to become Prisoners of War

Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years Part 2 13 July 1941 - 29 May 1942 by Theo Boiten, page 43

General Aviation Safety Network

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

Wellington W5527, Mk. II

s/n W5527

W 5527

With No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*F". Lost on raid to Hamburg on 2 / 3 Auguat 1941, crashed in North Sea.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1941-08-02 to 1941-08-02

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Poclington
Pilot Officer R Cox, Pilot Officer J R Horn (RAAF), Pilot Officer A O Learmouth (RCAF), Flight Sergeant R M Thomas, Sergeant J M Reed: missing believed killed; Sergeant H B McKenzie: killed; Wellington W5527, 405 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Hanover, Germany, 3 August 1941. With photographs.

Wellington W5528, Mk. II

Wellington W5531, Mk. II

s/n W5531

LQRAF RoundelU

W 5531

With No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*U". Took off for raid on Essen on 13 April 1942, then crashed near Creeting St. Mary, Suffolk, after engine fire.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing 1942-04-12 to 1942-04-12

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*U". Took off for raid on Essen on 13 April 1942, then crashed near Creeting St. Mary, Suffolk, after engine fire. Warrant Officer Class II Grant Russell GRAVES (R/65174) Wireless Op; Flight Sergeant David Kilgour LLOYD (402798)

Wellington W5532, Mk. II

Wellington W5534, Mk. II

s/n W5534

W 5534

With No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*N". Lost on raid to Hannover on 14 / 15 July 1941. Came down in Holland, all 6 crew PoW.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Hanover Germany 1941-07-14 to 1941-07-15

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington

405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*N". Lost on raid to Hanover on 14 / 15 July 1941. Came down in Holland, all 6 crew PoW.:

Sgt. William James DOSSETTER (1376867); Sgt Eric JONES (643332); Sergeant James Norville William KIRK (R/51830); Plt Off Ronald George Moy MORGAN (60561); Sergeant Victor Rodney Jacob SLAUGHTER (958689); Sgt Derek Bert THROWER (904944); Sgt Harry A JONES ()

Wellington W5537, Mk. II

s/n W5537

W 5537

Served with No. 405 (B) Squadron, RCAF, in the summer of 1941, reported coded "LQ*O" in Squadron records, or "U" and "L" in other sources. Was "LQ*L" on 16 June 1941, when it was damaged by night fighter on attack on Cologne, forced landed at West Raynham. Was "LQ*O" on 24 July 1941 when lost on raid to Brest, 6 killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Brest France 1941-07-24 to 1941-07-24

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington

No 405 Sqn Wellington W5537 was "LQ*O" on 24 July 1941 when lost on raid to Brest, attacking the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. 6 killed:

Sergeant John Colvin CRUMP (R/61608); Sergeant John Albert FAWKES (819035) Sergeant Julian Lee Byron MARTIN (R/57938); Sergeant Anthony George Lendrum MITCHELL (970184) Sergeant Cyril TATTON (1163487); Pilot OfficerRonald Victor TRUEMAN (61969)

Wellington W5551, Mk. II

s/n W5551

LQRAF RoundelU

W 5551

With No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*U". Shot down by Bf109s at Ploudaniel, France (near Brest) on 24 July 1941. 2 Crew POW, 4 killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Brest France 1941-07-24 to 1941-07-24

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Pocklingon

405 Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), RAF Pocklington. Wellington II aircraft W 5551 LQ-U was part of Operation Sunrise, a daytime mission to sink the German pocket battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the harbour at Brest, France. The bomber was shot down by German ME 109 fighters, but the crew abandoned the aircraft before it crashed at Ploudaniel,15 km NE of Brest

Flying Officer Robert George Murray Whigham (RAFVR) was killed in action

Pilot Officer William Minto MacKay (RCAF), Sergeant Robert Henry Westbury (RAFVR) survived to become Prisoners of War

Sergeant Melville Hermes Joseph Dalphond DFM, OBE (RCAF) evaded for a time with the aid of the French Resistance, travelling as far as the Franco/Spanish border before being caught and arrested. Sent to a prison in the South of France, he later escaped 1942-09-05 and was returned safely to the UK

Sergeant John Shedden Paton (RCAF) and Wing Commander Peter Alexander Gilchrist (RAF)(Can) both survived and evaded capture

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General Aviation Safety Network

General Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

General France-Crashes 39-45 Search

General Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Ploudaniel: 1 killed I Bureau of Aircraft...

Wellington W5553, Mk. II

s/n W5553

W 5553

Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*D". Lost 7 / 8 November 1941, after bombing Berlin.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Berlin Germany 1941-11-07 to 1941-11-08

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus). Wellington aircraft W 5583 missing during a night bombing operation against Berlin, Germany. Flight Sergeant(s) A.L. Hassan, C.H. Bell, Sergeant G.A. McLeod, Pilot Officer M.K. Solheim, and Sergeant C.C. Hynam (RAF) were also killed. Addendum: - Sgt. Killin was from Sydney, Nova Scotia, not Halifax. Detail provided by D.A. Stallard, Trenton, Nova Scotia.

Wellington W5561, Mk. II

s/n W5561

W 5561

With No. 405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*J". Lost on raid to Emden on 28 / 29 December 1941.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Emden Germany 1941-12-28 to 1941-12-28

405 (B) Sqn (RAF) Pocklington
405 (B) Squadron RCAF at Pocklington, UK, coded "LQ*J". Lost on raid to Emden on 28 / 29 December 1941.. Flight Sergeant Joseph Raymond Frederick BOURGEAU (R/7860) Air Gunner;Flight Sergeant Jack Cecil DONKIN (R/65200) Air Observer; Sergeant Donald Kenneth GORDON (914176) Pilot; Sergeant Ronald JAMES (917059) Wireless Op .;Sergeant Willis LANGHORNE (1956726) Wireless Op; Sergeant Edwin John WILLIAMS (39298) Pilot

Wellington W5576, Mk. II

Wellington W5580, Mk. II

s/n W5580

W 5580

Wellington W5583, Mk. II

Wellington W5584, Mk. II

s/n W5584

W 5584

Wellington W5589, Mk. II

s/n W5589

W 5589

Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*F". Crashed on air test on 5 January 1942, engine problems. Attempted to land on artillery range near Strenshall Village. All crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Operational 1942-01-05 to 1942-01-05

405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), The pilot of Wellington aircraft W 5589 attempted a forced landing with one engine on fire and crashed at the Strenshall Military Camp, Strenshall, England. Sergeant James David GARROW (404529); Flight Sergeant John Burton GAYFER (R/18039A) Air Gunner; Flight Sergeant Osborne Bayfield LE FURGEY (R/50333) Pilot; Sergeant William Alan ROBERTSON (R/59266) Wireless Op; Flight Sergeant Peter WITYCK (R/80002) Pilot

Wellington W5611, Mk. II

Wellington W5647, Mk. IC / VIII

s/n W5647

W 5647

Converted to Mk. VIII
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington W5652, Mk. IC

s/n W5652

W 5652

Wellington W5656, Mk. IC

Wellington W5663, Mk. IC

Wellington W5688, Mk. IC

Wellington W5690, Mk. IC

Wellington W5703, Mk. IC

Wellington W5705, Mk. IC

Wellington W5708, Mk. IC

Wellington W5714, Mk. IC

Wellington W5719, Mk. IC

s/n W5719

W 5719

Wellington W5724, Mk. IC

Wellington W5729, Mk. IC

s/n W5729

W 5729

Wellington W5730, Mk. IC / VIII

s/n W5730

W 5730

Converted to Mk. VIII
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3205, 1C

Wellington X3284, Mk. III

s/n X3284

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3284

Served with No. 424 (B) Squadron, RCAF, dates not known. Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*X" and "OW*R". Reported as failed to return from mission to Munich on 9/10 March 1943, no survivors. Also reported as lost on mining mission, same date.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3359, Mk. III

s/n X3359

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3359

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 13 May 1942, coded "VR*N", named "N for Nails". Failed to return from raid on Essen on 16 / 17 June 1942. Airborne at 23:55 on 16 June 1942 from Mildenhall. Experienced engine over heating problems, possibly due to plug fouling, jettisoned bombs and fuel after one engine shut down. Crossed Antwerp at 4,000 feet en route back to UK, coned by searchlights and hit by flak. Crashed near Wuustwezel (Antwerp), 16 km NNE of Antwerp. Pilot Sgt. C.E. LeBlanc killed, 2 evaded, 2 POW.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Essen Germany 1942-06-16 to 1942-06-17

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Mildenhall

106 aircraft - 40 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters, 12 Stirlings. 8 aircraft¬I lullfaxes, 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost

.

Only 16 crews reported that they had identified Essen; 56 bombed alternative targets, 45 of them attacking Bonn. Essen reports only 3 high-explosive and 400 incendiary bombs in the city with one person being wounded

.

This raid concluded the present series of 5 raids on Essen in 16 nights. 1607 sorties had been dispatched and 84 aircraft (5·2 per cent) lost. No industrial damage was caused in Essen on any of these raids; a few houses were destroyed and 38 civilians were killed. Bomber Command now temporarily abandoned its campaign against Essen which would not be visited in strength for 3 months. /p>

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita) RAF Mildenhall. Wellington III aircraft X 3359 VR-N had the starboard engine fail and the pilot was forced to jettison the bomb load in an attempt to maintain altitude and return to base during an operation to Essen, Germany. The aircraft could not get above 3,000 feet and fell victim to the heavily defended city of Antwerp, Belgium. The pilot, FS CE LeBlanc (RCAF), maintained control of the aircraft long enough for his crew to bail out, he waited too long and went down with the aircraft, killed in action

Two of the crew, Sergeant EA Winkler (RCAF) and Sergeant NW Bradley (RCAF), survived and were taken as Prisoners Of War

The other two crew members Pilot Officer JH Watson (RCAF) and Sergeant Angers MiD (RCAF) survived, evaded capture and were returned safely to England

General 419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Wellington X3359

General Aviation Safety Network

General [Royal Air Force Serial and Image database]...

Wellington X3360, Mk. III

s/n X3360

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3360

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*R". Crashed at Budberg, 9 km NW of Duisburg, on 5/6 August 1942, on raid on Essen.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Essen Germany 1942-08-05 to 1942-08-06

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

Battle of the Ruhr

25 aircraft, 17 to Essen and 8 to Bochum. The intention was to reach the target area by Gee and then to bomb visually through gaps in the cloud. Only 3 aircraft bombed at Bochum and only 1 at Essen. 5 aircraft - 3 Halifaxes, 1 Lancaster and 1 Wellington - were lost and a further aircraft crashed in England.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft was shot down near Kleve at Bedburg, Germany whilst attacking Essen, Germany.

Flight Sergeant Harold Alexander BROWN (R/67850) Air Observer; Sergeant Ronald Frederick CHURCHILL (1189902) Wireless Op; Sergeant Albert Henry JOHNSON (1313403) Air Gunner; Pilot Officer Raymond Marinus KREFTING (J/7530) Pilot; Sergeant Thomas Henry LAWTON (643746) Air Gunner; Flight Sergeant William James MACAULAY (R/86116) Pilot. Missing believed killed.

Wellington X3361, Mk. III

s/n X3361

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3361

Assigned No. 425 Squadron, RCAF. Crashed on ferry flight from No. 43 Maintenance Unit to this unit, on 1 February 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3390, Mk. III

s/n X3390

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3390

With No. 419 (B Squadron, RCAF, coded "W", when it bombed Krefeld on 2 October 1942. Served with No. 427 Squadron, RCAF, coded "ZL*W" when it failed to return from mining mission to Frisian Islands on 2/3 March 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-01 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining mission to Frisian Islands, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington X3392, Mk. III

s/n X3392

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3392

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*C".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3393, Mk. lll

s/n X3393

X 3393


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Turin Italy 1942-12-09 to 1942-12-10

115 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF East Wretham

115 Squadron RAF East Wretham. Wellington Mk III X3393 KO-H was struck by 'Heavy' (Schwere) flak crossing the Rhine and crashed near Compigny, France returning from an operation against targets in Turin, Italy

The entire crew survived with Sergeant JR Tolmie (RCAF), Sergeant LJ McCosham (RCAF) and Sergeant RM Devine (RCAF)(USA) being captured to become Prisoners of War but Sergeant SP Smith (RCAF) and Sergeant HD Reid (RAF) becoming Evaders

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General Search for France-Crashes 39-45

Wellington X3409, Mk. III

s/n X3409

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3409

Served with No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*J". Attacked Lorient, France 15/16 January 1943. Landed at Tangmere on return, due to bad weather.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3416, Mk. III

s/n X3416

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3416

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*J". Lost without a trace on mission to Duisburg on 13/14 July 1942, out of Mildenhall. This crew was on its second mission.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1942-07-13 to 1942-07-14

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

194 aircraft - 139 Wellingtons, 33 Halifaxes, 13 Lancasters, 9 Stirlings - on the first of a series of raids on this industrial city on the edge of the Ruhr. 6 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, I Lancaster - were lost and 4 more aircraft crashed in England.

The force encountered cloud and electrical storms and reported that their bombing was well scattered. Duisburg reports only housing damage - 1 I houses destroyed, 68 seriously damaged - and 17 people killed

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*J". Lost without a trace on mission to Duisburg on 13/14 July 1942, out of Mildenhall. This crew was on its second mission.

Wellington X3420, Mk. III

s/n X3420

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3420

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*H". Attacked Lorient, France 14/15 January 1943. Shot down at 21:06 on 14 February 1943, by Hptm Manfred Meurer of I./NJG1, near Heel and Beegan during mission to Cologne, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3457,

Wellington X3467, Mk. III

s/n X3467

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3467

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*N". Nick named "N for Nuts". Bombed Le Havre on 5 April 1942. Crew bailed out after both engines set on fire on mission to Hamburg, 8/9 April 1942. Crashed at 01:32 on marshy ground between Roggenburg and Barssel, 18 km SE of Leer. Rear gunner killed when chute snagged on aircraft. Rest of crew, including, pilot Pilot Officer A.B. Crichton and bomb aimer Flight Sergeant H. Brooks, taken prisoner after landing on German side of Belgium/Germany border.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1942-04-09 to 1942-04-09

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

272 aircraft- 177 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 22 Stirlings, 13 Manchesters, 12 Hali¬faxes, 7 Lancasters - on yet another record raid for aircraft numbers to 1 target. 4 Wellingtons and l Manchester lost.

Icing and electrical storms were again encountered. Although 188 aircraft reported bombing in the target area, the raid was a failure. According to Hamburg's records, bombs equivalent to only 14 aircraft loads fell on the city, causing 8 fires - 3 large; no particular incidents of property damage are mentioned. 17 people were killed and 119 injured.

Bremen reports a load of incendiaries dropped very accurately on the Vulkan shipyard where 4 U-boats under construction and several surrounding buildings were damaged by fire. Minor Operations: 13 Wellingtons to Le Havre, 3 Blenheims Intruding over Holland, 24 aircraft minelaying near Heligoland, 16 aircraft on leaflet flights to Belgium and France. l Manchester on a leaflet flight was lost in the sea.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3467 missing during a bombing trip to Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft had the port engine catch fire and the bomb load was jettisoned in an attempt to maintain altitude. The fire was put out and the engine restarted but the starboard engine caught fire, the fire was extinguished and the propeller feathered. Shortly after this the port engine again burst into flame and the crew was ordered to bail out, all but Pilot Officer Howard jumped to safety.Warrant Officer MacWilliam, Sergeants Brooks, Paton, Parker, and Pilot Officer Crighton were taken Prisoners of War. The aircraft blew up just after these five jumped.

Wellington X3477, Mk. III

s/n X3477

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3477


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Lubeck Germany 1942-03-28 to 1942-03-29

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

234 aircraft-146 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 26 Stirlings, 21 Manchesters. 12 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings, r Hampden, r Manchester - lost.

This famous raid took place on the night of Palm Sunday and was the first major success for Bomber Command against a German target. The attack was carried out in good visibility, with the help of an almost full moon and, because of the light defences of this target, from a low level, many crews coming down to 2,000 ft. The force was split into 3 waves, the leading one being composed of experienced crews with Gee-fitted aircraft; although Lubeck was beyond the range of Gee, the device helped with preliminary navigation. More than 400 tons of bombs were dropped; two thirds of this tonnage was incendiary. The aiming point was the centre of the Altstadt, which was built of narrow streets and old, half-timbered houses. It was a heavy, fire-raising attack on pure area-bombing lines. 191 crews claimed successful attacks. Aerial photographs and German reports confirmed the outstanding success of the raid. Information is available from many sources.* In Bomber Command's new terminology, approximately 190 acres of the old town were assessed on the basis of photographs as having been destroyed, mostly by fire; this was reckoned to be 30 per cent of 'Lubeck's built-up area. German sources show that r,425 buildings in Lubeck were destroyed, r,976 were seriously damaged and 8,41 r were lightly damaged; these represented 62 per cent of all buildings in Lubeck. Of the 3,401 buildings classed as destroyed or seriously damaged, 3,070 were residential buildings, 70 were public buildings, 256 were industrial or commercial and 5 were agricultural. Among the public buildings destroyed were many of architectural importance including the Rathaus and Marienkirche, described by Rumpf as the 'mother church of Northern Germany'. Among the industrial buildings destroyed was the Dragerwerke factory which made oxygen equipment for U-boats. Brunswig states that the cost of the damage caused was 200 million Reichsmarks (£20 million).

The casualties in Lubeck were 312 or 320 people killed (accounts conflict), 136 seriously and 648 slightly injured. This was the heaviest death toll in a German raid so far in the war, exceeding the 185 killed in Hamburg on 8/9 May r94r but still less than the 367 French people killed at Billancourt earlier in this month.

Lubeck was not raided by the full strength of the R.A.F. again during the war. A Swiss diplomat who was president of the International Red Cross later negotiated an agreement with Britain that the port would not be bombed again because it was being used for the shipment of Red Cross supplies.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington aircraft X 3477 was enroute to the target Lubeck, Germany when it was attacked and seriously damaged by two German ME-110 fighter aircraft. The bombs were jettisoned and the aircraft dived toward the sea shaking off the remaining fighter, this took the Wellington in range of intensely concentrated light flak. The aircraft sustained further damage and crashed, at about 300 mph, in a coastal marsh near Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Wellington X3480, Mk. III

s/n X3480

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3480

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "VR*J". Lost on mission to Warnemunde on 8/9 May 1942. Attacked by night fighter piloted by Oberfeldwebel Paul Gildner of II./NJG 2 over Denmark. With wounded and dead crew, and losing fuel, aircraft was belly landed near Rejsby. Crew set aircraft on fire. 1 crew killed, 4 POW. Another report of the engagement has the aircraft struck by flak, and ditching off Rejsby.

General ORB Bomber Command Museum


last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Warnemunde Germany 1942-05-08 to 1942-05-09

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "VR*J". Lost on mission to Warnemunde on 8/9 May 1942. Attacked by night fighter piloted by Oberfeldwebel Paul Gildner of II./NJG 2 over Denmark. With wounded and dead crew, and losing fuel, aircraft was belly landed near Rejsby. Crew set aircraft on fire. 1 crew killed, 4 POW. Another report of the engagement has the aircraft struck by flak, and ditching off Rejsby.

Wellington X3484, Mk. III

s/n X3484

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3484

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*O". Lost without a trace on raid on Le Havre from Mildenhall, on 14/15April 1942.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Le Havre France 1942-04-14 to 1942-04-14

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3484 was carrying 14 x 250 lb. general purpose bombs and failed to return from a sortie against Le Havre, France. FSs J.R. Norris, A. McMillan, H.F. Darley, F.D. Barbour, L.M. Langlois, and one RAF crew member were killed.

Wellington X3486, Mk. III

s/n X3486

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3486

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*U". Lost without a trace on raid to Essen, 5/6 June 1942. Based at Mildenhall at that time. 5 crew commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Essen Germany 1942-06-05 to 1942-06-06

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

180 aircraft - 98 Wellingtons, 33 Halifaxes, 25 Stirlings, 13 Lancasters, 11 Hampdens. 12 aircraft - 8 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax, 1 Lancaster - lostThis was another failure, with bombing being scattered over a wide area. Essen suffered minor property damage, IO people killed and 68 injured.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3486 was carrying 810 x 41b. incendiaries and failed to return from an attack against Essen, Germany.Lost without a trace on raid to Essen, 5/6 June 1942. Based at Mildenhall at that time. 5 crew commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

Wellington X3488, Mk. III

s/n X3488

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3488

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*H". Lost on raid to Hamburg on 28/29 July 1942. Reported being attacked by fighter, believed to have crashed in North Sea. All crew lost, including Squadron CO W/C J. Fulton. Known as "Moose", his nickname lives on today in the Squadron name. Radio operator Pilot Officer William Gordon Campbell, RAF, and American second pilot Flight Sergeant E.F. Monroe, are buried in Sweden.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1942-07-29 to 1942-07-29

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

403 aircraft- 181 Wellingtons, 77 Lancasters, 73 Halifaxes, 39 Stirlings, 33 Hampdens - dispatched in what was probably a full 'maximum effort' for the regular Bomber Command squadrons. 29 aircraft - I 5 Wellingtons, 8 Halifaxes, 2 Hampdens, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings - were lost, 7·2 per cent of the force.

Crews encountered a mixture of cloud and icing at some places on the route but clear weather at the target. Good bombing results were claimed. Hamburg reports show that severe and widespread damage was caused, mostly in housing and semi¬commercial districts rather than in the docks and industrial areas. At least 800 fires were dealt with, 523 being classed as large. For the first time, the strong Hamburg fire department was forced to call for extensive help from outside the city. 823 houses were destroyed and more than 5,000 damaged. Estimates of compensation for damage claimed ran to 250 million Reichsmarks (£25 million). More than 14,000 people were bombed out. 337 people were killed and 1,027 injured.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moose Aswayita). Wellington III aircraft X 3488 missing during operations against Hamburg, Germany. The last message received indicated that they were west of the Frisian Islands, Holland, were under attack by enemy fighter aircraft and some of the crew had been wounded. Pilot Officer N.G. Arthur, H.J. Dell, FS(s) H. Bryden, E.F. Monroe, and Pilot Officer W.G. Campbell D.F.C. (RAF) were also killed.

Wellington X3556, Mk. III

s/n X3556

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3556

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed one mile west of Catworth, UK while on a training flight, 6 July 1942. Overturned on a forced landing just west of Catsworth, England, after one engine failed. 2 survivors, and 8 dead, including two USAAF passengers.
last update: 2025-February-05

Operational 1942-07-06 to 1942-07-06

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington III aircraft X3556 VR-L crashed one mile west of Catworth, Huntingdonshire, England after the starboard engine failed on a training flight with passengers

Members of the crew, FS SD Palason (RCAF), Pilot Officer RB Cowell (RCAF), FS RW Pearson (RCAF), FS CF Williams (RCAF), and passengers, Leading Aircraftman AW Patmore (RCAF), Cpl KEV Denyer (RAF), Pfc RL Baral USAAF and Pfc DJ Rudd USAAF were killed

Pilot Officer AL Parnall (RCAF) and Pfc C Nelson USAAF injured

Wellington X3560, Mk. lll

s/n X3560

X 3560


last update: 2025-March-15

Wellington X3563, Mk. III

s/n X3563

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3563


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Saint-Nazaire France 1943-02-28 to 1943-02-28

(B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

Having destroyed Lorient, Bomber Command was now ready to start on the second target on the list of French U-boat base ports which the directive of 14 January had ordered to be destroyed. 437 aircraft - 152 Lancasters, 119 Wellingtons, 100 Halifaxes, 62 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitoes - were dispatched. 5 aircraft - 2 Lancasters, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - were lost, 1·1 per cent of the force.

This initial raid caused widespread destruction. Local reports say that many bombs fell into the port area and that 60 per cent of the town was destroyed. 29 people are reported as being killed and 12 injured; it is presumed that most of the local population had left the town.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Crew bailed out over Ireland after attack on St. Nazaire, rounded up but soon released. Aircraft crashed in plowed field near Ballybane-Milltown, near Ballinlough in County Roscommon.

General Crew survived

source: Dennis Burke, Dublin Ireland

Wellington X3633, Mk. III

s/n X3633

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3633

Wellington X3656, Mk. lll

s/n X3656

X 3656

Wellington X3669,

s/n X3669

X 3669

Wellington X3675, Mk. III

s/n X3675

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3675

Wellington X3699, Mk. III

s/n X3699

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3699

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF. Coded "VR*Q". With No. 426 Squadron, coded "OW*Q", when it attacked Lorient, France on 14/15 January 1943, flown by crew from No. 425 Squadron. Mining operation near Frisian Islands 21/22 January 1943. Attacked Oldenburg in daylight, 30 January 1943. Mission to Essen 12/13 March 1943. Lost on raid on Kiel on 4/5 April 1943, after flak damage and fighter attack. Ditched 10 miles off Cromer, Norfolk, 3 crew KIA.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3703, Mk. III

s/n X3703

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3703

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF coded "VR*Q". Failed to return from raid on Warnemunde on 8/9 May 1942. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Warnemunde Germany 1942-05-08 to 1942-05-09

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3703 was carrying 3,420 lb. of bombs when it went missing during a bombing raid against Warnemunde, Germany. All 5 crew killed

Wellington X3704, Mk. III

s/n X3704

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3704

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Bombed St. Nazaire on 28 March 1943. Bombed Kiel on 4 April 1943. Launched to Duisburg on 8 April 1943, returned early due to icing. Bombed Frankfurt 10 April 1943.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X3711, Mk. III

s/n X3711

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3711

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*R". Shot down by a night-fighter of I./NJG4 on raid to Karlsruhe on 23 September 1942, and crashed at 02:10 near Warnant (Namur), 9 km NNW of Dinant, Belgium. Crew was on its 19th mission, all 5 killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Karlsruhe Germany 1942-09-02 to 1942-09-03

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Topcliffe

200 aircraft of 5 types with 4 Group Halifaxes now back on major operations. 8 aircraft - 4 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Stirling - lost, 4·0 per cent of the force.

The Pathfinders were accurate and this was a successful raid. An estimated 200 fires were seen burning at the same time. Reconnaissance photographs showed much residential and some industrial damage. A very short report from Karlsruhe says only that 73 people were killed and that 3 public buildings in the city centre were hit.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington X3712, Mk. III

s/n X3712

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3712

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*D". Lost on raid to Saarbrucken on 29/30 July 1942. Believed shot down by a night-fighter of 5./NJG1, and crashed at 01:32 at Porcheresse (Namur), 11 km NE of Ciney, Belgium. One crew evaded, other 4 all killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Saarbrucken Germany 1942-07-30 to 1942-07-30

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

291 aircraft of 5 types on the first large raid to this target. 9 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings - lost.

The defences at the target were not expected to be strong and crews were urged to bomb at lower than normal altitudes. 248 aircraft reported accurate bombing, three quarters of them doing so from below 10,000 ft. Bomber Command claimed 'severe damage' to 2 industrial targets, an ironworks and an engineering works. Saarbriicken's records show severe damage and casualties in the centre and north¬western districts. 396 buildings were destroyed and 324 seriously damaged, with 155 people being killed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*D". Lost on raid to Saarbrucken on 29/30 July 1942. Believed shot down by a night-fighter of 5./NJG1, and crashed at 01:32 at Porcheresse (Namur), 11 km NE of Ciney, Belgium. One crew evaded, other 4 all killed.

Wellington X3715, Mk. III

s/n X3715

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3715

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*G". Lost on raid to Gennevilliers on 29/30 May 1942. Crashed at Argenteuil, 7 km NW of Gennevilliers in the NW suburbs of Paris. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Gennevilliers France 1942-05-30 to 1942-05-30

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

77 aircraft - 31 Wellingtons, 20 Halifaxes, 14 Lancasters, 9 Stirlings, 3 Hampdens - to the Gnome & Rhone factory. 4 Wellingtons and I Halifax lost.

Later photographic cover showed little or no damage to the factory. A local report says that 38 houses were destroyed and 49 damaged, with 34 French people being killed and 167 injured.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron(Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3715 crashed at Argenteuil, France during a bombing attack against the Gnome-Rhone engine factory at Gennevilliers, France

Wellington X3717, Mk. III

s/n X3717

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3717

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*C". Lost on raid on Stuttgart on 6/7 May 1942. Crashed in the vicinity of Mannheim. All 5 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1942-05-06 to 1942-05-06

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

97 aircraft- 55 Wellingtons, 15 Stirlings, IO Hampdens, IO Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes - to the city and the Bosch factory. 5 Wellingtons and I Halifax lost.

This third raid on Stuttgart was another failure, with crews again blaming ground haze for their inability to identify the city. Stuttgart's records show that no bombs fell in the city, though a few fell in woods to the west. The Lauffen decoy may have been responsible for a raid which developed on the large town of Heilbronn, only 5 miles from the decoy fire site but 20 miles from Stuttgart. More than 150 buildings were hit in Heilbronn and 7 people died there.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*C". Lost on raid on Stuttgart on 6/7 May 1942. Crashed in the vicinity of Mannheim. All 5 crew killed.

Wellington X3718, Mk. III

s/n X3718

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3718

Wellington X3723, Mk. III

s/n X3723

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3723

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*H". Lost on raid to Essen on 16/17 June 1942. Airborne at 23:36 on 16 June 1942 from Mildenhall. Shot down by a night- fighter of ERG.St./NJG2, and crashed in the sea off the Dutch coast. All 5 crew killed or missing, three bodies were eventually washed ashore and are buried in various Dutch cemeteries.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing Essen Germany 1942-06-16 to 1942-06-17

419 () () Mildenhall

106 aircraft - 40 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters, 12 Stirlings. 8 aircraft¬I lullfaxes, 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling - lost

.

Only 16 crews reported that they had identified Essen; 56 bombed alternative targets, 45 of them attacking Bonn. Essen reports only 3 high-explosive and 400 incendiary bombs in the city with one person being wounded

.

This raid concluded the present series of 5 raids on Essen in 16 nights. 1607 sorties had been dispatched and 84 aircraft (5·2 per cent) lost. No industrial damage was caused in Essen on any of these raids; a few houses were destroyed and 38 civilians were killed. Bomber Command now temporarily abandoned its campaign against Essen which would not be visited in strength for 3 months. /p>

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Target - Essen, Germany. Wellington III X 3723 VR-H was carrying 4,250 lbs. of bombs. Shot down by a night- fighter of ERG.St./NJG2, and crashed in the sea off Gallanstoog, Holland. . All 5 crew killed or missing, three bodies were eventually washed ashore and are buried in various Dutch cemeteries.

Wellington X3763, Mk. III

s/n X3763

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3763

Served with No. 425 Squadron, RCAF in the UK from September 1942, coded "KW*E". Failed to return from mission to Stuttgart on 15 April 1943. Crashed at Mussey-sur-Marne  (Haute Marne), on the W bank of the Marne, 8 km south of Joinville, France.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-April-15 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to Stuttgart. 2019-08-20

Wellington X3796, Mk. III

s/n X3796

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3796

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*C". Crashed while on air test on 15 September 1942. Crashed 3 miles SW of Grimsthorpe, 12 miles W of Spalding, Lincolnshire, after failing to recover from a steep dive. All 9 occupants killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Unspecified 1942-09-15 to 1942-09-15

14 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft X 3796 was on a two-hour oil consumption test when it suddenly went into a 45-degree dive and then crashed at Thursby, nine miles east of Stamford, Lincolnshire. England. Members of the crew; WO. J.A. Clark. FS.s E.M. Harney, W.H. Pickering, R.A. Kinnee, P/O. J.A. Hay, Sgt. G.W. Wilson. mechanic LAC. W.A. Jahnke, Leading Aircraftman Lawley, Edward Douglas and passenger LAC. L.O. Luten were killed.

Wellington X3797, Mk. III

s/n X3797

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3797

Wellington X3802, Mk. lll

Wellington X3814, Mk. III

s/n X3814

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3814

Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "PT*P". Attacked Essen on 12/13 March 1943. Failed to return from mission to Berlin (or Bochum?) on 29/30 March 1943, no survivors. Crashed at Metzkausen, 11 km ENE of Dusseldorf.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-March-30 Failed to Return Failed to return from mission to Berlin, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington X3815, Mk. lll

Wellington X3873, Mk. III

s/n X3873

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3873

Served with No. 427 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "ZL*R". Mining operation on 3 January 1943. Bombed Lorient on 15/16 January 1943. Failed to return from mining operation to Frisian Islands on 21/22 January 1943, no survivors.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1943-January-22 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation to Frisian Islands, no survivors. 2019-08-20

Wellington X3888, Mk. III

s/n X3888

Vickers-Armstrong

X 3888

Wellington X3943, Mk. III

Wellington X3988,

s/n X3988

X 3988

Wellington X9619, IC

s/n X9619

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9619

Wellington X9622, IC

s/n X9622

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9622

Wellington X9624, IC

s/n X9624

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9624

Wellington X9625, IC

s/n X9625

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9625

Wellington X9630, IC

Wellington X9633, IC

s/n X9633

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9633

Wellington X9637, IC

s/n X9637

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9637

Wellington X9660, IC

s/n X9660

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9660

Wellington X9665, IC

s/n X9665

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9665

Wellington X9675, IC

s/n X9675

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9675

Wellington X9683, IC

s/n X9683

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9683

Wellington X9686, IC

s/n X9686

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9686

Wellington X9700, IC

s/n X9700

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9700

Wellington X9704, IC

s/n X9704

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9704

Wellington X9739, IC

s/n X9739

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9739

Wellington X9747, IC

s/n X9747

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9747

Wellington X9749, IC

s/n X9749

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9749

Wellington X9750, IC

s/n X9750

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9750

Wellington X9752, IC

s/n X9752

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9752

Wellington X9755, IC

s/n X9755

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9755

Wellington X9756, IC

s/n X9756

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9756

Wellington X9762, IC

s/n X9762

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9762

Wellington X9786, IC

s/n X9786

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9786

Wellington X9798, IC

s/n X9798

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9798

Wellington X9874, Mk. IC

s/n X9874

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9874

Served with No. 419 Squadron, RCAF from 9 January 1942.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington X9875, IC

s/n X9875

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9875

Wellington X9878, IC

s/n X9878

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9878

Wellington X9905, IC

s/n X9905

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9905

Wellington X9910, IC

s/n X9910

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9910

Wellington X9913, IC

s/n X9913

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9913

Wellington X9916, IC

s/n X9916

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9916

Wellington X9935, IC

s/n X9935

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9935

Wellington X9941, IC

s/n X9941

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9941

Wellington X9942, IC

s/n X9942

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9942

Wellington X9949, IC

s/n X9949

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9949

Wellington X9951, IC

s/n X9951

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9951

Wellington X9975, IC

s/n X9975

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9975

Wellington X9977, IC

s/n X9977

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9977

Wellington X9981, IC

s/n X9981

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9981

Wellington X9982, IC

s/n X9982

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9982

Wellington X9986, IC

s/n X9986

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9986

Wellington X9988, IC

s/n X9988

Vickers-Armstrong

X 9988

Wellington Z1040, IC

s/n Z1040

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1040

Wellington Z1046, IC

s/n Z1046

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1046

Wellington Z1048, IC

s/n Z1048

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1048

Wellington Z1052, IC

s/n Z1052

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1052

Wellington Z1083, Mk. IC

s/n Z1083

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1083

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF from 8 January 1942, coded "VR*O".
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington Z1091, Mk. IC

s/n Z1091

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1091

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*A". Based at Mildenhall when it was lost without trace attacking German warships off Dutch coast, 12 February 1942, during Operation Fuller.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing 1942-02-11 to 1942-02-12

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

Fuller

Gerrman battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the lighter cruiser Prinz Eugen sailed from Brest to Germany through the English Channel in a carefully prepared and well-executed operation, News of the preparations did not reach Britain and the Germans chose chose a day when bad weather and low cloud gave their ships maximum concealment. A German fighter escort was provided throughout the voyage. The ships were not reported until late morning when a Spitfire of Fighter Command spotted them off Le Touquet. All available Royal Navy and R.A.F. units were ordered to attack the German ships before darkness closed in.

Most of Bomber Command was 'stood down' for the day; only 5 Group was at 4 hours' notice. The bomber squadrons made a frantic effort to prepare planes for attacks, which were mounted in 3 waves. Other aircraft of Coastal and Fighter Commands and of the Fleet Air Arm were also involved. The first Bomber Command aircraft were airborne at 1.30 p.m. and 242 sorties were flown by the squadrons before dark. Every type of aircraft available flew except the Whitleys which were stationed in the North of England. Bomber Command aircraft dispatched were: 92 Wellingtons, 64 Hampdens, 37 Blenheims, 15 Manchesters, 13 Halifaxes, II Stirlings and IO of the new American-built Boston bombers with which some of the 2 Group squadrons were being equipped, although they were not yet officially ready for operations. It was the largest Bomber Command daylight operation of the war to date.

Most of the bombers were unable to find the German ships in the poor weather conditions and, of those aircraft which did bomb, no hits were scored on these fast-moving and heavily defended targets. None of the attacks by other forces caused any serious damage to the German ships but the two largest, the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, were both slowed down after striking mines laid by 5 Group Hampdens or Manchesters in the Frisian Islands during recent nights. Scharnhorst hit 2 mines and Gneisenau one. All the German ships reached the safety of ports in Germany before daybreak

The sailing of these ships, although a successful operation for the Germans, finally released Bomber Command from the effort-consuming and costly requirement to bomb the ships while they had been in French ports. Bomber Command had dropped 3,413 tons of bombs on these 3 ships in recent months and lost 127 aircraft in doing so. But these raids had achieved some success. Both Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had been hit and badly damaged by bombs; this and the constant threat of further damage prevented the ships from sailing from Brest on another Atlantic shipping raid and persuaded the Germans that they should be brought back to the greater protection of German ports.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Wellington Z1096, IC

s/n Z1096

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1096


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Brest France 1942-01-06 to 1942-01-06

(B) Sqn (RAF) Feltwell

31 Wellingtons of I Group attacked the German warships, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. I aircraft lost. No special bombing results were claimed but a bomb which fell alongside the Gneisenau holed the hull and flooded 2 compartments.source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

57 Squadron (Corpus Non Animum Muto). Wellington aircraft Z 1096 took off 0520 6 Jan 1942 from Feltwell and crashed 0530 into Home Field at Holmebrink Farm at nearby Methwold. a fire broke out on impact and the Wellington was destroyed.

Flight Sergeant D R Richardson (RCAF), Sergeant R L Simmons,(RAF) Sergeant E Ewings,(RAF) Sergeant L J Roe,(RAF Sergeant V H Mountstephens:(RAF killed; Pilot Officer S H Carter (RAF): injured.

Wellington Z1113, IC

s/n Z1113

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1113

Wellington Z1142, IC

s/n Z1142

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1142

Cited with Sergeant Douglas W. Spooner (RAAF, awarded DFM).

Distinguished Flying Medal

Distinguished Flying Medal - No.103 Squadron (AFRO says "Attached to RAF " but deceased at time of AFRO publication). Award effective 27 January 1942 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 358/44 dated 18 February 1944. Award presented to next-of- kin, 22 April 1944.

The citation reads - "One night in January 1942, Sergeants Bray and Spooner were captain and second pilot, respectively, of an aircraft which participated in an attack on Wilhemshaven. (Wellington Z1142) Sergeant Bray carried out a determined attack in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire but, when making a second run over the target, a violent explosion shook the aircraft and an ignited flare was blown from the rear of the bomb compartment into the fuselage where it set fire to the fabric, the floor and a seat. The aircraft was now brightly illuminated so that it was an easy target and, whilst held in a concentration of some thirty searchlights, was subjected to intense enemy fire. The situation began to appear hopeless and Sergeant Bray ordered the crew to escape by parachute. He then set the controls and, when making his way to the rear of the air-craft to ensure that the crew had left safely, he observed Sergeant Spooner still battling with the flames. Sergeant Bray thereupon returned to the controls and skillfully and coolly extricated his aircraft from a perilous situation. The flare eventually burned its way through the floor of the aircraft and Sergeant Spooner, having exhausted the extinguisher, finally subdued the flames with his gloved hands. He then went forward and, to enable Sergeant Bray to fulfill the duties of navigator, took over the controls. Although suffering acutely from the effects of the fumes, he flew the aircraft safely back." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington Z1145, Mk. IC

s/n Z1145

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1145


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Hamburg Germany 1942-01-15 to 1942-01-16

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

96 aircraft. 52 of them claimed to have bombed in difficult visibility. Hamburg reports 36 fires - 3 large, 3 people killed arid 25 injured - but no major incidents. 3 Wellingtons and I Hampden were lost and 8 further aircraft crashed in England.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

One of 2 aircraft that flew this unit's first operational mission, bombing Brest on 11 January 1942. Lost on 15 / 16 January 1942, on raid to Hamburg. Damaged by enemy action, ran out of fuel on return and ditched off Spurn Head. 2 survivors, Sergeant A. E. Cox and Sergeant J.A.H.Lucas were rescued at sea by HMS Goatfell, Pilot Officer Cottier, Pilot, FS Powell, 2nd Pilot, Sergeant Pugh, w/op, Pilot Officer C.H.Lomas 2nd W/O were killed

Wellington Z1146, Mk. IC

s/n Z1146

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1146

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*E" Lost without a trace on 12 February 1942, shot down by ship's fire during attack on German warships off Holland (Operation Fuller). One crew member found dead in dingy, one body washed ashore in July 1942, other 4 crew never found.
last update: 2025-February-05

Bombing 1942-02-11 to 1942-02-12

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Mildenhall

Fuller

Gerrman battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the lighter cruiser Prinz Eugen sailed from Brest to Germany through the English Channel in a carefully prepared and well-executed operation, News of the preparations did not reach Britain and the Germans chose chose a day when bad weather and low cloud gave their ships maximum concealment. A German fighter escort was provided throughout the voyage. The ships were not reported until late morning when a Spitfire of Fighter Command spotted them off Le Touquet. All available Royal Navy and R.A.F. units were ordered to attack the German ships before darkness closed in.

Most of Bomber Command was 'stood down' for the day; only 5 Group was at 4 hours' notice. The bomber squadrons made a frantic effort to prepare planes for attacks, which were mounted in 3 waves. Other aircraft of Coastal and Fighter Commands and of the Fleet Air Arm were also involved. The first Bomber Command aircraft were airborne at 1.30 p.m. and 242 sorties were flown by the squadrons before dark. Every type of aircraft available flew except the Whitleys which were stationed in the North of England. Bomber Command aircraft dispatched were: 92 Wellingtons, 64 Hampdens, 37 Blenheims, 15 Manchesters, 13 Halifaxes, II Stirlings and IO of the new American-built Boston bombers with which some of the 2 Group squadrons were being equipped, although they were not yet officially ready for operations. It was the largest Bomber Command daylight operation of the war to date.

Most of the bombers were unable to find the German ships in the poor weather conditions and, of those aircraft which did bomb, no hits were scored on these fast-moving and heavily defended targets. None of the attacks by other forces caused any serious damage to the German ships but the two largest, the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, were both slowed down after striking mines laid by 5 Group Hampdens or Manchesters in the Frisian Islands during recent nights. Scharnhorst hit 2 mines and Gneisenau one. All the German ships reached the safety of ports in Germany before daybreak

The sailing of these ships, although a successful operation for the Germans, finally released Bomber Command from the effort-consuming and costly requirement to bomb the ships while they had been in French ports. Bomber Command had dropped 3,413 tons of bombs on these 3 ships in recent months and lost 127 aircraft in doing so. But these raids had achieved some success. Both Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had been hit and badly damaged by bombs; this and the constant threat of further damage prevented the ships from sailing from Brest on another Atlantic shipping raid and persuaded the Germans that they should be brought back to the greater protection of German ports.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

This was another of the aircraft of the formation, and having failed to return it can only be assumed that it met a similar fate to the previously mentioned aircraft. There was 10/10ths cloud over the target area, and combined with the slight drizzle made visibility less than 1,000 yards and the attack had to be made individually.

This is one of two crews that failed to return. The crew of Wellington Z1091 (VR-A) also failed to return.

Wellington Z1156, IC

s/n Z1156

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1156

Wellington Z1170, IC

s/n Z1170

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1170

Wellington Z1202, IV

s/n Z1202

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1202

Wellington Z1203, IV

s/n Z1203

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1203

Wellington Z1206, IV

s/n Z1206

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1206

Pratt & Whitney R-1830

Built in 1941. Assigned to 142 Sqn at Binbrook on 1st Oct 1941 and became QT-F (F for Freddie). Approximately 21 combat sorties were flown from Binbrook and later Grimsby (Waltham). Many Canadians flew in Wellington Z1206 at 142 Squadron:Sergeant George Camps Hooper J16717 & R80311, pilot, Z1206 19 May 1942 (Mannheim)Flying Officer Ross Baxter Ingalls DFC J4771, pilot, Z1206 8 Jan 1942 (Brest), 20 Jan 1942 (Emden), 25 Feb 1942 (Kiel)Pilot Officer Melvin Florin Johnson J7901, pilot, Z1206 30 May 1942 (Cologne)Sergeant E B Key R65502, air gunner, Z1206 8 Jan 1942 (Brest), 20 Jan 1942 (Emden), 25 Feb 1942 (Kiel)Sergeant Robert Kenneth McGrath R59361, air gunner, Z1206 9 Mar 1942 (Essen), 5 Apr 1942 (Cologne), 8 Apr 1942 (Hamburg), 10 Apr 1942 (Essen)Sergeant Thomas Edwards Parker R59119, pilot, Z1206 20 Oct 1941 (Antwerp)Pilot Officer Joseph Eugene Roger Pichette DFM J15846 & R55241, air gunner, Z1206 16 Oct 1941 (Dunkirk) to be confirmedPilot Officer Donald Coburn West R64968 & J16716, pilot, Z1206 19 May 1942 (Mannheim), 30 May 1942 (Cologne), 19 Jun 1942 (crashed at Thruxton)Twenty minutes into a night training flight on 19 Jun 1942, Z1206 was on approach to land when an engine failed. Pilot Officer D.C. West RCAF landed without flaps, overshot and went through a hedge. It was later found that the engine failure had been due to loosening of a throttle control lock nut. There were no injuries to the crew except for Sergeant B.E.B. Luckman, but Z1206 was badly damaged and had to be sent away for repair.

After repairs, Z1206 was transferred to 104 OTU at Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland, which was a transport training unit. Flown by numerous crews, some of whom were Canadian. On 26 Feb 1944, Z1206 was ditched in shallow water at Uig Bay, Isle of Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland. One source says this was due to fuel exhaustion while on a navigation exercise. The RAAF crew escaped unhurt. The wreck was buried by shifting sands for over 50 years. Salvaged by the Midlands Aircraft Recovery Group in 2002 after 5 years of work and planning. The front fuselage of the Wellington is being conserved and will be rebuilt for display.

source: Mark Evans, Midland Aircraft Recovery Group

Museum Midland Aircraft Recovery Group-Warwickshire UK

last update: 2025-March-05
   1941-June-04 Taken on Strength 48MU Hawarden GB 2025-03-04
   1941-October-01 Squadron Assignment 142 Sqn Binbrook GB QT-F 2025-03-04
   1942-June-19 Accident Category B 142 Sqn Thruxton GB due to engine failure while landing; damage extensive 2025-03-04
   1943-February-24 Transferred 38MU Llandow GB 2025-03-04
   1943-May-06 Squadron Assignment 104 OTU Nutts Corner IE -N 2025-03-04
   1944-January-26 Accident Crash 104 OTU Isle of Lewis GB ditched in shallow water 2025-03-04

Wellington Z1207, IV

s/n Z1207

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1207

Wellington Z1211, IV

s/n Z1211

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1211

Wellington Z1221, IV

s/n Z1221

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1221

Wellington Z1249, IV

s/n Z1249

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1249


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing 1942-06-03 to 1942-06-03

460 () () RAF Breighton, England
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Return). Wellington aircraft Z 1249 went missing while on night operations, presumed over the target. It was established post-war that the aircraft was shot down at 01:40 Deulken near the town of Muenchengladbach about 20 miles west of Dusseldorf. The aircraft exploded and wreckage was scattered over a wide area. All the crew were killed instantly. German documents revealed that they removed the remains of the crew for burial, but a post-war search for their graves was unsuccessful. The names of the crew are recorded on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing, in Surrey, UK, as having no known grave. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Sgt. R.D.G. Read (air gunner); RAAF Flt. Sgt's. H.R. Brodie (observer) and S. Levitus (pilot); RAAF Sgt. J.A. Gaiter (wireless operator / air gunner); and RAF Sgt. T.G.P. Townsend (air gunner).

Wellington Z1254, IV

s/n Z1254

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1254


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Stuttgart Germany 1942-05-06 to 1942-05-06

460 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Breighton, England
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Return). Wellington aircraft Z1254 was on a mission over Stuttgart, Germany, when it was coned by searchlights and hit by heavy flak. The bomber crashed near Mannheim, Germany. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Sgt. K.A. Fogg (wireless operato / air gunner); RAAF Sgt's. R.H. Murphy (second pilot) and J.R. Shearer (observer); and RAF Sqn Leader C.L. Gilbert (pilot) and RAF Sgt. C.N. Dixon (wireless operator / air gunner). RAAF Sgt. J.G. Lake (air gunner) was taken Prisoner of War.

Wellington Z1266, IV

s/n Z1266

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1266

Wellington Z1274, IV

s/n Z1274

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1274

Wellington Z1316, IV

s/n Z1316

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1316

Wellington Z1324, IV

s/n Z1324

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1324

Wellington Z1341, IV

s/n Z1341

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1341

Wellington Z1383, IV

s/n Z1383

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1383


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Lorient France (Artichokes) 1942-06-22 to 1942-06-22

460 () Sqn (RAAF) RAF Breighton, England
460 Australia Squadron (Strike And Return). Wellington aircraft Z 1383 took off at 2247 on 21 June 1942 from Breighton to lay mines in French waters off Lorient (Artichokes Region). The aircraft was resumed shot down in the target area. Casualties included RAAF Flt. Sgt. R.J. Buckingham (pilot); RAAF Sgt's. F.R. Martin (air gunner), W.S. McQueen (air gunner), and R.G.M. Roget (observer); and RAF Sgt. J. Moores (wireless operator).

Wellington Z1408, IV

s/n Z1408

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1408

Wellington Z1490, IV

s/n Z1490

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1490

Wellington Z1562, Mk. III

s/n Z1562

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1562

With No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, based at Mildenhall, coded "VR*N". Lost without a trace on a mining mission on 17 / 18 May 1942. All 5 crew missing, including one RAF and one American in the RCAF.
last update: 2025-February-05

Minelaying Frisian Islands Netherlands 1942-05-17 to 1942-05-17

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall

.419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft Z 1562 was on a mine-laying trip in the Baltic Sea and was shot up by our own flak. The aircraft blew up and crashed in the sea off Cromer, England. All 5 crew missing, including one RAF and one American in the RCAF. This was the twentieth operation for this crew..

Wellington Z1563, Mk. III

s/n Z1563

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1563

Wellington Z1577, Mk. III

s/n Z1577

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1577


last update: 2025-March-15

Bombing Duisburg Germany 1942-07-24 to 1942-07-24

9 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Honington

9 Squadron (Per Noctem Volemus), RAF Honington. Wellington III aircraft Z 1577 WS-T was shot down by heavy flak during an operation against targets in Duisburg, Germany and crashed near Wetten, Kevelaer, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Flight Sergeant Alfred Frank Chilvers Ratcliff (RCAF) and Pilot, Flying Officer Henry Ernest Brown (RAFVR) were killed in action

Pilot Officer George Burton Smith (RCAF), Sergeant Jack Arthur Westwood (RCAF), Sergeant Alfred Frank Chilvers Ratcliff (RCAF) and Pilot Officer Norman Jefferies (RAFVR) all survived to become Prisoners of War. However, the severely wounded Sergeant Ratcliff would die from his wounds while a prisoner

General Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

General Aviation Safety Network

Wellington Z1597, Mk. III

s/n Z1597

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1597

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed at Rainscombe Farm on the Wiltshire Downs on 7 July 1942 while returning from mining mission, was descending below clouds when it struck trees. All 6 crew killed.
last update: 2025-February-05

Minelaying Lorient France 1942-07-06 to 1942-07-07

419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Mildenhall
Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF. Crashed at Rainscombe Farm on the Wiltshire Downs on 7 July 1942 while returning from mining mission, was descending below clouds when it struck trees. All 6 crew killed.

Wellington Z1599, Mk. III

s/n Z1599

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1599

Served with No. 426 Squadron, RCAF, in the UK in 1942 and 1943. Coded "OW*M". Attacked Lorient, France on 14/15 January 1943. Attacked by a Ju-88, but returned to England without damage. Mining operation to Frisian Islands on 21/22 January 1943, light flak damage. Was coded "OW*B" when it was shot down by a night fighter on raid to Cologne on 26 / 27 February 1943. Crashed at Boerdonk (Noord Brabant) 8 km SE of Veghel.
last update: 2025-February-05

Wellington Z1606, Mk. III

s/n Z1606

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1606

Wellington Z1608, Mk. III

Wellington Z1612, Mk. III

s/n Z1612

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1612

Wellington Z1615, Mk. III

s/n Z1615

Vickers-Armstrong

Z 1615


last update: 2025-March-15

Minelaying Gardening 1942-05-15 to 1942-05-16

9 (B) Sqn (RAF)

Wellington aircraft Z1615 was shot down by flak during a mine-laying operation at Lango Island. Sergeant Gruchy, KIA (RCAF) (Cenotaph at Anglican Cemetery, St. John's, Avalon Peninsula Census Division, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.) was in the front turret, was hit by shell splinters, and did not get out of the aircraft when it went down in the sea.

Prisoners of War:

  • Warrant Officer P Gaum (RCAF)
  • Warrant Officer S. Richards (RAF)
  • R. Bell (RAF)
  • Flight Lieutenant J. Simpson (RAF)
  • Wellington Z1620, Mk. III

    s/n Z1620

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1620

    Wellington Z1622, Mk. III

    s/n Z1622

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1622

    Wellington Z1623, Mk. III

    s/n Z1623

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1623

    Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "VR*V". Based at Croft. Lost without a trace om mission to Aachen, 5 / 6 October 1942. All 5 crew killed.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Aachen Germany 1942-10-05 to 1942-10-05

    419 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Croft

    Wellington aircraft encountered severe icing conditions enroute to the target and failed to return. Two 419 Squadron aircraft did not return from this sortie and four of the Squadron's aircraft had to turn back because of the severe weather conditions

    257 aircraft- IOI Wellingtons, 74 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 23 Stirlings. IO aircraft - 5 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings, 2 Wellingtons, I Lancaster - lost, 3·9 per cent of the force. A further 6 aircraft crashed in England, possibly in thunderstorms which were present when some squadrons took off for the raid.

    The weather continued to be bad over Germany. There was little Pathfinder marking at Aachen and most of the bombing fell in other areas. Aachen reports that the raid on this night was carried out by an estimated 10 aircraft and that the centre of the attack appeared to be in the southern suburb of Burtscheid, where a 4,000-lb bomb severely damaged a hospital and 2 nearby churches. 34 fires were started, 5 of them being classified as large. A moderate amount of housing was hit and, rather surprisingly, 22 industrial buildings were damaged. 5 people were killed and 39 injured.

    Many of the bombs intended for Aachen fell in the small Dutch town of Lutterade, 17 miles away from Aachen, and it seems that most of the Pathfinder marking was over this place. The Mayor of Geleen, the Dutch district in which Lutterade is now situated, reports heavy bombing and much damage in Lutterade on that night. More than 800 houses were seriously damaged; 83 people were killed, 22 were injured md 3,000 were made homeless

    source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

    Wellington Z1625, Mk. III

    s/n Z1625

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1625

    Wellington Z1654, Mk. III

    Wellington Z1657, Mk. III

    s/n Z1657

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1657

    Wellington Z1659, Mk. III

    s/n Z1659

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1659

    Wellington Z1660, Mk. III

    s/n Z1660

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1660

    Wellington Z1679, Mk. III

    Wellington Z1680, Mk. III

    s/n Z1680

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1680

    Served with No. 426 (B) Squadron, RCAF, coded "OW*R". Bombed Lorient on 15/16 January 1943. Lost on 30 January 1943, on raid to Hamburg. Crashed in North Sea, all killed. Some crew washed up on Fano Island (Denmark?).
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Wellington Z1692, Mk. III

    s/n Z1692

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1692

    Served with No. 424 Squadron, RCAF, coded "QB*L".
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Wellington Z1717, Mk. III

    s/n Z1717

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1717

    Wellington Z1721, Mk. III

    Wellington Z1724, Mk. III

    s/n Z1724

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1724

    Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF in the UK, coded "PT*X". Bombed Lorient on 15/16 January 1943. Bombed Cologne on 14/15 February 1943. Code changed to "PT*C" when it was lost on a training mission on 1 March 1943. Crashed near Leeming airfield, Yorkshire, after loosing part of wing covering. Aircraft entered dive, lost port wing.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Wellington Z1729, Mk. III

    s/n Z1729

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1729

    Served with No. 425 (B) Squadron, RCAF, in the UK, coded "KW*T". Based at Dishforth. Lost on raid on Duisburg on 20 / 21 December 1942. Shot down by Hptm Werner Streib, I./NJG1, and crashed at 20:13 at Boekel (Noord Brabant), 5 km NNW of Gemert.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Wellington Z1742, Mk. III

    s/n Z1742

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 1742

    Served with No. 420 Squadron, RCAF, coded "PT*C". Also with No. 425 Squadron, RCAF, coded "KW*C". With this unit when it failed to return from mining operation, no survivors.
    last update: 2025-February-05
       1943-February-07 Failed to Return Failed to return from mining operation, no survivors. 2019-08-20

    Wellington Z8329, Mk. II

    s/n Z8329

    Z 8329

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*L". Based at Pocklington. Lost on mission to Bremen on 17 / 18 January 1942. Returning early with engine failure, engine caught fire, crashed in North Sea. 2 survivors.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Bremen Germany 1942-01-17 to 1942-01-17

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
    Squadron Leader W B Keddy (RCAF): killed; Sergeant G J Masse (RCAF), Sergeant P A Gale, Flight Sergeant G F Gurr; missing believed killed; Flight Lieutenant D R S Scrivens, Sergeant R L Turnbull (RCAF): injured; Wellington Z8329, 405 Squadron; aircraft force landed in the North Sea during an operational flight, 17 January 1942.

    Wellington Z8344, Mk. II

    s/n Z8344

    Z 8344

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*F".
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Stettin 1941-09-19 to 1941-09-20

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
    Sergeant T F Dougall, Flying Officer W B Towler, Sergeant J Lord, Sergeant D J Clayden, Sergeant J Emsley, Sergeant C W Forman (RCAF): prisoners of war; Wellington Z8344, 405 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight 20 September 1941.

    Wellington Z8358, Mk. II

    s/n Z8358

    Z 8358

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*B". Based at Pocklington. Crashed in North Sea during raid on Hamburg on 8 / 9 April 1942.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Hamburg Germany 1942-04-08 to 1942-04-08

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
    Sergeant A H Edwards, Flight Sergeant N Leftly: killed; Pilot Officer R P Locke (RCAF), Sergeant D E Jones, Sergeant J C Dennis, Flight Sergeant J W Sanderson (RCAF): missing believed killed; Wellington Z8358, 405 Squadron RCAF; aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Hamburg, Germany, 9 April 1942

    Wellington Z8364, Mk. II

    s/n Z8364

    Vickers-Armstrong

    Z 8364

    Wellington Z8370, Mk. ll

    Wellington Z8398, Mk. ll

    s/n Z8398

    Z 8398

    Wellington Z8410, Mk. ll

    Wellington Z8419, Mk. II

    s/n Z8419

    Z 8419

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF in 1941/42, coded "LQ*V". Bombed le Havre on 22 / 23 October 1941, lost without trace on return.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Le Havre France 1941-10-22 to 1941-10-22

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
    405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducirnus). Wellington aircraft Z 8419 missing from a night bombing attack on Le Havre, France. Sergeants P.T. Walker, L.E. Dodge, FSs G.F. Marr, L.H. Jackson, Sergeant P.T.W. Walker (RAF), Sergeant W.L.N. Johnston (RAAF) were also killed. Last heard on W/T at 2100 signalling 'operation completed 2030

    Wellington Z8428, Mk. II

    s/n Z8428

    Z 8428

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*N". Damaged on return from mission to Germany on 17 August 1941. Flak and searchlights were encountered on the return near Hasselt and aircraft was attacked from astern by a Messerschmitt, firing accurate bursts. Pilot Flight Sergeant Sutherland made his a/c dive to 1000 ft and escaped. The rear gunner Flight Sergeant Payton was killed. A fire, caused by a burning parachute and oil from the damaged rear turret, was extinguished by the crew. Later hit by flak, which punctured the starboard wheel. A successful landing was made at base. Lost without a trace on mission to Essen on 10 / 11 March 1942.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Essen Germany 1942-03-10 to 1942-03-10

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington
    405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus). Target - Essen, Germany. The crew of Wellington aircraft Z 8428 sent an SOS while they were over the North Sea and that was the last that was ever heard from them.. Flight Sergeant James Morley BRODDY (R/64409); Flying Officer Robert Keep DURBRIDGE (404453); Flight Sergeant Francis Campbell GARNETT (R/78261); Flight Sergeant Robert Neville LONERGAN (404550); Sergeant George Albert TILLEY (1378541) ;Sergeant William WRIGHT (1164158)

    Wellington Z8514,

    Wellington Z8515, Mk. ll

    Wellington Z8527, Mk. II

    s/n Z8527

    Z 8527

    Served with No. 405 Squadron, RCAF, coded "LQ*L". Crashed near Versailles on mission to Poissy on 1 / 2 April 1942.
    last update: 2025-February-05

    Bombing Poissy, France 1942-04-01 to 1942-04-01

    405 (B) Sqn (RCAF) Pocklington

    Wellington Z8527, 405 Squadron RCAF; aircraft shot down and crashed near Versailles, France, during an operational flight over Poissy, France. Pilot Officer L G Burgoyne (RCAF): prisoner of war; Flight Sergeant M A G Howsan (RAAF), Sergeant M C Howe (RCAF), Flight Sergeant R O J Page (RCAF), Sergeant W P Ashun, Pilot Officer J G MacKinnon: killed;

    On November 11, 1994, Remembrance Day in France, which is a public holiday, the Mayor and citizens of Manly in the presence of a delegation from its British "twin town", Marlow-on-Thames, commemorated the crash of the Canadian Wellington with a moving ceremony on the military cemetery near Manly. A monument to the men who died was built by the Town and unveiled jointly by the Assistant Air Attachs, of Australia, Squadron Leader Lefevre, of Britain, Squadron Leader Whitaker and of Canada, Major Poisson, representing the nationalities of the dead airmen. The ceremony was witnessed by a delegation from Marlow, led by the Mayor with, amongst others, representatives from the Royal British Legion and the Aircrew Association. All the organizations present laid wreaths. Our French friends, especially the ex-Service organizations who had been witnesses to the efforts and sacrifices made during the war, by amongst others, the allied air forces, were overwhelming in their demonstrations of friendship and comradeship. Detail provided by David E. Thompson, Middlesborough, England.

    Wellington Z8588, Mk. l1

    s/n Z8588

    Z 8588

    Wellington Z8591,

    s/n Z8591

    Z 8591

    Wellington Z8594,

    Wellington Z8688,

    Wellington Z8798,

    Wellington Z8807,

    Wellington Z8839,

    Wellington Z8869,

    s/n Z8869

    Z 8869

    Wellington Z8905,

    Wellington Z8976, Mk. 1C

    Wellington Z8990,

    Wellington Z9033,

    Wellington Z9044,

    Wellington Z9096,