6 Bomber Group July 9/10, 1943
41 Halifaxes from 408, 419, 427, and 428 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Gelsenkirchen. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 21,500 feet, releasing 140,000 lbs of incendiaries and 70,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was light but a synthetic oil plant was damaged.
While most of the group was operating against Gelsenkirchen, 6 Wellingtons from 431 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation off Texel. The crews were over the garden at between 700 and 900 feet, sowing 12@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
102 Ceylon Squadron (Tentate et perficite) RAF Pocklington. Halifax B Mk II aircraft BB 249 DY-Z was lost homeward-bound from bombing operations against targets in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptman August Gieger of 7/NJG1. The Halifax crashed near Eprave, Namur Province, Belgium, about 4 Km SW of Rochefort with the loss of four aircrew
Flight Sergeant Ronald Frank Glass (RCAF), Flight Sergeant Albert Thomas Fraser (RAAF), Flight Sergeant John George Herbert Mansell (RAFVR) and Sergeant Willie Morse (RAF) were killed in action
Sergeant Reginald Norman Brand (RAFVR), Sergeant Harry Edward ((RAFVR), and Sergeant Thomas Edward Stockton (RAFVR) all survived to be captured and taken as Prisoners of War
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 2, 23 June - 22 September page 26
It's Suicide But It's Fun, The Story of 102 (Ceylon) Squadron 1917-1956 by Chris Goss page 186
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
