Z6 Bomber Group June 11/12, 1943
51 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 63 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Dusseldorf. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 145,000 lbs of high explosives and 275,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused to this target. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Events
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
Crash Site Vickers Wellington B Mark X - Zijtaart - TracesOfWar.com
Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire
Wellington X HE593, [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB