Wellington HE294 B. Mk. X - Bombing Essen Germany - 1943-05-27 to 1943-05-28
Squadron: (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1943-05-27
Completion Date: 1943-05-28
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of the Ruhr
Target City: Essen Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Skipton-on-Swale
Take Off Time: 22.52
Squadron Code: QO P
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: North Sea, 35 kilometres north-west of Den Helder, Holland.
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group May 27/28, 1943

23 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 33 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Essen. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 97,000 lbs of high explosives and 134,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

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.

General RAF Commands