6 Bomber Group May 29/30, 1943
38 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 55 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Wuppertal. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 98,000 lbs of high explosives and 213,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was done. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
Date of Incident: Night of May 29–30, 1943, Target: Wuppertal, Germany (a major industrial bombing raid)Aircraft: Vickers Wellington Mark X (Serial Number: LN424, Squadron Code: NA-E)Base: RAF Dalton, Yorkshire, UK.
During this operation, the aircraft ran into severe trouble or sustained critical damage. Demonstrating immense courage and leadership, Flying Officer Ferguson kept the twin-engine bomber steady so that his crew members could safely bail out. Once the crew had abandoned the aircraft, Ferguson locked the plane's controls and baled out himself.
The entire crew survived the jump but were successfully captured by German forces on May 30, 1943.Flying Officer Ferguson spent the remainder of the war as a Prisoner of War (POW). He was detained in Stalag Luft III (Sagan) and Belaria—the infamous camp complex well-known for "The Great Escape"
All crew members reached the ground safely and were capture as POW: Flight Sergeant John Dywan RCAF POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug Sergeant John Hamilton Edwards RCAF POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug Flying Officer John Ambrose Ferguson RCAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan & Belaria Flight Sergeant David Cruickshanks Smith RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus Sergeant Joseph Gerard Sylvester RCAF POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug Flying Officer Gerald Ferdinand Tallman RCAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan & Belaria
