6 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)
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
Wellington X HE392 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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