Wellington X3712 Mk. III - Bombing Saarbrucken Germany - 1942-07-30 to 1942-07-30
Squadron: 419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1942-07-30
Completion Date: 1942-07-30
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Saarbrucken Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Mildenhall
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code: VR D
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

291 aircraft of 5 types on the first large raid to this target. 9 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings - lost.

The defences at the target were not expected to be strong and crews were urged to bomb at lower than normal altitudes. 248 aircraft reported accurate bombing, three quarters of them doing so from below 10,000 ft. Bomber Command claimed 'severe damage' to 2 industrial targets, an ironworks and an engineering works. Saarbriicken's records show severe damage and casualties in the centre and north¬western districts. 396 buildings were destroyed and 324 seriously damaged, with 155 people being killed.

source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt

Served with No. 419 (B) Squadron, RCAF in 1942, coded "VR*D". Lost on raid to Saarbrucken on 29/30 July 1942. Believed shot down by a night-fighter of 5./NJG1, and crashed at 01:32 at Porcheresse (Namur), 11 km NE of Ciney, Belgium. One crew evaded, other 4 all killed.

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