Wellington X3360 Mk. III - Bombing Essen Germany - 1942-08-05 to 1942-08-06
Squadron: 419 (B) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1942-08-05
Completion Date: 1942-08-06
Mission: Bombing
Operation: Battle of the Ruhr
Target City: Essen Germany
Target Specific:
Base: Mildenhall
Take Off Time: 23.15
Squadron Code: VR R
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Budberg, Germany
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason:
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

25 aircraft, 17 to Essen and 8 to Bochum. The intention was to reach the target area by Gee and then to bomb visually through gaps in the cloud. Only 3 aircraft bombed at Bochum and only 1 at Essen. 5 aircraft - 3 Halifaxes, 1 Lancaster and 1 Wellington - were lost and a further aircraft crashed in England.

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

419 Moose Squadron (Moosa Aswayita). Wellington aircraft was shot down near Kleve at Bedburg, Germany whilst attacking Essen, Germany.

Flight Sergeant Harold Alexander BROWN (R/67850) Air Observer; Sergeant Ronald Frederick CHURCHILL (1189902) Wireless Op; Sergeant Albert Henry JOHNSON (1313403) Air Gunner; Pilot Officer Raymond Marinus KREFTING (J/7530) Pilot; Sergeant Thomas Henry LAWTON (643746) Air Gunner; Flight Sergeant William James MACAULAY (R/86116) Pilot. Missing believed killed.

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