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 BX aircraft HE 184 SE-M was shot down during an operation against targets in Dusseldorf, Germany. The bomber was most likely shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Reinhard Kollak of the 7/NJG 4 (detached to 1/NJG 1), flying Bf 110 G-4 G9+EH from Gilze-Rijen airfield. The aircraft had been coned by Scheinwerfer nr 13 and also claimed by Marine Flak of Nordbatterie, Westbatterie and Sudbatterie Vlissingen. The Wellington crashed into the North Sea 22 km north of Westkapelle, Zeeland, Netherlands
Pilot Officer WD Eaglesham (RAFVR), Flying Officer LC Long (RAFVR) and Sergeant BH Stephenson (RAFVR) were killed in action
Pilot Officer HT McAusland (RAFVR) and Pilot Officer JH Burrow (RAFVR) were missing, presumed killed in action
The missing have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
There were three 431 Squadron Wellington aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials HF 543 SE-P and HE 392 SE-L for additional information
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Wellington X HE184 [Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
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