6 Bomber Group June 12/13, 1943
38 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 64,000 lbs of high explosives and 123,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered but severe damage was done.
While the Halifaxes went to Bochum, 12 Wellingtons from 429, 431, and432 Squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to the Frisian Islands and Saint-Nazaire. The crews were over the garden at between 700 and 5,000feet, sowing 16@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
p>83 Squadron (Strike To Defend), Pathfinder Force, RAF Wyton. Lancaster III aircraft ED 603 OL-L was lost on an operation against targets in Bochum, Germany. Struck initially by flak over the target, the bomber was attacked and shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann Rudolph Sigmund of 10/NJG1 while attempting to return to the UK. The Lancaster crashed in flames into Lake IJsselmeer in the Netherlands with the loss of the entire crew
Pilot Officer Arthur Gordon Fletcher (RCAF), Pilot Officer Harold Elvin Howsam (RAFVR), Pilot Officer Charles Frederick John Sprack DFM (RAF), Flight Lieutenant Eric Arthur Tilbury (RAFVR), Pilot Officer Raymond Edward Moore RFM (RAF), Pilot Officer Arthur Bertram Smart DFM (RAF) and Flying Officer Gordon Robert Sugar (RAF) were all killed. in action
The bodies of Pilot Officer Fletcher, Flight Lieutenant Tilbury, Pilot Officer Howsam and Flying Officer Sugar were recovered over the two weeks following the crash and were buried in cemeteries in the Netherlands but the remaining three crew members were missing with no known grave. The wreckage of Lancaster ED 603 was discovered on the lake bottom in 1996 and excavated by the Dutch government in September 2023. The excavations led to the discovery of personal items and human remains identified as the three missing air crew, Pilot Officer Smart, Flight Sergeant Moore and Pilot Officer Sprack were recovered and buried in the Netherlands
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 1 January - 22 June by Theo Boiten, page 120
Lancaster ED603 Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
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