6 Group Unavailable
12 Squadron (Leads The Field). Lancaster aircraft ND 342 crashed near Dusseldorf, Germany during an evening operation to Essen
Claimed by Lt Gustav Mohr 2/NJG11 - Essen - Duisburg No height at +/- 19:50. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 Part 5 - Theo Boiten)
Crashed North East of Dusseldorf, 9km from Hilden.Those who perished (except Flt Lt Hall RCAF) were initially buried in Dusseldorf North Cemetery. Reinterred 24 October 1946
Fg Off Hall RCAF bailed out over Hilden. Tragically he was lynched by the Ortsguppenleiter (local Nazi-leader). Flt Lt Hall was initially buried in Hilden Town Cemetery. Reinternment date not known
The rest of the crew bailed out later but three of them died when the aircraft crashed.
The crew's Bomb Aimer, Ken Kenworthy wrote in 1945: "Whilst on the bombing run we were suddenly attacked by a night fighter who machine gunned us from nose to tail destroying our instruments and leaving us in a blazing condition. Reg immediately ordered us to bale out. As Air Bomber I saw that all our bombs had been released, informed Reg who wished me the best of luck then baled out. Harry, our Navigator, baled out a few seconds after me and at that time Reg was standing on his seat ready to bale out next. Reg had stuck by and piloted the aircraft, giving his crew every chance to get out safely, the flames must have been dangerously near by the time his turn came to jump. In fact only the Navigator, Bomb Aimer and Flight Engineer survived, to be taken prisoner.
Their Lancaster, one of eight shot down that night, crashed near Dusseldorf and the other four in the crew were killed. Today they lie in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, in Germany. It was Christmas-time 1944 when the family learned that Reg was missing on air operations. They knew little more, until the letter arrived after the end of the war."source: John Jones
