Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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27/28.06.1942 No. 150 Squadron Wellington III X3309 JN-N F/O. Derek Osborne

Operation: Bremen

Date: 27/28th June 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 150 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3309

Code: JN-N

Base: RAF Snaith

Location: IJsselmeer, East Enkhuizen, Holland

Pilot: F/O. Derek Oscar Osborne 64303 RAFVR Age 20. Missing

Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. Gerald Cobden 984803 RAFVR Age ? Missing

Nav: Sgt. Leslie Richard Dye 1283349 RAFVR Age 21. Missing

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Iestyn James 1381676 RAFVR Age 20. Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Desire Ernest Charles Adams 1377699 RAFVR. Age 22. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23.15 hrs from RAF Snaith on another raid to Bremen. Part of series of 4 raids on this industrial area. 144 aircraft were dispatched - 55 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 2 Stirlings and 24 Lancasters.

Left: F/O. Derek Oscar Osborne (courtesy of his son, Chris Osborne)

119 aircraft bombed blindly though cloud using the 'Gee' system. It was reported that the results were successful with the Atlas Werke and the Korff refinery hit again.

Many other smaller firms were also hit and a number of dockside warehouses.. Unfortunately a hospital and dwellings were also hit with 7 people killed and a further 80 injured.

10 aircraft were lost on this raid with 150 squadron losing 3 of its Wellingtons:

Z1610 flown by Sgt. Alan Nightingale with all crew killed - crashed at Woudenberg.
BJ666 flown by Sq/Ldr. Hooper with all crew made PoW.

Above: Harland Military Antiques were selling the medals of Fl/Sgt. Desire Ernest Charles Adams, (£475.00-June 2014)

X3309 was shot down at 00.54 hrs, with combat taking place over IJsselmeer, East Enkhuizen. Uffz. Heinz Vinke and his W/Op/Gnr.. Karl Schödel from 5./NJG2 claimed this loss confirmed.

Heinz Vinke went missing on the 28th February 1944 some 15 km. north west of Dunkirk after being shot down by two typhoons of 198 Squadron (Fl/Lt. Cheval L'Allemand and F/O. George Hardy)

Uffz. Heinz Vinke and his W/Op/Gnr. Karl Schödel (courtesy Kracker archives)

Bremen 1942

Burial details:

F/O. Derek Oscar Osborne. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 67. Son of Harold Aubrey and Beatrix Naomi Osborne, husband of Yvonne Elizabeth Kendrick, of Felmingham, Norfolk, England.

Fl/Sgt. Gerald Cobden. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 73. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Sgt. Leslie Richard Dye. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 82. Son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Dye, of Fulham, London, England.

Sgt. Iestyn James. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 86. Son of David and Harriet Ann James, of Cefneithin, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Fl/Sgt. Desire Ernest Charles Adams. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 73. Son of Louis and Minnie Eveline Adams, of Battersea, London, England.

Researched for Chris Osborne - son of F/O. Derek Oscar Osborne and dedicated to all the relatives of the crew. With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', the CWGC, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Harland Military Antiques.

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