Operation: Kassel

Date: 27/28th August 1942 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 142 Squadron

Type: Wellington IV

Serial: Z1338

Code: QT-D

Base: RAF Grimsby, Lincolnshire

Location: Kalk, East of Cologne

Pilot: F/O. Alfred Henry Paget 103051 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Obs: P/O. Franklyn Richard Samuel Pye J/8440 RCAF Age 26. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Eric Tupholme 1107786 RAFVR Age 34. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Bellinger 1285151 RAFVR Age ? Killed (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. F.C. Weighill R/87391 RCAF PoW No: 26863 Camp: Stalag Lamsdorf (344) (2)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Grimsby, Lincolnshire. at 20:30 hrs to attack Kassel, a German City located on the river Fulda in Germany. 306 aircraft taking part. 21 Wellingtons, 5 Stirlings, 3 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Hampden. Weather conditions were perfect for flying with a full moon and fine weather over Germany. That of course contributed to the 58 night fighter interceptions taking place, mainly on their return flight. Widespread damage was caused to the city with 144 buildings destroyed, 317 seriously damaged. Casualties on the ground amounted to 43 killed, 187 civilians 64 Germans soldiers injured.

The Allied losses were huge. 33 aircraft were lost either during the operation or during landing on return. 153 aircrew were killed, so taken pow with 1 evading capture. One of the PoW’s Fl/Lt. Kiewnarski from 305 Squadron PAF took part in the mass escape from Sagan 1944, recaptured , then murdered by the Gestapo in 1944.

A very black day for the Squadron losing some 5 crews. The others:

Wellington IV Z1266 QT-M, Flown by Sgt. D.L.F. Toombs 1204587 RAFVR - taken PoW (no: 26853, camp: Stalag Lamsdorf-344) with 3 other crew (1 crew member held at Stalag Luft Heydekrug-L6, 1 killed.
Wellington IV Z1396 QT-B, Flown by Fl/Sgt. Alan Harker 754105 RAFVF from Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England - killed with all 4 other crew.
Wellington IV Z1411 QT-Z, Flown by P/O. Charles William Keddy J/16681 RCAF from Saskatchewan, Canada - killed with all 4 other crew.
Wellington IV Z1424 QT-F, Flown by P/O. Melvin Florin Johnson J/7901 RCAF from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - killed with all 4 other crew.

(1) Although we dont have full details of Sgt. James Bellinger it seems that tragically he lost both his son and daughter during the war! 18 year old Aircraft-woman 2nd Class Hazel Beatrice Miller 440441 WAAF of 15 OTU - died in Aylesbury on the 27th July 1941. His son, Sgt. James Bellinger of the RAFVR is also reported to have died in service. Neither of these details are able to be confirmed by Aircrew Remembered. Await any new information from relatives.

(2) Sgt. F.C. Weighill - the husband of Monica Beryl Weighill of Saskatchewan, Canada. Died in 1973.

Burial details:

F/O. Alfred Henry Paget. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.A.2-5. Son of Henry Alfred and Grace Paget, husband of Ellen Eveline Paget, of Cheam, Surrey, England.

P/O. Franklyn Richard Samuel Pye. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.1. Son of Archibald A. Pye and Margaret J. F. Pye, of Ecum Secum Bridge, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.

Sgt. Eric Tupholme. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.A.2-5. Son of William Edward and Bertha Tupholme, of Sheffield, Husband of Minnie Tupholme, of Sheffield, England.

Sgt. James Bellinger. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Collective grave 4.A.2-5. Husband of Jeannette Eileen Bellinger, of Stockwell, London, England.

Researched by Mr. J.B. Paget - cousin of F/O. Alfred Henry Paget for Aircrew Remembered - June 2016. Mr. Paget contacted us by post with these details. With thanks to John Jones for further information on Sgt. Bellinger. For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.