Operation: Essen
Date: 10/11th April 1942 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 455 Squadron (RAAF)
Type: Hampden I
Serial: AT221
Code: UB-D
Base: RAF Wigsley, Nottinghamshire
Location: Stürzelberg, Germany
Pilot: F/O. Robert Charles Roberts AUS/3200 RAAF Age 29. Killed
Obs: Fl/Lt. Frederick Abbey Keck AUS/400623 RAAF Age 27. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Ripley Wright 1057411 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank Hill Canning AUS/408045 RAAF Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 21:46 hrs to bomb the Main Square in Essen. 254 aircraft on this operation with a weather forecast of clear skies it was hope that the bombing would prove effective.
Of the 172 aircraft reported to have bombed the city, just 6 aircraft bomb loads fell. 12 houses destroyed, very little industrial damage, 7 people killed on the ground with 30 others suffering injuries.
Hampden AT221 is understood to have been a victim of the anti-aircraft fire with the aircraft coming down at Stürzelberg west of the Rheine, south east of Neuss.
Coned by 1/Res Flakscheinw Abt 159, 2/Res Flakscheinw 648 and 3/III/Flak Regt 611. Hit by 1-3/Res Flak Abt 512, 1 & 3/Res Flak Abt 371, 1 & 3/Res Flak Abt 381, 1 & 3 133. Aircraft crashed near Dalrath/Strurzberg at 0051. (Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1942 -Theo Boiten)
The squadron lost another crew this night:
Hampden I AE291 UB-K Flown by 26 year old, F/O. Seth Tilstone Manners AUS/403142 RAAF of Taree, NSW, Australia - killed with all his crew.
Burial details:
F/O. Robert Charles Roberts. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.10. Son of Griffith and Ellen Jane Roberts, of St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Joined 455 Squadron on 25th February 1942 - completed 5 operations as captain of the aircraft.
Fl/Lt. Frederick Abbey Keck. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.11. Son of the Revd. Harry Alfred George Keck and Ethel Annie Keck, of Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. Later of 52 Highfield Road, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia. Joined 455 Squadron on 25th February 1942 - completed 5 operations. Sadly his older brother, 29 year old Fl/Lt. Harry Kingwell Keck AUS/400591 RAAF was also to lose his life a few weeks later on the 30th March 1942. Commemorated on the Alamein Memorial - listed as missing. Flying with 14 Squadron on Blenheim IV Z7627 lost with all the crew.
Above grave of mother of Sgt. John Wright (son shown) with letter to the squadron on hearing news that their son is missing.
Sgt. John Ripley Wright. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.8. Son of John and Agnes Margaret Wright, of Southport, Lancashire, England. Joined 455 Squadron in October 1941 - completed 13 operations (9 as a wireless operator).Sgt. Frank Hill Canning. Rheinberg War Cemetery. Grave 6.C.9. Son of Thomas Ashley Canning and Annie Leonie Irene Canning, of New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia. Joined 455 Squadron on 22nd February 1942 - completed 10 operations (5 of these with 97 Squadron).
Researched for the Wimbledon College Roll Of Honour, our thanks to Ian Macfarlane for grave photo also to the sources shown below.
