Mission: Duisburg
Date: 21/22nd July 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: No. 57 Squadron
Type: Wellington III
Serial: X3584
Code: DX-?
Base: R.A.F. Feltwell, Norfolk, England
Location: Not known, Lost without trace.
Pilot: Sgt. Thomas Wakefield 951404 RAFVR Age 23. Missing
Obs: Sgt. Thomas Abel Jones 932085 RAFVR Age 21. Missing
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Willoughby Morgan 929383 RAFVR. Age 20. Missing
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Hamish Ross 1310083 RAFVR Age 21. Missing
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Alfred Wright RAFVR Age 25. Missing
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Feltwell, Norfolk, England at 00.10 hrs on Wednesday 22nd July - joining 290 other aircraft to bomb the city of Duisburg.
Duisburg 1945 bomb damage
Duisburg being the main industry area for German steel, Iron and chemicals. Reported to have been the most heavily bombed city during WW2 by the allies. This raid was reported as causing 94 buildings destroyed with 256 seriously damaged. 49 people were killed on the ground.
RAF Feltwell Norfolk
The raid took part on a moonless night to prevent the huge losses suffered by Bomber Command to Luftwaffe fighters. Despite this twelve aircraft were lost together with 45 aircrew killed with a further 17 taken POW.
No night fighter claims made for this aircraft which was lost without trace. It is thought probable that it was brought down by the heavy flak concentrations over the city.
Runnymede Memorial
Burial details:
Sgt. Thomas Wakefield. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Panel 95
Son of John and Edith Wakefield, of Smallbridge, Lancashire, England.
Sgt. Thomas Abel Jones. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Panel 87
Son of J. Elias Jones and Ann Jones.
Sgt. John Willoughby Morgan. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Panel 90
Son of Ernest George and Elsie Marion Morgan, of Norbury, Surrey, England.
Sgt. Hamish Ross. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Panel 92
Son of Lawrence and Hannah Ross; husband of Annie Scott Ross, of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, England.
Sgt. John Alfred Wright. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey, England. Panel 97
Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Wright; husband of R. T. Wright, of Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.
Researched for Michael Wright, cousin of Sgt John Alfred Wright and dedicated to all relatives of this crew.
With many thanks to Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol. 3", Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - "Nightfighter War Diaries Vol's. 1 and 2", Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - "Bomber Command War Diaries and Commonwealth Graves Commission.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 20 September 2019, 15:14