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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21/22.07.1942 No. 57 Squadron Wellington III X3584 Sgt Wakefield

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.

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