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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25/26.05.1943 No 90 Squadron Stirling III EH876 WP-J P/O. G.W. Young

Operation: Düsseldorf

Date: 25/26th May 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 90 Squadron

Type: Stirling III

Serial: EH876

Code: WP-J

Base: RAF Ridgewell, Essex

Location: North Sea off Holland

Pilot: P/O. Gordon William Young DFC. J/16906 RCAF Age 25. Missing believed killed (1)

Pilot: W/O.II. Michael George King East R/118286 RCAF Age 19. Missing believed killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. William Harry Bryant 1294010 RAFVR Age 38. Missing believed killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Charles Little Saundercock NZ/404949 RNZAF Age 28. Missing believed killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. James Leeman Poulter 1534581 RAFVR Age 21. Missing believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Richard Wadsworth 1376718 RAFVR Age ? Missing believed killed

Air/Gnr: W/O.II. Ernest Sinclair Pollon R/124287 RCAF Age 31. Missing believed killed (2)

Air/Gnr: F/O. Cornelius Frederick O'Connell 126607 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 23:50 hrs from RAF Ridgewell in Essex. A total force of 323 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 142 Wellingtons, 113 Stirlings with 12 Mosquitos were to bomb Dusseldorf - 759 aircraft in total.

The weather on leaving England was fine with showers, over the Dutch coast broken cloud, which increased as the target was approached. Düsseldorf was covered in 10/10 cloud at various heights.

Despite the huge bomber force the raid was classed as a failure with bombing scattered over a wide area. Between 50 - 100 buildings were destroyed with some 50 people killed on the ground. It is understood that the Germans lit various fires and also placed decoy markers to fool the allies.

The allies lost some 29 aircraft - one on return, Halifax II HR747 from 51 Squadron, crashing at Highfield Farm near Doncaster, all crew survived uninjured. Another, Halifax II HR806 crashing immediately after take off, all 7 crew injured but survived. 27 others were lost either on route or returning from the operation. 27 were taken PoW with a shocking 170 other crew killed or missing!

The night fighters were hampered by the cloud cover plus the half moon rose at about 03.00 hrs. when the crews were on their way home. However 21 were confirmed to have been shot down, mainly on the very slow return trip, when the allies suffered 40-60 mph head winds. 2 other aircraft were lost when 77 Squadron JB837 was shot down by Maj. Walter Ehle of stab II./NJG1 over Eisdorf at 01.51 hrs. The full bomb load exploded bringing down two Stirlings. Maj. Ehle was credited with 5 claims on this night - not including the 2 Stirlings.

Stirling EH876 was intercepted and shot down by the Luftwaffe ace Fw. Heinz Vinke (3) of 11./NJG1 at 02:27 hors with combat taking place at 2,900 metres over the North Sea west of Alkmaar. All but one of the crews bodies were never recovered. The rear gunners body was recovered - washed ashore onto the Island of Texel.

(1) DFC and DFM Awards L/G. 01st June 1943:

"P/O. Gordon William Young J/16906 RCAF and Sgt. William Howard Davine 977509 RAFVR were pilot and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in the Ruhr one night in May, 1943. During the operation the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. Sgt. Davine was wounded in both legs, while his turret was put out of action. Although in great pain he continued to give his pilot a commentary on the attacker's movements. The fighter made repeated attacks but, displaying great skill, P/O. Young eventually evaded it. His aircraft was badly damaged and became difficult to control. Despite this P/O. Young flew it to base and made a safe landing. By his skill and determination he was undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft and its crew. In spite of his-severe injuries, Sgt. Davine displayed great fortitude and devotion to duty".

(2) Pollon Bay in Begg Lake was named after W/O.II. Ernest Sinclair Pollon in 1995.

(3) 23 year old, Ofw. Heinz Vinke went missing on the 26th February 1944 some 15 km. north west of Dunkirk after being shot down by two typhoons from 198 Squadron (Fl/Lt. Cheval L'Allemand and F/O. George Hardy) Born 22nd May 1920 - Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. (Information and photographs courtesy of the Kracker Archives published on this website)

Burial details:

P/O. Gordon William Young DFC. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 179. Son of William Grant Young and Mary Young, brother of Helen all of 7 Westmorland Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

W/O.II. Michael George King East. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 180. The son of Jack Haddon and Mona East (née MacDonald) of Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada. His brother 20 year old, F/O. John Douglas Alfred East J/36618 RCAF was killed flying Halifax W7875 whilst with 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit on the 20th November 1944.

Sgt. William Harry Bryant. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 144. Son of William and Emily Bryant and husband of Ada Miriam Bryant, of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England.

Fl/Sgt. Charles Little Saundercock. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 199. Son of Henry William and Minnie Saundercock, of Waikari, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 481 flying hours logged and on his 19th operational sortie. His younger brother, 23 year old Sgt. Henry Lindsay Saundercock NZ/405326 RNZAF was killed flying Hurricane IIC BD953 on the 30th November 1941 whilst with 245 Squadron.

Fl/Sgt. James Leeman Poulter. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 138. Son of Arthur and Martha Alice Poulter, of Staincross, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Richard Wadsworth. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 168. No further details - are you able to assist?

W/O.II. Ernest Sinclair Pollon. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 180. Son of Mabel Pollon, of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.

F/O. Cornelius Frederick O'Connell. Texel Cemetery (Den Burg) Plot K. Row 4. Grave 76. Son of Cornelius and Eliza O'Connell and husband of Doris Mary O'Connell, of New Cross, London, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as quoted below.

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