Operation: Krefeld

Date: 02/03rd October 1942 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 115 Squadron (motto: 'Despite the elements') 3 Group

Type: Wellington III

Serial: BK271

Code: KO-A

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: Near Haldern

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Frederick Charles Adsett R/92747 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Rex Nigel Hugh Jones NZ/411217 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr/Obs: Sgt. George Nelson NZ/412476 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. George Wilfred Martin NZ/405302 Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth Tempest Turvey 925966 RAFVR Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 18:45 hrs from the base in East Anglia, RAF Mildenhall. 188 aircraft - 95 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 31 Lancasters, 23 Sterlings. Takin part with 7 aircraft - 3 Halifaxes, 2 Wellingtons, 1 Lancaster, 1 Sterling Lost.

The raid was not considered as a major operation according to Krefel's records with only 3 street in the northern part of the town hit. Most of the 41 people recorded as being killed by raids in 1942 probably died on this night.

Claimed by Oblt. Manfred Meurer of Stab III/NJG1 - 2.5km NNE of Haldern: 3,300m at 21:47 hrs.

Fl/Sgt. Frederick Charles Adsett. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Joint grave 8. E. 9-10. Born on the 17 June 1920. Son of Charles Lesley and Bertha Merle Adsett (née Horne), of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Enlisted May 1941.

Sgt. Rex Nigel Hugh Jones. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Joint grave 8. E. 7-8. Born on the 14th of October 1919, in Smethwick, Staffordshire, England. Prior to service worked as a clerk for the Post and Telegraph Department in Hamilton. Enlisted at Levin on the 16th of February 1941. Son of Charles and Dagmar Constance Jones (née Knipe), of Smethwick, Staffordshire, England.

Sgt. George Nelson. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Joint grave 8. E. 7-8. Born on the 20th May 1921 at Christchurch. Prior to service worked as an apprentice fitter and Turner for NZR Workshops. Enlisted on the 13th April 1941 at Levin. Son of James and Margaret Baird Nelson (née Baird), of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. 222 flying hours logged and on his first operational sortie.

Sgt. George Wilfred Martin. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 8. E. 11. Born on the 23rd May 1919 at Christchurch. Worked as a clerk for the Government Tourist Bureau prior to service. Mobilised on the 04th September 1939. Son of Charles Henry Martin and of Helen Mary Martin (née Buchanan), of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. 180 flying hours logged.

Sgt. Kenneth Tempest Turvey. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Joint grave 8. E. 9-10. Son of Wallace and Alice Mary Louisa Turvey, of Slough, Buckinghamshire.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Dr. Theo Boiten: Nachtjgard Combat Archives, Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Kracker Archives, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM. Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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