Archive Report: Allied Forces

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11/12.08.1942 No. 75 Squadron Wellington III X3646 P/O. George E.F. Bradey

Operation: Mainz

Date: 11/12th August 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 75 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3646

Code: AA-?

Base: RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

Location: North Sea

Pilot: P/O. George Edward Francis Bradey NZ/401954 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed (1)

Pilot 2: F/O. Thomas Henry William Baker 107286 RAFVR Age 26. Killed

Obs: Sq/Ldr. Ronald Ernest Kimber 45956 RAF Age 31. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arden Ivan Ellis R/92690 RCAF Age 28. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Cyril Vincent Green NZ/402997 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. J.E. London 953137 RAFVR PoW No: 265650 Camp: Stalag Lamsdorf - 344

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at about 22:00hrs from RAF Feltwell, Norfolk part of a force of 154 aircraft (9 from 75 squadron) to bomb the city of Mainz. Taking part in this operation were 68 Wellingtons, 33 Lancasters, 28 Stirlings and 25 Halifaxes.

The first raid on this city. It is reported that 152 people were killed on the ground, 87 men, 64 women and 1 soldier although some doubts remain about these figures.

Above: Left - P/O. George Edward Francis Bradey, Centre: - F/O. Thomas Henry William Baker, Right - Fl/Sgt. Arden Ivan Ellis (courtesy Jan Field-Dodgson)

16 aircraft were lost (although this figure differs depending on the source checked - one source states 6, another 14 and yet another 16?) on this operation, 3 were from 75 squadron alone. 7 of the bombers were claimed by night fighters.

The others from the Squadron:

Lancaster III BJ625 Flown by 22 year old Fl/Sgt. Thomas Smith Barclay NZ/411358 from County Durham, England - killed with 3 other crew, 1 taken PoW. Lancaster III BJ767 Flown by 29 year old Fl/Lt. Laurence St. George Dobbin NZ/401375 RNZAF from Canterbury New Zealand - killed with 1 other crew member, 3 taken PoW.

It is understood that Wellington X3646 was hit by flak which severely wounded the pilot in the abdomen. Having crossed the Dutch coast the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. 4 of the crews bodies were not recovered and are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Burial details:

P/O. George Edward Francis Bradey. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 115. Son of John Frederick and Constance Bradey, of Maharahara, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Epitaph reads: “I Am He That Liveth. And Was Dead. And, Behold, I Am Alive For Evermore. Rev.1.18.”

F/O. Thomas Henry William Baker. Wilmslow Cemetery. Sec. A. Grave 128. Son of Matthew Botham Baker and Edith May Baker, husband of Elizabeth Montgomery Baker, of Cheadle, England.

Sq/Ldr. Ronald Ernest Kimber. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 65. Son of Ernest and Lilian Kimber and husband of Gwendoline Mary Kimber, of Farnham, Surrey, England.

Fl/Sgt. Arden Ivan Ellis. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 103. Son of George Lang Ellis and Margaret Ellis and husband of Margaret Alice Jane Ellis, of Nanton, Alberta, Canada.

Fl/Sgt. Cyril Vincent Green. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Son of Cyril Vincent and Nora Green and husband of Freda Mary Green, of Wimbledon, Surrey, England.

(1) For further details our thanks to Jan Field-Dodgson for crew photographs and for bringing this loss to our attention. The pilot of 75 Squadron Lancaster III Sgt. Francis Scott, her relative was a dear friend of Fl/Sgt. Arden Ivan Ellis and he sent the photo to his Aunt and on the rear it is written “Ivan lost at sea”. Also to the following sources:

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