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Operation: Essen, Germany
Date: 2nd/3rd June 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit No: 75 Squadron
Type: Wellington Mk III
Serial: X3408
Code: AA:Q
Base: RAF Feltwell, Norfolk
Location: Aalst-Waalre, just south of Eindhoven, Holland
Pilot: Plt Off. Cecil William Phair Carter NZ41874 RNZAF Injured/PoW No: 545 * (1)
Obs: Sgt. Jack Lawrence Coy 403616 RNZAF Injured PoW No: 402 **
WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt Herbert Ives 391384 RNZAF PoW No: 423 **
WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Jack Robert Mayall 404081 RNZAF PoW No: 435 **
Air Gnr(Rear): Flt Sgt. Philip Newbury Howard 391384 RNZAF PoW No: 419 *
* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria).
** Stalag 357 Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland. Moved in September 1944. The camp was commonly referred to as Stalag 357 Fallingbostel, however, it was officially designated as Stalag 357 Oerbke.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 00:11 hrs. from RAF Feltwell, Norfolk. 195 Aircraft took part - 97 Wellingtons, 38 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters 21 Stirlings and 12 Hampdens took part in the second night in succession bombing Essen.
The attack was widely scattered and records show that only 3 high explosive and 300 incendiary bombs hit the city with no serious damage or injuries.
The RAF however lost 14 aircraft! 68 crew members were killed and a further 15 made PoW.
X3408 was hit by Flak during the inbound part of the flight over the target area and then again on the return journey over Duisburg at 10,500 feet finally crashing at Aalst-Waalre at 03:47 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten). All the crew were captured.
(1) Plt Off. Carter was known to have been involved in one unsuccessful escape attempt with a 1st Lt. Harold 'Shorty' Spire who himself later successfully escaped and evaded capture.
He was also involved in the "Great Escape" working in the Map department established in the East Compound. Passed away on the 12th July 1997, age 77. Husband of Jean I. Carter who passed away on the 15th June 2015.
Plt Off. Cecil William Phair Carter as a PoW - in middle leaning over. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)
Burial details:
None - all the crew survived
Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the crew. Update to narrative (Nov 2019). Addition of link and the involvement at Stalag Luft 3 of Plt Off. Carter (Dec 2023).
Other sources listed below:
RS 20.12.2023 - Addition of link and new information for Fg Off. Carter
KTY 23.05.1924 - PoW image added
KTY Updated 22.11.2019
RS 20.12.2023 - Addition of link and new information for Fg Off. Carter
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 23 May 2024, 14:26