Operation: Essen

Date: 9/10th March 1942 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: 9 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3643

Code: WS-?

Base: RAF Honington, Norfolk

Location: Harleston, Norfolk

Pilot: Sgt. James Cartwright 1110531 RAFVR Age 26. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. John Andrew Rogers 1365260 RAFVR Age 26. Killed (1)

Obs: WO. Terence De Valera Dignan 581147 RAF Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Thomas Hunter Errington 1063724 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Edward Singerton 647330 RAF 647330 Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Stanley Nicholas 534052 RAF 534052 Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 20:08 hrs from RAF Honington, Norfolk to join 186 aircraft to bomb Essen for the second consecutive night of bombing by the RAF.

Bomber Command also attacked the city again the following night.

The raid itself was not classed as a major success with unexpected cloud obscuring the target. 62 crews reported to have bombed the target and 35 crews bombing alternative targets. Reports from Essen reveal that only 2 bombs fell on an industrial target (the Krupps factory) and 1 house was destroyed and another badly damaged during the raid.

5 Germans were killed on the groins and 10 others injured, a Polish worker was also killed on the ground.

The RAF however lost 6 aircraft on this raid, with the loss of life amounting to 27 aircrew, 2 injured and a further 3 being made Prisoners of War.

The crew of Wellington X3643 started to experience severe engine problems and decided to return to Honington.

On route back to the base control was lost of the aircraft and it crashed at 21.22 hrs. at Harleston, south of Norwich - the aircraft burst into flames and all crew members were killed.

The Rogers brothers; Left Sgt. John Andrew Rogers, Right Plt.Off. Denis Alan Rogers (Courtesy Dr. David Heath)

(1) Sgt. John Andrew Rogers lost his brother on the 31st March 1941. Flying Blenheim IV R3900 with 21 Sqn, Plt.Off. Denis Alan Rogers, 88235, RAFVR was shot down by flak off Texel during an anti-shipping patrol together with another Blenheim R3884 from the same Sqn flown by Sgt. Peter Adams.

Sgt. James Cartwright. Stockport Crematorium Panel 3. Son of James William and Annie Cartwright, of Stockport, Cheshire, England.

Sgt. John Andrew Rogers. Chopwell (St. John) Churchyard. South of Chancel. Son of George Austin Septimus Rogers and Beatrice Rogers, of Chopwell, County Durham, England.

(Left) WO. Terence De Valera Dignan. Honington (All Saints) Churchyard, Suffolk. Row D. Grave 11. Son of Patrick James Dignan and Rose Dignan, of West Derby, Liverpool, Merseyside, England.

Sgt. Thomas Hunter Errington. South Shields (Harton) Cemetery Sec T. Grave 9274A. Son of Ralph Pattison Errington, and Elizabeth Errington, of South Shields, County Durham, England.

Sgt. Albert Edward Singerton. Barking (Rippleside) Cemetery. Sec E. Grave 668. Son of Harold George and Edith Singerton: husband of Gladys Ruby Singerton, of Barking, Essex, England.

Sgt. David Stanley Nicholas. Rhondda Trealaw Cemetery Plot X. Cons. Grave 20. Son of Henry and Elizabeth Nicholas, of Trealaw, Wales.

Researched for Martin Dignan, nephew of WO. Terence De Valera Dignan and for all relatives of the other crew members. Thanks to Jack Brook for the addition of the aircraft Serial number. Thanks to Dr David Heath, the nephew of the Rogers brothers, for their photographs.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 16 March 2021, 14:51