Operation: Lübeck

Date: 28th/29th March 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 419 Squadron RCAF (motto: Moosa aswayita - 'Beware the moose'), No. 3 Group

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3477

Code: VR-G

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: Sand bank near Pütthausen, Germany

Pilot: P/O. Kenneth Edward Hobson J/4903 RCAF Age 30. Died later of injuries

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Clarence Albert Marcotte R/75166 RCAF Age 25. Injured PoW No. 73 (1)

Obs: Sgt. (Fl/Sgt. posthumously) Arnold Leo Flesch R/75715 RCAF Age 26. Died later of injuries

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth Haig Paul R/74266 RCAF Age 22. Injured PoW No. 265 (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Sidney John Bailey R/54994 RCAF Age ? PoW No. 24805 (2)

Air/Gnr: P/O. William Everett Brodrick J/15163 RCAF Age 26. Injured PoW No. 762 (3)

(1) Fl/Sgt. Marcotte suffered a fracture of his first lumbar vertebra and concussion, and was taken to hospital in Wilhelmshaven before being sent to Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug. He was later promoted to Fl/Lt.

(2) Sgt. Paul was only slightly injured and, after treatment, was sent to Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug. Fl/Sgt. Bailey was the only crew member to escape unscathed and was sent to Stalag 344 Lamsdorf. His last serving rank is given as W/O.2.

(3) P/O. Brodrick also suffered severe back injuries and was taken to hospital in Wilhelmshaven before being sent to Stalag Luft III Sagan.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Why Lübeck was chosen

- Bombing policy: an Air Ministry directive of 14th February 1942 told Bomber Command to attack built-up areas and the "morale of the enemy civil population". Sir Arthur Harris took over the Command a week later.

- Target: Lübeck was a Baltic port with only light defences, and its old town was full of medieval timber-framed buildings. Harris said it was "built more like a fire-lighter than a human habitation." He admitted it was not a vital target. The raid was an experiment to see whether a first wave could start fires big enough to guide the waves behind it.

- Conditions: there was an almost full moon and clear weather, and the rivers and coastline showed up well in the moonlight. Lübeck was beyond the range of the Gee navigation system, but the leading crews used Gee for the early part of the route.

The force

- Aircraft sent: 234 in total - 146 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 26 Stirlings and 21 Manchesters.

- Three waves: the first was made up of experienced crews in aircraft fitted with Gee.

- Bombs: over 400 tons were dropped, about two-thirds of it incendiaries, including about 25,000 incendiary bombs. High explosives and large mines broke open roofs so the incendiaries could set the buildings alight.

- Aiming point: the centre of the old town (the Altstadt).

- Height: the defences were weak, so some crews bombed from as low as about 2,000 ft. The average bombing height was higher.

- Timing: the first wave arrived at about 23:18 hrs and the attack ended at about 02:58 hrs. 191 crews said they had bombed the target.

Other operations that night

- 2 Blenheims to Holland.

- 7 Hampdens laying mines off the Frisian Islands.

- 14 aircraft dropping leaflets over Holland.

- In the early hours the Royal Navy and commandos raided St Nazaire. This was a separate operation, not part of Bomber Command’s.

Results

- Damage: German figures put it at 1,425 buildings destroyed, 1,976 seriously damaged and 8,411 lightly damaged. Together that was about 62% of all buildings in the city.

- The Marienkirche, the cathedral and the Rathaus (town hall) were badly hit.

- The Dräger works, which made oxygen equipment for U-boats, was also hit.

- More than 15,000 people lost their homes.

- Casualties: about 312 to 320 people were killed; accounts differ. Police reported 301 dead, 3 missing and 783 injured. It was the highest death toll from any RAF raid on a German city up to that point.

- Significance: it was Bomber Command’s first major success against a German target. Hitler retaliated with the "Baedeker" raids on historic English cities, starting with Exeter on 23rd April 1942. The RAF then attacked Rostock from 24th to 27th April.

- Later: Lübeck was never again attacked by the full strength of the RAF. The International Red Cross later arranged for the port to be spared because Red Cross supplies were shipped through it.

RAF losses

Twelve aircraft were lost, about 5% of the force: 7 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings, 1 Hampden and 1 Manchester.

Wellington III X3477 took off from Mildenhall at 20:00 hrs. On the way out, two Bf 110 night fighters attacked it and badly damaged it, probably over or near the German North Sea coast. The crew jettisoned the bombs and dived towards the sea, which shook off one fighter.

The dive took them into heavy light flak. The aircraft was hit again and crash-landed at high speed, about 300 mph by one account, in a coastal marsh north of Wilhelmshaven. Aviation Safety Network gives the time as about 01:00 hrs. Some accounts say it caught fire. Wilhelmshaven is well west of the route to Lübeck, so the crew probably never reached the target.

Details given later by Fl/Sgt. Bailey describe how X3477’s nose section broke off on impact and the centre section of the Wellington spun around and skidded backwards, while the rear section was thrown some distance from the main sections.

Burial and other details:

The Final Graves Registration Report of the 4th February 1949 (No. 4 Missing Research & Enquiry Unit) shows that Hobson and Flesch were buried side by side in Wilhelmshaven Cemetery, Plot D, Graves 223 (Hobson) and 224 (Flesch).  According to the Red Cross, they were both buried with full military honours on the 02nd April 1942. Moved to the CWGC Sage War Cemetery post-war.

P/O. Kenneth Edward Hobson. Sage War Cemetery. Grave 13.C.13. Born on the 20th July 1911 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Son of William Edward and Marion Miller Hobson (married on the 23rd June 1909 in Toronto), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Brother of Elizabeth and William George, both of whom died in childhood, and of John Miller, who died of pneumonia in 1937, aged 20.

Education

- Riverview School, Winnipeg, about 1917/18-1923

- St. John's College School, Winnipeg, 1923-1930 (matriculation)

- University of Manitoba, pre-engineering, 1930-1932. He had 18 units of credit but was still conditioned in French I.

- Correspondence courses with the N.Y. Institute of Photography and the Newspaper Institute of America (journalism)

Civilian and prior service

- Royal Securities Corp., Winnipeg: salesman, 1933-34

- RCMP, Regina: Constable, 27th November 1934 - 27th May 1936. Honourable discharge with character "Good".

- Manufacturers Life, Winnipeg: salesman, 1936

- Bain Pooler & Co., Toronto: records clerk, 1937

- Silverwood's Toronto Dairy: sales statistician, 1938-1939/40. He left to enlist.

- Militia: attested in the Non-Permanent Active Militia on the 7th November 1932 in Winnipeg (Regt. No. 676), after serving in the St. John's College School Cadet Corps.

- Flying before enlistment: held private pilot's licence No. 3379.

RCAF service

- Enlisted: 16th August 1940 at the Toronto Recruiting Centre, as AC2 (aircrew, pilot). Posted to No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon.

- No. 2 Initial Training School, Regina: 24th October - 27th November 1940. Passed with 80%, 67th of 192.

- No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School, Portage la Prairie: 29th November 1940 - 16th January 1941, on Tiger Moths. Passed with 85.2%, 23rd of 35.

- No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden: 16th January - 1st April 1941, on Yales and Harvards. Passed with 75.51%, 8th of 47.

- Instructor’s remarks: "Very shy to night flying... fatigues quickly. Smooth on the controls."

- Wings and commission: awarded pilot's wings and commissioned as Pilot Officer on the 1st April 1941.

- Overseas: Debert and Halifax embarkation depots in April 1941; embarked on the 9th May 1941, passing through Iceland.

- 57 OTU, Hawarden, June 1941

- 12 OTU, October 1941

- 40 Squadron, December 1941

- 419 (RCAF) Squadron, Mildenhall, January 1942

- Promotion: recommended for Flying Officer effective 1st April 1942, after he was lost.

Fl/Sgt. Arnold Leo Flesch. Sage War Cemetery. Grave 13.C.11. Born on the 28th September 1915 in Cobourg, Ontario. Son of Thomas Leo Flesch (died 1962, age 78 - served in both wars; in WW2 he served in No. 1 Active Company at St. Helen's Island, Montreal) and Mabel Helen Flesch (née Bolster - died 1976, age 91; they married on the 3rd March 1914), of 34B Swayne Street, Cobourg. Brother of John Ambrose (gunner B.63547 in the 47th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, 5th LAA Regiment, RCA) and Anna Katharine Flesch.

Education

- St. Michael's Separate School, 1921-27

- Cobourg Collegiate Institute, 1927-34, where he earned his senior matriculation

- A one-year commercial course, 1934-35

Work

- Clerk for W. Pattenick in Cobourg, 1935-37

- Zellers Ltd from 1937: stockman in Oshawa, then floorman in Brantford and Fort William, then assistant manager in Edmonton and Hamilton

RCAF service

- Enlisted: 28th October 1940 at Hamilton, as AC2 in the Special Reserve, for training as a pilot or observer.

- Early postings: No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon; No. 13 Technical Detachment in Vancouver from the 21st December 1940, on guard and other duties while he waited to start training.

- No. 2 Initial Training School, Regina: 9th February - 9th March 1941. Passed with 86%, 13th of 153. Remarks: "Good material... Responsible. Energetic."

- No. 4 Air Observers School, London, Ontario: 17th March - 9th June 1941, on Ansons. Passed with 78%, 12th of 36, described as "an accurate worker."

- No. 1 Bombing & Gunnery School, Jarvis: 9th June - 21st July 1941, on Fairey Battles. Passed with 73%, 21st of 33, described as "will be a dependable man in any aircrew."

- No. 2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge, NB: 21st July - 19th August 1941. Passed, 19th of 32, described as "A conscientious and thoroughly reliable Observer."

- Overall result: 74.9% across the course, with the remark "Very keen and smart officer Observer material."

- Badge and promotion: awarded his Air Observer's Badge and promoted Sergeant on the 19th July 1941.

- Commission: recommended, placed 11th on the selection list of the 29th August 1941. No commission came through before he was lost.

- Overseas: embarkation leave 20th August - 2nd September 1941, then No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax. Embarked on the 14th/15th September 1941.

- No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on the 29th September 1941

- 12 OTU, Chipping Warden, on the 21st October 1941

- 419 Squadron, Mildenhall, on the 7th February 1942

Fl/Sgt. Joseph Clarence Albert Marcotte. Born 1916 in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan, Canada. Husband of Madonna Isabelle Lorraine Marcotte (née Lambert - died 2007, age 91). They were married on the 24th May 1946 in Vancouver. Father of Judy, Rosemarie, Gerry, Lynn and Paul. Joseph passed away on the 9th April 1984, age 68, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Mrs Joseph Marcotte (mother), Prud'homme, Saskatchewan.

Sgt. Kenneth Haig Paul. Born on the 17th February 1920 in Saranac Lake, New York. Son of Charles Paul (died 1958, age 92) and Florence Mary (née Irish - died 1949, age 73) OF 6 Mutchmor Road, Ottawa, Ontario.. Husband of Margaret (Peggy) Pursel (née Barnett - died 2020, age 97). Father of Brian Paul and Nancy Paul (Dennis). Kenneth passed away at home in Oshawa, Ontario, after a long illness on Wednesday the 18th October 2000, age 80.

Fl/Sgt. Sidney John Bailey. He was married to a wife who came from Montreal, Canada. Mrs S.J. Bailey (wife), 4982 Queen Mary Road, Apt. 14A, Montreal, P.Q. No other information found.

Fl/Lt. William Everett Brodrick. Born on the 8th November 1915 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.  Mr F.A. Brodrick (father), c/o Brodrick Contract Company, 21 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario.

Sources and Acknowledgements

- Paradie-Duttil Archives

- RCAF service file of P/O. K.E. Hobson (J4903) - Library and Archives Canada

- RCAF service file of Fl/Sgt. A.L. Flesch (R75715) - Library and Archives Canada- National Archives, Kew

- Aircrew Remembered Archives

- Aviation Safety Network

- Find A Grave

- Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)

- Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada

• CASPIR - Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Winnipeg Tribune, March 1942 ("Winnipeggers Blast Paris"; "PO. Ted Hobson Missing After Air Operations"

- Obituary of Kenneth Haig Paul, October 2000

- Obituary of Madonna Marcotte, Legacy Remembers, 2nd November 2007

- Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt, The Bomber Command War DiariesSUPPLEMENT

Further information

P/O. Kenneth Edward Hobson

- Known to his family and the press as "Ted".

- The Winnipeg Tribune of the 6th March 1942 pictured him beside S/Ldr. F.W.S. Turner as one of several Winnipeg men who took part in the raid on the Renault works at Billancourt, Paris, on the night of the 3rd/4th March 1942.

- His father told the Tribune that Ted’s last letter mentioned taking part in the chase of the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (the "Channel Dash", 12th February 1942).

- His mother Marion died on the 29th April 1939. By 1942 his father lived at Suite 9C, Pasadena Court, Winnipeg.

- Interests: photography, journalism, woodworking and flying; a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Sports: badminton, baseball, golf, boxing and swimming.

- On the 1st April 1942 W/Cdr. J. "Moose" Fulton wrote to his father, describing him as an experienced operational pilot of outstanding ability.

- Officially presumed dead as of the 29th March 1942, following a report from the International Red Cross.

- His father received $793.35 in pay balance and War Service Gratuity. Because his mother had died, no Memorial Cross was issued; a Memorial Bar (Regn. No. 2277) went to his father.

- Medals issued on the 19th March 1946: 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and CVSM with clasp.

Fl/Sgt. Arnold Leo Flesch

- Known as "Leo"; his school certificates are in the name Leo A. Flesch.

- His father, a church sexton, served as a gunner in the 2nd Heavy Battery in France in the First World War.

- He intended to make his permanent home in British Columbia.

- C.R. Gummow, Principal of Cobourg Public Schools, wrote in 1940 that he was "among the very best this good old town has turned out."

- W/Cdr. Fulton wrote to his mother on the 1st April 1942: "Your son was a very promising navigator who is missed greatly by his comrades with whom he was most popular."

- Promoted posthumously to Flight Sergeant with effect from the 19th January 1942 (letter of the 19th October 1944). W/Cdr. John Fulton shown left.

- His mother reported that many of the personal effects returned to her were not his, and that items including a gold Bulova wrist watch, an engraved pen and pencil set and a travelling clock were missing.

- Memorial Cross issued to his mother on the 10th August 1942; Memorial Bar (Regn. No. 9323) sent in February 1945; Operational Wings and Certificate sent on the 19th March 1946.

- His file gives his date of birth as the 28th September 1915, apart from one Estates form that gives the 29th.

The Memorial Cross, often referred to as the Silver Cross for Mothers,

A sterling silver cross, 32 mm across, with arms slightly flared at the ends with a wreath of laurel leaves appearing between the arms of the cross.

On the obverse, the Royal Cypher appears in the center of a Greek cross superimposed on the main cross, with the Royal Crown at the end of the upper arm and maple leaves on the three remaining arms.

The reverse of the cross is plain. The service number, substantive rank at time of death, initials, and surname of the person being commemorated are engraved on two lines in the center. There is also a sterling mark on the lower arm.

Fl/Sgt. Joseph Clarence Albert Marcotte

From the obituary of his wife, Madonna Marcotte (Legacy Remembers, 2nd November 2007):

- Madonna was born on the 21st January 1916 in Empress, Alberta, and grew up in Drumheller, where she worked as a hairdresser.

- In Calgary she joined the Victory Variety Singers during the war, and met Clarence while entertaining returning troops.

- After a brief time in Toronto they settled in Calgary. She died there on the 6th October 2007.

- Children and their partners: Judy (Don), Rosemarie (Keith), Gerry (Bill), Lynn (Bill) and Paul.

- Grandchildren: Laura, Ryan, Selina, Adrian, Melissa, Katrina, Nicholas, Nicole, Belinda and Kathryn; great-grandson Benjamin.

Sgt. Kenneth Haig Paul

From his obituary (October 2000):

- B. Comm., McGill, C.A. Retired Vice-President Finance, Oshawa General Hospital, 1959-1988.

- R.C.A.F. 1940-1945; P.O.W. Germany 1942-1945.

- The youngest of 12 children of Charles Paul and Florence Irish.

- Survived by his son Brian Paul and his wife Wendy Shanks, and their daughters Morgan and Eliza Paul, all of Whitehorse, Yukon; his daughter Nancy Paul and her husband Dennis Sindrey, of Oakville, Ontario; his daughter Erin Paul, of Calgary, Alberta; and his sister Florence Garrow-Greene, of Ottawa.

- Memorial service at Thornton Cemetery Chapel, Oshawa, on the 21st November 2000; interment at Thornton Cemetery.

Fl/Sgt. Sidney John Bailey

- Home: Westmount, Quebec (CASPIR). His wife lived at 4982 Queen Mary Road, Apt. 14A, Montreal, in April 1942.

- CASPIR lists his crew position as air gunner.

Fl/Lt. William Everett Brodrick

- Home: Westmount, Quebec (CASPIR). Next of kin in 1942 was his father, F.A. Brodrick, of the Brodrick Contract Company, Toronto.

- Held at Stalag Luft III Sagan and its Belaria compound. Final rank: Flight Lieutenant.

The crash site

- CASPIR names the crash site as "Putthausen" and describes the coastal marsh near Wilhelmshaven. I could not confirm this place name on a modern map.