Operation: Essen

Date: 16/17th September 1942 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 11 Operational Training Unit. 91 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: Z1108

Code: TX-K

Base: RAF Steeple Morden, Hertfordshire

Location: Dinslaken

Pilot: P/O. William Arthur Hoskins NZ/414627 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Obs: P/O. Grahame Cyril Ralph Goodwin NZ/412225 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Lawson Main Illingworth 973013 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Reginald Walter Michelin 1263822 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. George Elliott Charlesworth 1214346 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 20:29 hrs. from Steeple Morden, a satellite airfield of Basingbourne. 369 aircraft taking part to bomb the Krupps works at Essen. Although it is reported at the majority of the bombing was scattered, this was described as the most successful on what was known to be a difficult target.

33 large fires with a further 80 medium sized fires with 8 industrial and 6 transport premise being hit. The Krupps works were also damaged, hit by 15 high explosive bombs - further damage was caused when one of the allied aircraft crashed into the target full of incendiary bombs - 47 people reported killed on the ground with a further 92 suffering various degrees of injuries.The scattered bombing also hit Bochum causing 50 fires with a reported 13 killed. The towns of Herne and Cochem were also hit - killing a further 15 people on the ground.

Z1108 is thought to have been hit by flak whilst flying over Duisberg. All five crew were killed and initially buried ay the military cemetery in Düsselkdorf.

The training units were called upon to make up the numbers. Losses from these units were huge and it was the last time they would be called upon to take part in main force operations.

27 OTU lost two aircraft with 5 crew killed.

26 OTU lost 2 aircraft with all 10 crew killed.

25 OTU lost 1 aircraft with 4 crew killed and the pilot taken PoW.

23 OTU lost3 aircraft with 13 crew killed and 2 taken PoW.

22 OTU lost 1 aircraft with all 5 crew killed.

21 OTU lost 1 aircraft with all 5 crew killed.

15 OTU lost 2 aircraft with all 10 crew killed

12 OTU lost 2 aircraft with all 10 crew killed.

11OTU lost 3 aircraft with 12 crew killed and 3 taken PoW.

10 OTU lost 1 aircraft with all 5 crew killed.

Burial details:

P/O. William Arthur Hoskins. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 11.F.11. Born on the 05th November 1917 at Auckland. Son of Paul and Rosa Hoskins (née Beeble), of Auckland City, New Zealand. A total of 253 flying hours logged and on his 01st ? operational sortie.

P/O. Grahame Cyril Ralph Goodwin. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 11.F.12. Born on the 27th August 1919 at Wellington. Son of Henry Alexander Goodwin, and of Elizabeth Goodwin (née Thomson), of Wadestown, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 194 flying hours logged and on his 01st operational sortie.

Sgt. John Lawson Main Illingworth. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 11.F.9. Son of George Illingworth (died 25th April 1932, age 31) and Margaret Ann Illingworth (née Main - died 29th April 1943, age 50) of Duffus, Moray, Scotland.

Sgt. Reginald Walter Michelin. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 11.F.10. Son of Walter Ernest and Charlotte Michelin, of Mitcham, Surrey, England Grave inscription: 'In Memory Of Our Beloved Reg. Always Unselfish And Kind. Precious Memories'.

Sgt. George Elliott Charlesworth. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 8.E.1. Son of Jimmy and Ellen Charlesworth, of Barnsley, Yorkshire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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