Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.

---

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

---

25/26.07.1943 No. 51 Squadron Halifax II HR749 MH-J Fl/Sgt. Jones

Operation: Essen

Date: 25/26th July 1943 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 51 Squadron

Type: Halifax II

Serial: HR749

Code: MH-J

Base: RAF Snaith, Yorkshire

Location: North Sea 15 km North West Borkum.

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Eric James Jones 1248002 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Joshua Crowther 1514591 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Nav: Sgt. William Charles Wallace 657762 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Walter Agar Leopold Huddy 1319885 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Reid 1367429 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Ritchie 1341377 RAFVR Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Leslie Bennett York AUS/420098 RAAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Snaith at 22:46 hrs on an operation to bomb Essen. Over 700 aircraft taking part in this operation overseen by the Commander of American Bomber Command Brig-Gen. Fred Anderson who flew as a passenger on an 83 Squadron Lancaster.

'Window' (2) was still very new and the allies wanted to make best use of this diversion. The raid was a success with damage to the mainly industrial areas of the city. In particular the Krupps works suffered its most damage during the complete war. Its founder, Dr Gustav Krupp suffered a stroke the following morning of the raid.

51 Industrial buildings were destroyed, 83 more suffering serious damage. Nearly 3,000 homes were destroyed. Casualties on the ground amounted to 165 civilian men, 118 women, 22 children, 22 German forces, 131 foreign workers and 42 prisoners of war. 1,208 others were injured with 12 people missing.

Rear L-R: Sgt. Reid, Fl/Sgt. Jones, Sgt. Huddy, Sgt. Crowther. Front: Fl/Sgt. York, Sgt. Ritchie and Sgt. Wallace. (courtesy Ann McCallum)

51 Squadron armourers about to load for an operation at a RAF Snaith (courtesy IWM)

Halifax HR749 was lost without trace and it is possible that it came down in the North Sea as it is listed as a 'possible' by Hptm. Rudolf Sigmund (1) of 10/./NJG1 - He claimed a Halifax shot down over the North Sea 15 km North West Borkum at 23:54 hrs.

51 Squadron lost another Halifax II this night, HR934 flown by 23year old F/O. John S. Cole from Wembley, Middlesex, killed with all 6 other crew members.

(1) Hptm. Rudolf Sigmund was shot down and killed on the 3/4th October 1943. Flying a Bf110G-4U7 with 2 other crew members South West of Guttingen, Germany. (Shown above and his grave)

Left: Window - Chaff

(2) Window or Chaff as it is known today is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, which either appears as a cluster of secondary targets on radar screens or swamps the screen with multiple returns.

Left: Runnymede Memorial, as photographed by Aircrew Remembered in May 2013

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Eric James Jones. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 137. Son of James and Dorothy L. Jones, of Lye, Worcestershire, England.

Sgt. Joshua Crowther. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 146. Son of Josbua and Margaret Crowther, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Sgt. William Charles Wallace. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 168. Next of kin details not currently available.

Sgt. Walter Agar Leopold Huddy. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 154. Son of George Henry and Alice Huddy, of Whimple, Devon, England.

Sgt. William Reid. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 163. Son of James and Ann Law Reid, of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.

Sgt. John Ritchie. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 163. Son of John Ritchie, and of Jessie Ritchie, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland.

Fl/Sgt. Leslie Bennett York. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 194. Born on the 12th October 1918 at Yass, NSW, the son of Leslie James York and Alice York, husband of Jean York, of Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Ann McCallum (relative of Sgt. William Reid), the great research historians at 51 Squadron, Tom Kracker - 'Kracker Luftwaffe Archives'. Other sources as described.

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 - 2024 Last Modified: 25 March 2021, 10:06

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor