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.

---

01/02.10.1943 No. 619 Squadron Lancaster III EE110 PG-U F/O. Derek M. Joss

Operation: Hagan

Date: 01/02nd October 1943

Unit: No. 619 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: EE110

Code: PG-U

Base: RAF Woodhall Spa

Location: Bristol Channel

Pilot: F/O. Derek McLean Joss 128952 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Terence Monaghan 530301 RAF Age ? Killed

Nav: F/O. Charles Francis Bale (Paddy) 141333 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. Francis Victor Anderson 132958 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Paul Engel 1381754 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Lowe 916013 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth George Mortlock 1324729 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Lancaster EE110 took off at 18.25 hrs to join from various squadron's 242 Lancaster's and 8 Mosquitoes on an operation to bomb Hagen. The raid was classed as a complete success on a target that was totally covered in cloud due to Mosquitoes using sky marking aided by the new Oboe system.

  

Of the town's 4 large industrial areas, 2 were severely hit and a 3rd suffered less damage. Reports from the town, post war state that 46 Industrial firms were destroyed and a further 166 damaged. The main industry taking place was the manufacture of accumulator batteries for the U-boats. Albert Speer stated after the war that this raid reduced the output of U-boats considerably. 

The raid cost the lives of 241 Germans and 25 foreigners on the ground, 2,386 Germans were wounded and a further 135 foreign workers. 30,000 people lost their homes on this single raid.

  

The RAF lost just 2 Lancasters on this operation which, compared with just about every other night operation was probably one of the smallest casualty rate per raid of the war. No interception from the German night fighters.

The other aircraft lost was a 44 Squadron Lancaster ED348 KM-M. F/O. A.C. Smith taken PoW along with 3 other crew members. The remaining 3 were killed. This Lancaster EE110 crashed into the sea on return, having completed the operation, it is possible that it had been hit by german flak during the bombing. 

  

Burial details:

F/O. Derek McLean Joss. Bath Cemetery. Plot 51. Sec H. Row P. Grave 248 (A). Son of Colin George Walters Joss and Emily May Joss, of Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Sgt. Terence Monaghan. Llantwit Major Cemetery Sec C. Grave 46. (B). NoK details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

F/O. Charles Francis Bale. Moston R/C/ Cemetery St Peter Sec. Grave 315. (C). Son of Charles Radcliffe Bale and Mary Bale, husband of Eileen Veronica Bale, of Prestwich, Cheshire, England.

F/O. Francis Victor Anderson. Woodgrange Park Cemetery, East Ham. Square 13. Grave 12105. (D). Son of Francis Alfred and Evelyn Kate Anderson, of Manor Park, London, England.

Sgt. Paul Engel. Golders Green Crematorium. Panel 2. (E). Son of Edmund and Louisa Lillia Engel, of West Kensington, London, England.

Sgt. Joseph Lowe. Bath Cemetery Plot 51. Sec H. Row P. Grave 247. (A). Son of Joseph Henry and Nellie Lowe, husband of Vera Ivy Lowe, of Kingston Vale. Surrey, England.

Fl/Sgt. Kenneth George Mortlock. City of London Cemetery. Screen Wall, Square 241. Coll Grave 108021. (G). Son of George William Mortlock, and of Peggy Florence Henrietta Mortlock, of Leytonstone, London, England.

Researched for Andrew Anderson and all the relatives of this crew. For further details our thanks to the following, Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vol's. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries (Updated 2014 version), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

  

Above RCAF identity card for F/O. Francis Anderson. Below 619 Squadron crews and ground staff. (courtesy Andrew Anderson)

  

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: 17 May 2014, 20:13

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