Operation: Essen

Date: 12/13th March 1943 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 425 Squadron 'Alouette' (motto: Je te plumerai -  'I shall pluck you'). 6 Group (1)

Type: Wellington III

Serial: BK340

Code: KW-T

Base: RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire

Location: Westfriese Dijk, Aartswoud, Nrtherlands

Pilot: Sgt. Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne R/104784 RCAF PoW No: 904 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Adrien Walter Brown R/104832 RCAF PoW No: 888 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Joseph Adrian Vincent Gauthier R/72626 RCAF PoW No: 889 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Arthur Roland Goulet R/56139 RCAF PoW No: 42741 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - Repatriated

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Marie Joseph Alfred Jean Aumand R/101875 PoW Heydekrug - Repatriated

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:12 hrs with 7 others from the squadron detailed to bomb Essen. A further 2 aircraft failed to take off due to mechanical problems another 1returned early due to the pitch roll becoming unserviceable. 2 aircraft carried 4 x 4,000 lb bombs the remainder 3 x 500 lb bombs and incendiaries.

A total allied force of 457 allied bombers made their way to Essen in moderate visibility but with light winds. 23 failed to return, 13 fell victim to the Luftwaffe night fighters, 6 during the outward and 7 on their return.

BK340 was attacked and shot down by Lt. Oskar Köstler (shown right) of 10./NJG 1, flying a Bf110F from Bergen airfield. The aircraft was intercepted at 2,500 meters at 21:58 hrs. This was the 2nd of 3 allied bombers shot down by Lt. Köstler. He was killed the following month on the 10th of April 1943 having a total of 6 claims.
Further details on the Kracker Archive.

(1) 425 Squadron, the first French Canadian squadron, was formed on 22nd June 1942 at RAF Dishforth in Yorkshire, England. Following the end of the war in Europe, in May 1945, 425 Squadron re-equipped again, this time with Avro Lancaster Mk X's. In June, they flew back to Canada to prepare for their role in Tiger Force for the continuing war against Japan. Disbanded on the 05th September 1945 at RCAF Station Debert, less than three weeks after the Japanese surrender. Reformed at RCAF Station St. Hubert in October 1954, flying CF-100 Canucks as an all-weather fighter squadron.

Burial details:

None - all crew survived as PoW.

Sgt. Joseph Lamontagne: From Quebec, Canada. 7 operation sorties with 40.2 operational flying hours. See here for his obituary,

Fl/Sgt. Adrian Brown: From Montreal, Canada. 4 operation sorties with 20.45 operational flying hours.

Fl/Sgt. Joseph: From Montreal, Canada. 9 operation sorties with 51.05 operational flying hours.

Sgt. Joseph: From Montreal, Canada. 8 operation sorties with 39.25 operational flying hours.

Fl/Sgt. Marie Aumand: From Prince Edward Island, Canada. 8 operation sorties with 42.30 operational flying hours.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the 425 Squadron Alouette website, Air-27-1837-11/12 National Archive, Paradie Archive, Theo Boiten Nachjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1, Kracker Archive.

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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