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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.
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149 crest
149 Squadron Wellington IC P9265 OJ-A Sgt. Jack S. Marr

Operation: Mannheim

Date: 16/17th December 1940 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 149 Squadron (Fortis Nocte - 'Strong by Night')

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: P9265 (some sources state P9268)

Code: OJ-A

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: At base RAF Mildenhall

Pilot: Sgt. Jack S. Marr 55576 RAFVR Survived

Pilot 2: Sgt. George J.P. Morchen RAFVR Survived

Obs: Sgt. Edward Guy Prettyman 749386 RAFVR Age 33. Survived (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ernest White 618714 RAF Age 19. Survived (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Wiliam George Marett 639154 RAF Age 22. Survived (1)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Clifford Godfrey Harry Ward 751296 RAFVR Age 23. Survived (1)

Air/Gnr: P/O. John Percy Whymark 53481 RAFVR Age 20. Survived (2)

Information and photographs extracted from the personal records of Fl/Lt. John Percy Whymark - we are open, as of course is his son, who contributed this information - for any corrections.

REASON FOR LOSS:

This was a unique operation as the crews were ordered to carry out an area attack over Mannheim. It was intended as a form of retribution for the recent raid on Coventry. 200 bombers were organised to take part but only some 134 became involved due to weather forecast etc.

The operation was classed as a success with considerable damage to the residential areas of Mannheim. 34 people died in Mannheim during the attack. 81 residents of the city were injured.

L9265 returned from this operation when the pilot overshot and crashed at 00:22 hrs, coming to rest in the bomb dump. Despite the aircraft breaking its back all the crew survived. Only the two pilots would see the end of the hostilities.

Burial details:

See other pages.

(1) Killed on the 15th March 1941. Further details here.

(2) Killed 04th October 1945 Further details here.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Richard Whymark, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 10-01-2022

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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