Archive Report: Allied Forces

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03/04.07.1943 No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron Wellington X LN285 QO-K P/O. William Howard Taylor

Operation: Koln, Germany

Date: 3/4th July 1943 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No 432 (Leaside) Squadron

Type: Wellington X

Serial: LN285

Code: QO-K

Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire

Location: Nr Maubeuge, Nord, France

Pilot: P/O. William Howard Taylor J/17662 RCAF Age 24 Killed (1)

Nav: F/O. George Raymond Bousfield J/22810 RCAF Age 22 Killed (2)

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. William Ernest Armstrong R/131602 RCAF Age 22 Killed (3)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank Bertram Jackson 1577059 RAFVR Age 21 Killed (4)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Douglas (Jack) Allen Hogg R/141441 RCAF Age 22 Killed (5)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Wellington LN285 took off from RAF Skipton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire at 22.43hrs on an operation to Cologne. One of 653 aircraft on this operation to bomb the East bank of the Rhine. Much damage was caused to the industrial premises and many houses were completely destroyed. Over 500 people were killed and over 70,000 were bombed out. Wellington LN285 may have been hit by flak or shot down by an enemy night fighter and crashed near Maubeuge, Nord, France. A total of 30 aircraft were lost on this operation

This was the first operational night for a new German unit "Jagdgeschwader 300" which flew single-engine fighters. This allowed the German pilots using the "Wild Boar" technique, to use any form of illumination over the city to find and attack a bomber

The crew had only been together for three operational flights. 2/3nd June on an operation Gardening in the "Jellyfish" area, 21/22nd June on an operation to Krefeld and 22/23rd June on an operation to Mulhiem. William Howard Taylor had completed a further two operational flights

 

                     RAF Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire (courtesy Library and Archives, Canada) Wellington X aircraft (courtesy IWM)

Burial details:

              

                                                   Four of the crew headstones (courtesy Aircrew Remembered archive) 

P/O. William Howard Taylor. Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: Row A. Grave 14. Son of Robert James Taylor and Mary Priscilla Taylor of Ontario, Canada. (1) William was born on the 12th January 1919 in Chatham, Ontario. After enlisting in 1941 William completed part of his training at No. 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) course 39 and No. 5 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) where he gained his "Wings" 24 September 1942. William had completed 5 operational flights with a total of 23.44hrs flying time

F/O. George Raymond Bousfield. Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: Row A. Grave 13. Son of John Herbert and Evelyn Myrtle Bousfield of Ceylon, Saskatchewan, Canada. (2) George was born on the 22 August 1920 in Ceylon, Saskatchewan and enlisted in in the RCAF in 1941. George completed part of his training at No. 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) course 39. George had completed 3 operational flights with a total of 15.01hrs flying time. George Raymond Bousfield is remembered on a family headstone Ceylon Cemetery, Saskatchewan and on the Ceylon Community Cenotaph

Fl/Sgt. William Ernest Armstrong. Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: Row A. Grave 11. Son of George Ernest and Emma Elizabeth Armstrong of Stettler, Alberta, Canada. (3) William had completed 3 operational flights with a total of 15.01hrs flying time. William Ernest Armstrong is remembered on the Stettler War Memorial

Sgt. Frank Bertram Jackson. Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: Row A. Grave 10. Son of Herbert and Edith Grace Jackson of Belper, Derbyshire. Husband of Dorothy Jackson of Belper. (4) Born in 1922 Frank completed part of his training at No. 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) course 39 and had completed 3 operational flights with a total of 15.01hrs flying time. He is remembered on the Belper War Memorial

Fl/Sgt. Douglas (Jack) Allen Hogg. Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, Nord, France. Grave Ref: Row A. Grave 12. Son of William Douglas and Frances Helen Hogg of Toronto, Canada. (5) Born on the 19 February 1921 in Toronto. Douglas enlisted on the 15 November 1941 and completed part of his training at No. 22 OTU (Operational Training Unit) course 39. Douglas had completed 3 operational flights with a total of 15.01hrs flying time. Douglas is remembered on the De La Salle Oakland War Memorial, Toronto

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. Acknowledgement: Library and Archives Canada - Operations Record Book C-12307, Canadian War Museum - Globe and Mail February 12, 1944

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