Operation: Bochum, Germany

Date: 13th/14th May 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit No: 426 (Thunderbird) Sqn, RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Wellington X

Serial: HE697

Code: OW:?

Base: RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire

Location: Near Nederhorst den Berg, Noord Holland.

Pilot: Flt Sgt. James Austin Thomson R121044 RCAF Age 20. KiA (1)

Observer: Flt Sgt. Albert Frederick Hopley R136282 RCAF Age 20. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Joseph Paul Olivier Ethier R55816 RCAF Age 25. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Norman Hudspith 1126718 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Thomas Ferguson How R132630 Age 25. KiA (1)

Above left to right: Flt Sgt. James A. Thompson, Flt Sgt. Albert F. Hopley, Sgt. Joseph P.O. Ethier (from their service records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 13th/14th May 1943 HE697 took-off from RAF Dishforth at 23:34 hrs along with nine (9) other aircraft to join a force of four-hundred and forty-two (442) bombers on an operation to attack Bochum in Germany.

Due to heavy Flak encountered on the route into Germany two (2) of the Squadron’s aircraft were forced to jettison their bombs in the Rhur area and return early landing at RAF Catfoss and RAF Coltishall.

Of the six (6) Wellingtons that failed to return from this operation two (2) came from the Squadron.

HE697 was claimed by Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank, his 27th Abschuss, from 2./NJG1 over Nederhorst den Berg, Netherlands at 3500 m. at 02:53 hrs (Ref 1, p93).

Hptm. Frank was killed on the night of the 27th/28th September 1943 in a mid-air collision with Bf110 G-4 G9+DA of Stab I./NJG1 whilst coming into land at Celle/Hannover airfield. He forgot to disconnect the cable of his radio-helmet before baling out of his He219 A-0 G9+CB and was choked to death (Ref 2, p13).

Hptm. Frank was credited with fifty (50) confirmed Abschüsse with three (3) awaiting confirmation (Ref 3, p30).

The aircraft crashed near Nederhorst den Berg, Noord Holland, 16 km (10 mls) SE of Amsterdam, Holland.

The second aircraft was Wellington X HE243 flown by Sgt. James B. Pettigrew J17383 RCAF. The aircraft and crew were lost without trace. The crew are all remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

(1) Sgt. Thomson and Sgt. How both survived an encounter with a German night-fighter on the night of the 26th/27th April 1943 when their Wellington X HE867 OW:? was severely damaged and they had to bale out over England.

Burial details:

Above: Amersfoort (Oud Leusden)General Cemetery (courtesy of the CWGC)

Flt Sgt. James Austin Thomson. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Plot 13, Row 6, Grave 121. Grave Inscription: “WHILE YOU, MY DEAR, REST AND SLEEP A LOVING MEMORY OF YOU WE'LL ALWAYS KEEP”. Born on the 13th November 1922 in Drumheller, Alberta. Son of John James and Harriet Estella (née Richardson - deceased) Thomson. Husband of Nora (née Hanson) Thomson of Midlandvale, Alberta, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Albert Frederick Hopley. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Plot 13, Row 6, Grave 122. Grave Inscription: “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD IN LOVING MEMORY. MUM DAD AND BROTHER GORDON”. Born on the 1st April 1923 in Toronto, Ontario. Son of Frederick Henry and Margaret (née Brown) Hopley of Humber Bay, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Joseph Paul Olivier Ethier. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Plot 13, Row 6, Grave 123. Grave Inscription: “O JESUS, LORD OF MERCY, WE IMPLORE THY CLEMENCY ON BEHALF OF THY SERVANT PAUL”. Born on the 13th July 1918 in Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec. Son of Dr. Joseph Alexis Calixte and Hortense (née Olivier) Ethier of Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Sgt. Norman Hudspith. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Plot 13, Row 6, Grave 120. Grave Inscription: “IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON NORMAN. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN”. Born on the 29th December 1920 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear. Son of John and Elizabeth Jane Hudspith of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Ferguson How. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Plot 13, Row 6, Grave 124. Born on the 14th November 1917 in Toronto, Ontario. Son of Dickson Drummond and Grace Ritchie (née Johnston) How of West Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Aug 2026).

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1 January - 22 June) 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten.
2. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (23 September - 31 December) 1943 Part 3 - Theo Boiten.
3. Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten.

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