Notes |
- He was a pilot (no.J/89865) in the RCAF in WW2 with 12 sqdn, based in Wickenby, England, flying Avro Lancaster III, Serial: ND715.
He was killed in 1944 during a night bombing raid to Dusseldorf or Laon. There were 70 other RCAF members killed that day.
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It is understood that ND715 was shot down at 01.07 hrs on the 23rd. Combat taking place at 6,000 mts. some 100 km. west of D?sseldorf, crashing in open country 4 km south of Postel, Antwerp. Wreckage was reported to have covered a large area which could mean that it exploded in the air.
The Luftwaffe pilot who is named as the "probable" attacker was Oblt. Peter Ehrhardt of 8./NJG5. With a total of 21 claims credited to him, he survived the war but we have no further details.
- See more at: http://aircrewremembered.com/harvey-james.html
and http://aircrewremembered.com/daymond-keith-william.html
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gravestone photo...
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1484112
from http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/apr44.html
D?sseldorf: 596 aircraft - ...- lost, 4.9 percent of the force. 2,150 tons of bombs were dropped in this old-style heavy attack on a German city which caused much destruction but also allowed the German night-fighter force to penetrate the bomber stream. The attack fell mostly in the northern districts of D?sseldorf. Widespread damage was caused.
238 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitos of No 5 Group and 10 Lancasters of No 1 Group despatched to Brunswick. Few German fighters were attracted to this raid and only 4 Lancasters were lost, 1.5 per cent of the force....The raid was not successful... partly because of a thin layer of cloud which hampered visibility and partly because of faulty communications between the various bomber controllers. Many bombs were dropped in the centre of the city but the remainder of the force bombed reserve H2S-aimed target indicators which were well to the south.
Laon railway yards: 181 aircraft - ... - lost, 5.0 per cent of the force. The attack was carried out in 2 waves and severe damage was caused. The aircraft of one of the Master Bombers, Wing Commander AGS Cousens of No 635 Squadron, was shot down; Wing Commander Cousens was killed.
Total effort for the night: 1,116 sorties, 42 aircraft (3.8 per cent) lost
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Mission: D?sseldorf
Date: 22/23rd April 1944 (Saturday/Sunday)
Unit: No. 12 Squadron
Code: PH-R
Base: R.A.F. Wickenby, Lincolnshire.
Location: Postel, Antwerp
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