Hi all,

I've been trying to solve a family mystery about my Great Uncle who disappeared on a 1000 bomber raid to Bremen on 25/26 June 1942.

The summary of facts are as follows:

William Harvey Flower (Sergeant)
5 January 1920- 26 June 1942
Serial Number 412472
Wireless Operator, Vickers Wellington MK1C serial number DV778 KJ-A
Base: Steeple Morden (satellite airfield) 11 Operational Training Unit
Raid on Bremen, Germany 25/6/42-26/6/42
1000 Bomber raid.
Take off: 2314
Missing in action. Presumed Killed North Sea 26/6/42

Crew:
Sgt J C Cubitt.
Sgt W H Fowler RNZAF.
Sgt R J Amish RNZAF.
Sgt S L Wilton RNZAF.
F/Sgt F W Mutton.
Sgt R J Parish RNZAF

Thu 25/Fri 26 Jun 1942
Bomber Command
Raid on Bremen, Germany (by 960 aircraft - 50 lost)
11 Operational Training Unit, RAF (Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire - 91 Group)
Wellington IC DV778/A - took off at 2314 captained by Sgt J C Cubitt, RAF, on same raid as the above, and brought down into the sea in or near the Heligoland Bight. The captain and navigator Flower are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The body of navigator Parish later washed ashore near Cuxhaven and was buried there, but later reinterred at Becklingen, 17km south of Soltau. The New Zealand wireless operator-air gunner was recovered from the harbour entrance at Westeraccumersiel, opposite the island of Langeoog, and buried at Wittmund alongside the body of an RAF crew member, but both were later reinterred at Sage, 24km south of Oldenburg
Navigator(?): NZ412472 Sgt William Harvey FLOWER, RNZAF - Age 22. 75hrs. 1st op.


So now that is known what plane he was in and a rough estimation of the time & place the incident happened, I'm now trying to determine what brought the plane down.
A night fighter is a good place to start, so I was wondering if anyone knew if there was any Luftwaffe night fighter units operating in the area in the early hours of the 26th June 42, and if so, would there be any (preferably translated) combat reports?

If anyone could help point me in the right direction, that would be most helpful.
Thanks in advance!

Nyle