[Peter Clare]

26-27 March 1942

12 Squadron
Wellington II W5372 PH-D
Op: Essen

Crew
W/C. A. Golding DFC & Bar +
Sgt. F D. McLeod RAAF +
F/S. B A. Doe RCAF +
F/S. M. Duncan RCAF +
Sgt. W S. Makin +
F/S. P G. Thorpe +

Took off 2011 hrs Binbrook. Shot down by night-fighter and crashed 2358 hrs between Bovenkarspel and Enkhuizen (Noord olland) 16 km ENE of Hoorn. All are buried in Bergen General Cemetery.


12 Squadron lost one other aircraft on this night.

Wellington II W5371 PH-

Both Wellingtons were claimed by Oblt Prinz Egmont zue Lippe Weissenfeld of II./NJG1.

BCL Vol 3 W R. Chorley.

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26-27 March 1942.

Target. Essen

104 Wellingtons and 11 Stirling's. 10 Wellingtons and 1 Stirling lost.

The bombing force encountered heavy flak at the target and many night-fighters on the routes. Hit on the Krupps works and fires in Essen were claimed but the raid was actually another failure on this difficult target. Only 22 high-explosive bombs were counted in Essen, with 2 houses destroyed, 6 people killed and 14 injured.

Bomber Command War Diaries - Middlebrook - Everitt.

Hope this is a help

Regards
Peter.