12 sqn RAF on 26th of march 1942

[Thermal]

Hi there,

Looking for info on the mission flown by 12 sqn RAF (Bomber command) on 26th of march 1942 (and/or the 25th).

Info like the target, number of planes involved an losses would be appreciated very much.

Especially looking for info on Wing Commander Albert Golding who was killed this day along with his crew.

Many thanks.

T.

[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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[Thermal]

Wow, many thanks for this piece of information Peter.

I stumbled upon W/C Golding´s grave a few days back while visiting the War Cemetery in Bergen and was quite amazed to find a Wing Commander between all the graves. The entire crew is burried next to him. I wondered what their story was.

Just finished a book about Nightfighters over Holland in which Zur Lippe Weisenfeld is often described. A cruel coincidence to read that he was responsible for their deaths.
Zur Lippe Weisenfeld claimed 4 bombers in total that night, it earned him his Knights Cross.


Thanks again

[Hans Nauta]

Hello Thermal,

W/Cdr Golding is not the only W/Cdr buried at Bergen. Also W/Cdr Herbert Reginald Dale (15 Sqdn) and W/Cdr Howard Duncan Fraser OBE are buried there.

Some minor remarks about the loss of W/Cdr Golding's crew: This was Prinz Egmont zur Lippe's second claim that night at 22.40 hrs.
Code of the Wellington was PH-D.
The Wellington crashed on the land of Mr Oud near De Veer and West of the Kathoeksloot at Bovenkarspel.

Regards,
Hans Nauta

[Thermal]

Bedankt for the extra info Hans

Dear Thermal, I have just joined as of today 24th Feb 2013 as I am searching for information about my Father W/Cdr. Albert Golding. I'm sorry that I have no more information to tell you but your replies have been very enlightening for me. I do possess his DFC and bar. I also have a 16mm home movie of his showing Bi-planes in Singapore circa 1939?. It is very short but interesting. I was too young to remember him but my sister was 3 years old and remembers him well.
With Thanks,
Johneg

[Hans Nauta]

Hello John,

Thanks for you response on an almost 5 uear old thread!

I can supply some bit more info apart from what already has been mentioned.

Please contact me at hnautaATquicknetDOTnl. Please replace AT and DOT for the obvious symbols.

Kind regards,
Hans Nauta