Crash locations of five Lancaster and Halifax losses 3-4 April 1943 Essen raid?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Who can help me with information re. the following five heavy bomber losses during the 3-4 April 1943 Essen raid (I have all the details from Bill Chorley's 1943 volume, but need details on the crash locations of these aircraft, for the research of the NJWD 2nd edition):

-51 Squadron Halifax DT738.
-78 Squadron Halifax DT780.
-83 Squadron Lancaster R5626.
-83 Squadron Lancaster LM302.
-467 Squadron Lancaster ED524.

Cheers and thanks for any information,

Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
This may be of use -
From Fiche 5971
4 Apr 43 - 2230-2330 - Short Stirling R-9327 - Near Obbekaer, 4km east of Ribe -110296-110301/110303,110331//110305-110324 - [ R9327 "OJ-M" 149 Sqdn - 4/5 Apr 43 ].
4 Apr 43 - 2308 - Avro Lancaster - Rosenfeld near Pretz - 110327/110332
4 Apr 43 - 2314 - Avro Manchester -R-1132 - Dobersdorfer Sea - 110327/110331 [ Not a Manchester or Lancaster. Would have been a Wellington Ic but numbers R1100-R1134 were not allocated. P1120 to P1139 were for Oxfords but cancelled ] ?
4 Apr 43 - 2325 - Avro Lancaster - W-4310 - Bordesholm -110326/110328/110331 - [ Hit by Kriegsmarine Flak - W4310 "UV-C Bar" 460 Sqdn - 4/5 Apr 43 ].
4 Apr 43 - 2335 - Halifax - Sarlhusen, South west of Neumuenster - 110331/110332/110338/110339
4 Apr 43 - 2345 - Lancaster - LD696 -Groszenaspe near Neumuenster - 110330/110333-110336 - [This must have been ED696 "WS-T" of 9 Sqdn - 4/5 Apr 43 ].


and
From Tony Wood's Claims files.

Night: 3-4. April 1943
R.A.F. Bomber Command: ESSEN
03.04.43 - Hptm. Herbert Lütje - 8./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 3 km. W. Winterswijk: 6.200 m. - 22.45 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.68 - [ ED334 "OL-R" of 83 Sqdn ].
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Halifax - 5 km. S.E. Rhenen: 4.500 m. [W. Arnhem] - 22.45 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.108 - [ JB866 "EQ-T" of 78 Sqdn ].
03.04.43 - Uffz. Hans Baldischweiler - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 535 9C: 5.200 m. - 22.45 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.135
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - 6231: 5.000 m. - 22.52 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.65
03.04.43 - Ltn. August Geiger - 7./NJG1 - Lancaster - 5 km. N. Gement: 6.000 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.71
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - S.W. Vierlingsbeek: 5.200 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.16
03.04.43 - Oblt. Martin Bauer - 3./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 3 km. S.E. Bingtreu: 6.000 m. - 23.01 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.120
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 4 km. N. Kleve: 6.200 m. - 23.02 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.109
03.04.43 - Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin - 6./NJG 1 - Halifax - 4 km. N.W. Nerenweert: 5.000 m. - 23.21 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.60 - [ JB845 "EY- " of 78 Sqdn ].
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Stirling - 4375 See: 3.100 m. - 23.25 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.110
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - 3 km. Pfalzberge: 4.500 m. - 23.30 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.67 - [ DT808 "LQ-V" of 405 Sqdn ].
03.04.43 - Hptm. Herbert Lütje - 8./NJG 1 - Halifax - 1 km. N. Alost: 5.500 m. - 23.37 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.69 - [ DT617 "VR-G" of 419 Sqdn ].
03.04.43 - Ltn. Schön - 3./NJG 1 - Halifax - Harlings-vliet: 4.800 m. - 23.44 - Film C. 2027/I VNE: ASM
03.04.43 - Uffz. Emil Heinzelmann - 8./NJG 1 - Halifax - Wapenvelt: 4.600 m. - 23.50 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.70
03.04.43 - Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin - 6./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 5-6 km. E. Opladen/Holl. 4.200 m. - 23.54 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.61- [ ED694 "WS-Y" of 9 Sqdn ].
04.04.43 - Maj. Helmut Lent - Stab IV./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 547 7E See: 9.500 m. - 00.24 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.115
04.04.43 - Oblt. Eberhard Gardiewski - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 443 6S: 4.000 m. - 00.47 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.136
04.04.43 - Ltn. Werner Speidel - 10./NJG 3 - Manchester - 04.32 - Film- C. 2031/I XII. Flg.Kps.

Those printed in Blue can be eliminated from the search thus.
The serial number printed in Red did not exist ?

From Fiche 5971

4 Apr 43 - 2308 - Avro Lancaster - Rosenfeld near Pretz - 110327/110332
4 Apr 43 - 2314 - Avro Manchester -R-1132 - Dobersdorfer Sea - 110327/110331.( see above ) ?
4 Apr 43 - 2335 - Halifax - Sarlhusen, South west of Neumuenster - 110331/110332/110338/110339



and
From Tony Wood's Claims files.

Night: 3-4. April 1943
R.A.F. Bomber Command: ESSEN
03.04.43 - Uffz. Hans Baldischweiler - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 535 9C: 5.200 m. - 22.45 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.135
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - 6231: 5.000 m. - 22.52 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.65
03.04.43 - Ltn. August Geiger - 7./NJG1 - Lancaster - 5 km. N. Gement: 6.000 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.71
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - S.W. Vierlingsbeek: 5.200 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.16
03.04.43 - Oblt. Martin Bauer - 3./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 3 km. S.E. Bingtreu: 6.000 m. - 23.01 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.120
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 4 km. N. Kleve: 6.200 m. - 23.02 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.109
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Stirling - 4375 See: 3.100 m. - 23.25 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.110
03.04.43 - Ltn. Schön - 3./NJG 1 - Halifax - Harlings-vliet: 4.800 m. - 23.44 - Film C. 2027/I VNE: ASM
03.04.43 - Uffz. Emil Heinzelmann - 8./NJG 1 - Halifax - Wapenvelt: 4.600 m. - 23.50 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.70
04.04.43 - Maj. Helmut Lent - Stab IV./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 547 7E See: 9.500 m. - 00.24 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.115
04.04.43 - Oblt. Eberhard Gardiewski - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 443 6S: 4.000 m. - 00.47 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.136
04.04.43 - Ltn. Werner Speidel - 10./NJG 3 - Manchester - 04.32 - Film- C. 2031/I XII. Flg.Kps.

Lancaster R5626 - 83 Sqdn was lost 04.04.43.

Alex

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Alex,

Cheers and thanks for that -I have gone back to the Original microfilmed OKL/RLM records on NJ & Flak claims for 3/4.4.43 to check and correct the Tony Wood entries and have been able to positively match up all but three of the NJ claims, the three missing ones are the following, I am hoping that someone has the information on the matching Bomber Command losses to these three claims:

Maj. Werner Streib: 45 Stab I./NJG1 Halifax nr Gennep (6231, 5B): 5.000 m 22.52 Essen raid, victory confirmed 26.11.1944

Oblt. Martin Bauer: 3 3./NJG1 Lancaster 3 km. SE Dingden (5A): 6.000 m 23.01 Essen raid, victory confirmed 26.11.1944

Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank: 19 2./NJG1 Lancaster 4 km. N. Kleve (Gorilla): 6.200 m. 23.02 Essen raid, victory confirmed 26.11.1944


Cheers, Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Theo,

Glad to help you to match all but three as listed in your above post.

Is it possible to confirm the correct serial number of the Manchester (more likely Lancaster ?) that was recorded as having the serial R-1132 ?
Also the others also would be nice.

Those additionally matched were the following ?

From Fiche 5971

4 Apr 43 - 2308 - Avro Lancaster - Rosenfeld near Pretz - 110327/110332
4 Apr 43 - 2314 - Avro Manchester -R-1132 - Dobersdorfer Sea - 110327/110331.( see above ) ?
4 Apr 43 - 2335 - Halifax - Sarlhusen, South west of Neumuenster - 110331/110332/110338/110339

and
From Tony Wood's Claims files.

Night: 3-4. April 1943
R.A.F. Bomber Command: ESSEN
03.04.43 - Uffz. Hans Baldischweiler - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 535 9C: 5.200 m. - 22.45 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.135
03.04.43 - Ltn. August Geiger - 7./NJG1 - Lancaster - 5 km. N. Gement: 6.000 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.71
03.04.43 - Maj. Werner Streib - Stab I./NJG 1 - Halifax - S.W. Vierlingsbeek: 5.200 m. - 23.00 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.16
03.04.43 - Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank - 2./NJG 1 - Stirling - 4375 See: 3.100 m. - 23.25 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.110
03.04.43 - Ltn. Schön - 3./NJG 1 - Halifax - Harlings-vliet: 4.800 m. - 23.44 - Film C. 2027/I VNE: ASM
03.04.43 - Uffz. Emil Heinzelmann - 8./NJG 1 - Halifax - Wapenvelt: 4.600 m. - 23.50 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.70
04.04.43 - Maj. Helmut Lent - Stab IV./NJG 1 - Lancaster - 547 7E See: 9.500 m. - 00.24 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.115
04.04.43 - Oblt. Eberhard Gardiewski - 12./NJG 1 - Halifax - 443 6S: 4.000 m. - 00.47 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.136
04.04.43 - Ltn. Werner Speidel - 10./NJG 3 - Manchester - 04.32 - Film- C. 2031/I XII. Flg.Kps.

Thank you
Alex

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Alex,

The loss at Sarlhusen was on 4-5.4.43:


Oblt. Siegfried Hahn: 4 9./NJG3 Halifax Sarlhusen, SW Neumünster (2A): 5.100 m 23.35 156 Sqn Lancaster W4850

Cheers, Theo