March 5/6, 1943

    20 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadrons were joined by 64 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Essen. The crews were over the target at between 13,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 178,000 lbs of high explosives and 146,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused to the target.

    Sgt R. Batchelor and Sgt E. Sirett from 408 Squadron returned early, as their guns were u/s.
    F/O B. Harris had his rear turret u/s. They bombed the airfield at Leuwarden and returned home.

    Sgt L. Bakewell RAF–POW and crew, from 419 Squadron, flying Halifax II DT-646 coded VR-C, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt A. Turner RCAF–Evd
      F/Sgt D. Scowen RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt J. Marvel RCAF–POW
      Sgt J. Bennett RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt W. Clark RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt J. Couper RAF
    They were shot down by a Nightfighter, 5 crew were POWs, one evaded, and one was killed.

    P/O S. Dunn from 420 Squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    F/Sgt. R. Taylor was hit by flak, not serious.
    P/O R. Graham RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-280 coded PT-V, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O W. Lee RAF
      F/O J. MacDonald RCAF
      F/O D. Bennett RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Lawson RCAF
      F/Sgt D. Culver RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/Sgt G. Leddy from 424 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
    Sgt A. Grout landed at Woolfax Lodge on return.
    F/Sgt J. Ryan landed at Coltishall on return.

    F/Sgt S. Pennington from 426 Squadron returned early as the port engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    Sgt G. Baker was hit by flak, not serious.
    P/O C. Trask RCAF and crew, flying Wellington III BK-401 coded OW-M, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O C. Chapman RAF
      F/Sgt W. Davies RCAF
      F/Sgt N. Paterson RCAF
      F/Sgt G. Walen RCAF
      F/Sgt R. Williams RCAF
    All were lost without a trace.

    F/Sgt B. Crew from 427 Squadron returned early, as the rear turret was u/s.
    F/Sgt G. Vandekerckhove and crew, flying Wellington III Z-1572 coded ZL-Q, were attacked by an FW-190 over the target, there was no claim or damage. They also had the stbd engine catch fire on return. The fire went out but the propellor flew off. They landed safely at base on one engine.

    Sgt K. Knapp from 428 Squadron was hit by flak; there was a 3-foot hole in the fuselage.

    Sgt S. Bruce from 429 Squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
    F/Sgt R. Conroy and crew, flying Wellington III BJ-755 coded AL-Z, crashed on takeoff. 

      Sgt E. Bell RCAF
      Sgt G. Denamore RCAF
      Sgt J. Boles RAF
      Sgt J. Burns RAF
    The navigator was killed, the rest of the crew were injured.

    S/Ldr T. Marshall from 431 Squadron returned early due to electrical problems.
     

    While most of the crews went to Essen, 4 Wellingtons from 431 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to the Frisian Islands. The crews were over the garden at between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, sowing 4@1500 lb mines.

    Sgt E. Aspden and Sgt A. Bryant returned early as their navigation aids were u/s.