Daily Operations

May 29/30, 1943

38 Halifaxes from 408, 419, and 427 Squadrons were joined by 55 Wellingtons from 426, 428, 429, 431, and 432 Squadrons on an attack at Wuppertal. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 98,000 lbs of high explosives and 213,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was done.

P/O J. Patry from 408 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
Sgt D. Brooke and crew flying Halifax II DT-772 coded EQ-E were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt A. Grubert and crew flying Halifax II JB-969 coded EQ-D were attacked twice by JU-88's, many strikes were seen on the second attack and the JU-88 burst into flames and crashed to the ground.

P/O B. Heintz from 419 Squadron returned early, as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt M. Gray and crew flying Halifax II BB-323 coded VR-R were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
P/O A. Bell was hit by flak, the port inner was damaged. They landed safely at Swanton Morley.
Sgt B. Furey landed at Leeming on return.
W/O2 P. Johnson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JB-805 coded VR-B, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt F. Winegarden RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JB-793 coded VR-Z, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt H. Patch from 426 Squadron returned early as sparks were shooting out of the stbd engine.
F/Lt J. McNeill, F/Lt D. French and Sgt C. Griffiths were hit by flak, not serious.
F/Lt J. Millward landed at Mildenhall due to a fuel shortage.

Sgt J. Clary from 427 Squadron returned early as one engine was acting up.
P/O S. Dunn returned early as they could not climb.
P/O B. Crew was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O G. Cadmus was hit by flak, there were holes in the wings and fuselage, they landed safely at Thurleigh on 3 engines.
This was the first operation by 427 Squadron since converting to the Halifax.

P/O J. Lambert from 428 Squadron returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
Sgt G. Fraser and crew flying Wellington X HE-239 coded NA-L were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Manston, Sgt R. Saunders RCAF, the wireless operator, was sick and taken to the hospital.
Sgt J. Ferguson RCAF–POW and crew, flying Wellington X LN-424 coded NA-E, failed to return from this operation.

W/O2 F. Shelnutt RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-319 coded NA-Y, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt D. Smalley from 429 Squadron returned early, as their Wellington would not climb.
P/O R. Davies returned early as an oxygen mask was u/s.
F/Sgt K. Mills returned early as the stbd engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
Sgt H. Wilton was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O B. Richmond RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HZ-471 coded AL-M, failed to return from this operation.

P/O J. Valentine from 431 Squadron returned early as the rear turret was u/s.
Sgt J. Poole returned early as the stbd engine was overheating.
F/O H. Wilkinson was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and fuel tanks.
F/Sgt A. Smith RNZAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-203 coded SE-B, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt L. Bourgeois and P/O J. Morris from 432 Squadron returned early with their rear turrets u/s.
Sgt D. Baker was hit by flak, not serious.
Sgt W. Meaden and crew flying Wellington X HE-688 coded QO-V were attacked by a JU-88, many strikes were seen and the JU-88 burst into flames and crashed to the ground.
P/O F. Dingwall RCAF and crew, flying Wellington X HE-553 coded QO-S, crashed into a hill on return near Richmond in Yorkshire.

Sgt W. Grigg RCAF–POW and crew, flying Wellington X LN-435 coded QO-J, failed to return from this operation.