The 12 Sqdn left from Wickenby at 1943-01-12 at 17:02

On Tuesday 12 January 1943, a member of the 12 Sqdn, Sergeant J V Richards, took off from Wickenby in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on WW2 History Europe. You can find the other details of this mission by searching here. Training and cargo flights are not separately mentioned as a mission. The plane left at 17:02.

He flew with a Avro Lancaster (type I, serial W4369, code PH-Z).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(Eighth Air Force): Two Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group are used on a fighter patrol. The 12th Bombardment Wing, VIII Bomber Command transfers from Chelveston, England to Marks Hall, England when all personnel and equipment are transferred to other units. This unit will remain a paper unit until being disbanded in England on 9 Oct 44.

Campaign report of the RAF:

11/12 January 1943

4 Pathfinder Mosquitos and 72 Lancasters of Nos 1 and 5 Groups continue trials with Oboe on Essen. 1 Lancaster lost.

12/13 January 1943

4 Pathfinder Mosquitos and 55 Lancasters of Nos 1 and 5 Groups in problematical attack on Essen. 1 Lancaster lost.
The Oboe equipment of the first Mosquito to arrive failed and the other 3 Mosquitos were all late. Because of this, many of the Lancasters bombed on dead reckoning. Some bombs did fall in Essen, where 20 houses were destroyed or seriously damaged and 9 people were killed, but other bombs fell in Neviges, Remscheid, Solingen and Wuppertal, a group of towns 12-20 miles south of Essen. 19 people were killed in Remscheid.

32 aircraft minelaying of Biscay ports without loss.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

This record can also be found on the maps of WW2 History Europe with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.

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