The story
On Friday, 09 July 1943, (a part of) the aircraft of the 428 squadron (RCAF), took off for a mission to Gelsenkirchen in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Middleton St George.
One of the crew members was J16773 Flight Lieutenant B McK Fitzgerald RCAF. He departed for his mission at 22:36.
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type V, with serial DK229 and code NA-W). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Saturday, 10 July 1943.
Halifax V DK229 NA-W 428 Squadron 9 / 10 July 1943
ORB
Bowden “B”Fight Commander.
Up from 22.17 till 22.55 hour, average 22.31 hour.
Bombing time from: 01.18 till 01. 35 hour, average 01.26 hour.
Zero Hour; 01.10 hour, main attack 01.10 hour – 01.44 hour.
Flak on target aria!
Middleton St. George – East Coast - 5305N 0400E - North of Texel - 5315N 0705E – Gelsenkirchen - 5040N 0725E - 5005N 0635E - 5000N 0115E - East Coast
Base to Target 767 Km. Average 263 Km/H.
Average bobing time for this Squadron 01.26 hour
Target to burial/ crash place 20 minutes. ??? Crash time 01.46 hour at the 10th of July 1943.
Keulen = Cologne, Germany
Imhausen, Germany
Grave Yard Imhausen, address: Eichholzweg 34, 51570 Windeck, Germany.
Night Raid Report.
FLAK was probably responsible for the los of Bombers at Gelsenkirchen!
Night Fighters: Night: 9-10. July 1943
10.07.43 Ltn. Wilhelm Schneidewind 2./NJG 4 Lancaster £
10 km. S.W. Schouwen: 5.700-2.000 m. 00.41 FilmC. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.33
Bomb load Halifax.
The Loss Card.
: Acc. To German and Killed in
The crash Land A/C (Aircraft)
S/Ldr Bowden Shot down 10-7-43 b. (buried) 12-7-43
Geilhausen by Imhausen!
Collapsed 6 men abandoned a/c near Cologne, S/Ldr Bowden find
Dead in aircraft.
Squadron Leader FREDERICK HAROLD BOWDEN
Service Number: 89593
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 428 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn
Date of Death 10 July 1943
Buried or commemorated at RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY 11. E. 24. Germany
Friedhof Imhausen in Windeck, Duitsland
Adres: Eichholzweg 34, 51570 Windeck, Duitsland
Geilhausen, Windeck, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, Regierungsbezirk Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Bender & Häfner Immobilien – Makelaardij (Brokerage)
Fliederweg 2 51570 Windeck Duitsland
Tel: 0049 2292 1800
There's more to discover
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