The 7 Sqdn left from Oakington at 1942-06-17 at 23:37. Loc or duty Essen

On Wednesday 17 June 1942, a member of the 7 Sqdn, Flight Lieutenant H H Haszard, took off from Oakington in the United Kingdom. His mission is mentioned elsewhere on Back to Normandy. 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 23:37.

He flew with a Short Stirling (type I, serial R9324, code MG-X).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(8th Air Force): 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Air Force, arrives at Molesworth, England from the US with F-4s; first mission is in Nov 42.

Campaign report of the RAF:

16/17 June 1942

Essen

106 aircraft - 40 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 15 Lancasters, 12 Stirlings. 8 aircraft - 4 Halifaxes, 3 Wellingtons, 1 Stirling- lost.
Only 16 crews reported that they had identified Essen; 56 bombed alternative targets, 45 of them attacking Bonn. Essen reports only 3 high-explosive and 400 incendiary bombs in the city with one person being wounded.

This raid concluded the series of 5 raids on Essen in 16 nights. 1,607 sorties had been dispatched and 84 aircraft (5.2 per cent) lost. No industrial damage was caused in Essen on any of these raids; a few houses were destroyed and 38 civilians were killed. Essen would not be visited in strength for 3 months.

Minor Operations: 12 Hampdens minelaying off Lorient, 9 aircraft on leaflet flights to France. No losses.

17/18 June 1942

Minor Operations: 27 Stirlings and Wellingtons to St Nazaire but only 6 aircraft bombed, in poor weather, 46 aircraft minelaying off St Nazaire and in the Frisians, 2 Stirlings on leaflet flights. No losses.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

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