The 15 Sqdn left from Bourn at 1942-09-10 at 20:15. Loc or duty Gardening

On Thursday 10 September 1942, a member of the 15 Sqdn, Flight Sergeant P J Apps, took off from Bourn 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 20:15.

He flew with a Short Stirling (type I, serial BF352, code LS-U).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

(8th Air Force): In England, the 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, VIII Bomber Command, moves from Molesworth to Podington with F-4s (first mission is in Nov); and the 67th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Cheddington with B-24s (first mission is 20 Dec).

Campaign report of the RAF:

9/10 September 1942

Minelaying: 34 aircraft to many places from Denmark to Biscay. 1 Lancaster lost.

10/11 September 1942

Düsseldorf

479 aircraft - 242 Wellingtons, 89 Lancasters, 59 Halifaxes, 47 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens, 14 Whitleys. Training aircraft of 91, 92 and 93 Groups took part in this raid. 33 aircraft - 20 Wellingtons, 5 Lancasters, 4 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes, 1 Hampden - lost, 7.1 per cent of the force. 16 OTU, from Upper Heyford, lost 5 of its 13 Wellingtons on the raid.

The Pathfinders successfully marked the target, using 'Pink Pansies' in converted 4,00Olb bomb casings for the first time. All parts of Düsseldorf except the north of the city were hit as well as the neighbouring town of Neuss. 39 industrial firms in Düsseldorf and 13 in Neuss were damaged so much that all production ceased for various periods. 8 public buildings were destroyed and 67 damaged. 911 houses were destroyed and 1,506 seriously and 8,340 lightly damaged. 132 people were killed, 120 in Düsseldorf and 12 in Neuss. 116 further people were still classed as missing 2 days later and 19,427 people were bombed out.

With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!

This record can also be found on the maps of Back to Normandy with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.

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