The 7 Sqdn left from Oakington at 1943-06-25 at 23:34
He flew with a Short Stirling (type I, serial R9281, code MG-V).
Campaign report of the USAAF:
(Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 67: 275 B-17's make scattered attacks on targets of opportunity in NW Germany when primary targets at Bremen and Hamburg are obscured by clouds; 167 bomb targets and claim 62-11-40 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 18 B-17's, 1 is damaged beyond repair and another 61 are damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 14 WIA and 172 MIA. Of 7 YB-40 escort bombers dispatched only 4 are able to accompany formations to the target area. HQ 387th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Chipping Ongar, England from the US.
Campaign report of the RAF:
24/25 June 1943
630 aircraft - 251 Lancasters, 171 Halifaxes, 101 Wellingtons, 98 Stirlings, 9 Mosquitos - despatched to Wuppertal.
This attack was aimed at the Elberfeld half of Wuppertal, the Barmen half of the town having been devastated at the end of May. The Pathfinder marking was accurate and the Main Force bombing started well but the creepback became more pronounced than usual. 30 aircraft bombed targets in more western parts of the Ruhr; Wuppertal was at the eastern end of the area. These bombing failures were probably a result of the recent run of intensive operations incurring casualties at a high level. However, much serious damage was again caused to this medium-sized Ruhr town. The post-war British survey estimated that 94 per cent of the Elberfeld part of Wuppertal was destroyed on this night.
4 Mosquitos to Duisburg, 4 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 7 OTU sorties. No losses.
25/26 June 1943
473 aircraft ordered to Gelsenkirchen - 214 Lancasters, 134 Halifaxes, 73 Stirlings, 40 Wellingtons, 12 Mosquitos. This was the first raid to the city since 1941, when it had been one of Bomber Command's regular 'oil targets', although, being in the middle of the Ruhr, this town had often been hit when other targets were attacked. 30 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings, 4 Wellingtons - were lost, 6.3 per cent of the force.
The raid was not a success. The target was obscured by cloud and the Oboe Mosquitos, for once, failed to produce regular and accurate marking since 5 of the 12 Oboe aircraft found that their equipment was unserviceable.
33 aircraft were sent minelaying in the Frisians and off French ports. 1 Lancaster lost.
With thanks to the RAF and USAAF.net!
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