The 75 Sqdn left from Mepal at 1943-08-03 at 23:31. Loc or duty Hamburg

On Tuesday 03 August 1943, a member of the 75 Sqdn, Flight Sergeant J A Cooper, took off from Mepal 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 23:31.

He flew with a Short Stirling (type III, serial BF577, code JN-M).

Campaign report of the USAAF:

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

(Eighth Air Force):: Major General William E. Kepner becomes Commanding General, VIII Fighter Command. HQ 353d Fighter Group and it's 350th Fighter Squadron transfer from Goxhill to Metfield, England with P-47's; the squadron will fly it's first mission on 9 Aug. These units will remain at this station until Apr 44.

Campaign report of the RAF:

2/3 August 1943

740 aircraft - 329 Lancasters, 235 Halifaxes, 105 Stirlings, 66 Wellingtons, 5 Mosquitos despatched on a failed raid to Hamburg. The bombing force encountered a large thunderstorm area over Germany and many crews turned back early or bombed alternative targets. At least 4 aircraft, probably more, were lost because of icing, turbulence or were struck by lightning. No Pathfinder marking was possible at Hamburg and only scattered bombing took place there. Many other towns in a 100-mile area of Northern Germany received a few bombs. A sizeable raid developed on the small town of Elmshorn, 12 miles from Hamburg. It is believed that a flash of lightning set a house on fire here and bomber crews saw this through a gap in the storm clouds and started to bomb the fire. 30 aircraft - 13 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes, 4 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings - lost, 4.1 per cent of the force.

5 Mosquitos to Duisburg, 6 Wellingtons minelaying in the River Elbe. 12 OTU sorties. 1 Wellington minelayer lost.

3/4 August 1943

12 Wellingtons of No 6 Group minelaying off Lorient and St Nazaire without loss.

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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