Personnel Index - Detail
14/15 April, 1942; DORTMUND:
The squadron contributed 7 aircraft to the main force attack on Dortmund. Of these, 3 returned early with engine failure, 3 attacked alternative targets and 1 aircraft failed to return. The raid itself was very scattered with bombs falling over a wide area of the Ruhr. Bomber Command suffered the loss of 5 Wellingtons and 4 Hampdens.
The missing 49 Squadron Hampden was piloted by P/O Williams. It is thought that he and his crew were caught by a night fighter, which brought their aircraft down in Germany. The pilot and Sgt Ralph, an air gunner, survived to become POW's. Sadly Sgt Horace Brown and Sgt Leslie Webbe were killed; they rest along side each other in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery at Kleve in Germany.
Hampden AD931 (EA-X)
P/O H.G. Williams Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt H.S. Brown W/Ag (Killed)
Sgt L.W. Webbe A/OB (Killed)
Sgt W. Ralph A/G (P.o.W.)