LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations (No. 466 Squadron Wellington aircraft HE397), North Sea, 30 January 1943
Wellington HE397 took off from RAF Leconfield at 1106 hours on a daytime mission on 30 January 1943 to bomb Emden, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Eight aircraft took part in the raid and two of these including HE397 failed to return. Post war no trace of the missing aircraft or crew was found. The names of the missing crew are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
The crew members of HE397 were:
Sergeant Gilbert Campbell Baker (657594) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Arthur George (1345755) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Sergeant Arthur Ernest Rew (1187995) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Cyril John Simmonds (115545) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant George Edward Watts (1381437) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
The Operations Record Book records the following by crews who returned from the raid “The bombing was made under cloud cover from a low level. On the way out CU and SCU 8/10ths, base at 2,500 feet to 6,000 feet with occasional rain showers. Base falling to 700 feet tops to 6,000 feet over target. Visibility good below cloud. Sharp and accurate bursts of light flak experienced.”
No. 466 Squadron lost Wellington HE471 (Sergeant Leslie Frederick Axby (1335145) (RAFVR) (Pilot)) on 30 January 1943.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records