4/10/43 Attack Against Targets at Frankfurt

Crew
F/S Allan Johnson Mayfield RNZAF. Pilot
P/O Jack Francis David Jarmy. Navigator
Sgt. Robert Douglas  Sommerville. Air Bomber
F/S William Lake. Wireless Operator
Sgt. A. Warburton. Flight Engineer
Sgt. Thomas Darbyshire. Mid Upper Gunner
F/S John Sebastian Hulena RNZAF. Rear Gunner

Aircraft
Striling Mk.III EH939 ‘J’ for Johnny

Flight
Up 19.45 4th October
Down 00.45 5th October
Total Flight Time 5 hours

75 (NZ) Sqn RAF Operations Record Book (ORB)
4/10/43
Operations. 
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above targets with incendiary bombs of 30lb. and 4lbs. Three aircraft returned early and one failed to return. This was a good attack, ten aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area. Very good concentrated fires and enormous explosions being seen, the fires were still visible on the homeward journey. A.A. Fire was negligible, there were many search lights which were cooperating with enemy night-fighters. The aircraft captained by S/Ldr. J.JOLL had a combat with a M.E. 109, which was claimed as possibly damaged. The weather was poor on the outward and return journeys, but clear over the target, visibility was good except for smoke haze. Navigation was very good. The missing aircraft was captained by SGT. H.J. MIDDLETON.
Page 611, 1943. Form 540/ 541 AIR27/ 646  75(NZ) Squadron RAF, Mepal. National Archives.

Stirling Mk.III EF130 JN-M
Sgt. Harvey Johnson Middleton RAFVR 1476465. Pilot. 16th September to 4th October 1943. Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 24. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

Sgt. Charles John Massie RAFVR 1322528. Nav. 16th September to 4th October 1943. Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 23. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

F/S. Charles Pennycook RCAF R.137421. AB. 16th September to 4th October 1943. Died Monday 4th October 1943, age ?. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

Sgt Leslie Pow RAFVR 1024139 WOAG. 16th  Sep to 4th  Oct 1943. Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 33, during a raid on Frankfurt. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery Germany.

Sgt. Eric Francis Hudson RAFVR 1581611. FE. 16th September to 4th October 1943.Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 21. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

Sgt. Ernest Thorpe RAFVR 151349. AG. 16th September to 4th October 1943. Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 20. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

Sgt. Thomas Lackenby RAFVR 1590747. AG. 16th September to 4th October 1943.Died Monday 4th October 1943, age 19. Buried Durnbach War Cemetery , Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany.

Bomber Command War Diary
4 October 1943
406 aircraft – 162 Lancasters, 170 Halifaxes, 70 Stirlings, 4 Mosquitos raided Frankfurt. 3 B-17s also took part. 10 aircraft – 5 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings – lost, 2.5 per cent of the force. 1 B-17 was also lost. This was the last RAF night-bombing raid in which American aircraft took part, but individual B-17s occasionally carried out bombing flights in following weeks Clear weather and good Pathfinder marking produced the first serious blow on Frankfurt so far in the war, with extensive destruction being caused in the eastern half of the city and in the inland docks on the River Main.

6 Lancasters of 1 and No 8 Groups carried out a diversionary raid to Ludwigshafen without loss but the marking and bombing were scattered.

12 Mosquitos to Knapsack power-station, 1 Mosquito to Aachen, 5 Stirlings minelaying in the River Gironde, 8 OTU sorties. No aircraft lost. The Mosquito attacking Aachen was carrying out the first operational trial of the G-H blind bombing equipment but the trial was not successful.

Page 436, The Bomber Command War Diaries. 2011. Everitt Middlebrook. Midland publishing.