During the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne, the RAF paid a heavy price; 53 aircraft from 32 operational squadrons and support units lost, approximately 5% of the force. In these aircraft, 190 aircrew were killed, with 59 captured. Not represented here are a further four killed in a Wellington IC which crashed in transit that day, and two killed and two captured when their Mosquito IVs, the first to be lost in Bomber Command service, were downed in follow up sorties to photograph the aftermath of the raid. Here, in tribute to all Bomber Command aircrew, John Ash presents the crews of the 53.
9 SQUADRON
Wellington III X3469
Crash landing at Retie after engine failure.
KIA: Sgt K Paxman (died of injuries)
POW: Sgt S Langton, F/S G Welsh, Sgt J Haworth, Sgt J Johnson.
Wellington III, BJ674
Downed by night fighter, crashed at 0240 at Vierlingsbeek.
KIA: F/L M hodges, Sgt T Hatnett (Can), F/S T Newby, F/S C Stewart, Sgt H Jones.
10 SQUADRON
Halifax II W1042
Downed by night fighter, crashed at 0200 at Maarheeze. KIA: Sgt A Moore, Sgt M English (Can), Sgt F Walker
