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22/23 October, 1943; KASSEL:
The squadron dispatched 11 Lancasters. Eight Pathfinder 'visual
markers' found the centre of Kassel after the H2S 'blind' marker
overshot the target. The consequences proved to be horrendous
for this German city. The bombing, by nearly 570 was so concentrated
that a firestorm was created, but not on the scale of the Hamburg
storm in July.
Returning crews found bad weather conditions over base and were
widely diverted
throughout Lincolnshire.
Bomber Command paid heavily for their success with 24 Halifaxes
and 18 Lancasters failing to return. Sadly two of the missing
Lancasters were from 49 Squadron... the crew piloted by 21 year
old F/Sgt Alan Hodgkinson was all killed over Germany and are
buried together in Hannover; their 23 year-old rear gunner Frank
Ricketts had only been married a few weeks.
Lancaster JB416
F/S A. Hodgkinson Pilot
(Killed)
Sgt R.E.
Harnett F/E (Killed)
Sgt A.G.
Fisher Nav (Killed)
F/S J. Foley
W/AG (Killed)
Sgt D. Durrell RCAF A/G (Killed)
Sgt R.A. Ford B/A (Killed)
Sgt R.F.
Ricketts A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 11th operation
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