P/O Adrian W Essex RAAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1945
Failed to Return – 19/20th March 1945 – Avro Lancaster I – NG491 – Op Hanau
Adrian Essex and his crew were posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds from Heavy Conversion Unit around February 1945. Date not recorded in ORB. They were lost on their 2nd operation. See below :-
16-Mar-45 - Nuremberg - Lancaster - ME475 - F/O AW Essex RAAF
19-Mar-45 - Hanau - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O AW Essex RAAF - FTR - Lost without trace.
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P/O Adrian West Essex RAAF - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of William Henry and Zealia Bethia Essex of Brighton, South Australia - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Charles Henry Gregory RAFVR - 34 - 103 Sqn - Son of Joseph Henry and Annie Gregory; husband of Millicent Gregory, of Macclesfield, Cheshire - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Walter John Jewiss RAFVR ( pictured below ) - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of Horace and Annie Jewiss; husband of Winifred Jewiss, of Gravesend, Kent - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Albert Edward Whiteing RAFVR - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of Joseph John and Margaret Whiteing; husband of Hazel Bertha Whiteing, of Belgrave, Leicestershire - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Stanley Armitage RAFVR - 19 - 103 Sqn - Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Armitage, of Horbury, Yorkshire - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt James Edward Aldridge RAFVR - 24 - 103 Sqn - Son of John William and Edith Aldridge of Fetcham, Surrey - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Leonard Pendleton RAFVR ( pictured below ) - 20 - 103 Sqn - Son of Thomas and Maria Pendleton, of Worsborough Bridge, Yorkshire - Runnymede Memorial
Sgt Walter Jewiss RAFVR
Sgt Leonard Pendleton RAFVR
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19-Mar-45 - Hanau
103 Squadron detailed 14 aircraft for this attack on Hanau. All aircraft took off in good weather conditions and on arrival in the target area found it quite clear. The target indicators were well placed and concentrated and all crews were able to clearly identify them. On the Master Bombers instructions all bombed on these with it is believed good results as many fires were seen getting a good hold as the aircraft left for home. Bombing was from between 10000 ft to 12000 ft. Defences consisted of a light heavy flak barrage but no searchlights were seen. Quite a few fighter sightings were reported. F/O Essex and crew are missing from this operation. All remaining aircraft landed safely at base in poor weather conditions of low cloud.
For this attack on Hanau Bomber Command detailed a total of 277 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitos of Nos 1 and 8 Groups. 1 Lancaster lost. This was another accurate area raid. 50 industrial buildings and 2,240 houses were destroyed. The Altstadt was completely devastated and, says the report, all of the town's churches, hospitals, schools and historic buildings were badly hit.
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Lancaster - NG491
This machine was lost on its 21st operation. See below :-21
28-Jan-45 - Stuttgart/Zuffenhausen - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O AD Ross RCAF
01-Feb-45 - Ludwigshafen - Lancaster - NG491 – F/L ER Riches
02-Feb-45 - Wiesbaden - Lancaster - NG491 – F/L ER Riches
03-Feb-45 - Bottrop - Lancaster - NG491 – F/S DG Rimmington RAAF
07-Feb-45 - Kleve - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O WE Baker RCAF
08-Feb-45 - Politz - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O WE Baker RCAF
13-Feb-45 - Dresden - Lancaster - NG491 - F/O BB Hardman
14-Feb-45 - Chemnitz - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O BB Hardman
20-Feb-45 - Dortmund - Lancaster - NG491 – F/L ER Riches
21-Feb-45 - Duisburg - Lancaster - NG491 – S/L ER Riches
23-Feb-45 - Pforzheim - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O BB Hardman
01-Mar-45 - Mannheim - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O BB Hardman
02-Mar-45 - Cologne - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O BB Hardman
05-Mar-45 - Chemnitz - Lancaster – NG491 – F/O BB Hardman
07-Mar-45 - Dessau - Lancaster - NG491 – F/L BB Hardman
08-Mar-45 - Kassel - Lancaster - NG491 – F/L BB Hardman
11-Mar-45 - Essen - Lancaster - NG491 – S/L ER Riches
12-Mar-45 - Dortmund - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O JA Laviolette RCAF
13-Mar-45 - Herne - Lancaster - NG491 – S/L ER Riches
16-Mar-45 - Nuremberg - Lancaster - NG491 – S/L ER Riches
19-Mar-45 - Hanau - Lancaster - NG491 – F/O AW Essex RAAF – FTR - Lost without trace.
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Sgt Walter Jewiss RAFVR
Ted Jewiss kindly sent me several photos of Walter from his family album which I have added below :-
103 Squadron Jewiss W
103 Squadron Jewiss W Studio portrait. Selected for aircrew
103 Squadron Jewiss W Taken at some stage during training
103 Squadron Jewiss W with newly awarded O Wing pinned to his tunic
Item compiled by David Fell. Jewiss photos Wessel Scheer and Ted Jewiss. Pendleton photo Malcolm Broadhead.
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