P/O John E Firman RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron - RAF Elsham Wolds – 1942
Failed to Return – 8/9th June 1942 – Vickers Wellington IC – DV773 – Op Essen
John Firman was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds from 20 OTU on the 1st May 1942. He flew 2 operations as co-pilot in the crews of 2 distinguished 103 Squadron captains. F/L Saxelby on the 8th May 1042 to Warnemunde and S/L D W Holford on the 29th May 1942 to Gennevilliers, Paris.
He was then made captain of his own crew and flew the following operations in quick sucession :-
30-May-42 – Cologne – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O JE Firman
01-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – Z1171 – P/O JE Firman – DNTO - Engine U/S
02-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – HF897 – P/O JE Firman - Excessive engine temperature and inability to climb above 10,000ft.
03-Jun-42 – Bremen – Wellington – R1163 – P/O JE Firman
05-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman
06-Jun-42 – Emden – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman
08-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed north east of Helmond, Holland.
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P/O John Evans Firman RAFVR – Pilot – 30 – 103 Sqn - Son of Charles J. and Edith Mary Firman, of Ilford, Essex - Eindhoven Woensel General Cemetery, Netherlands
Sgt John MacQueen RAFVR – Observer - 103 Sqn - Eindhoven Woensel General Cemetery, Netherlands
Sgt Jean Albert Marc Turner RCAF ( pictured below ) – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 103 Sqn - Son of George Joseph and Bernadette Turner, of Hurdman's Bridge, Ontario, Canada - Eindhoven Woensel General Cemetery, Netherlands
Sgt Frederick William Ewart Ball RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Eindhoven Woensel General Cemetery, Netherlands
Sgt Henry Halliwell RAFVR – 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of William and Catherine Mary Halliwell of Immingham, Lincolnshire - Eindhoven Woensel General Cemetery, Netherlands
Sgt Jean Albert Marc Turner RCAF
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08-Jun-42 – Essen
103 Squadron detailed 11 aircraft for this attack on the German city of Essen. The visibility was good en route but there was heavy haze over the target which made identification difficult. There was intense heavy flak and searchlight activity in the target area.
P/O Firman and crew are missing from this operation. All other crews returned safely
For this attack on Essen Bomber Command detailed a total of 170 aircraft - 92 Wellingtons, 42 Halifaxes, 14 Stirlings, 13 Lancasters, 9 Hampdens. 19 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 7 Halifaxes, 3 Lancasters, 1 Hampden, 1 Stirling - lost. Yet again, this target was not identified accurately and bombing was scattered over a wide area. Essen suffered further light housing damage, 13 people killed and 42 injured.
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19-May-42 – Mannheim – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JF Brookes
30-May-42 – Cologne – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JF Brookes
01-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JF Brookes
02-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – Sgt KH Frith
03-Jun-42 – Bremen – Wellington – DV773 – Sgt DW Spooner RAAF
05-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman
06-Jun-42 – Emden – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman
08-Jun-42 – Essen – Wellington – DV773 – P/O JE Firman – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed north east of Helmond, Holland.
Item compiled by David Fell. Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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