Wellington Bomber RAF Cosford: WW2 Hall family history: Duisburg raid, 26 March 1943

Royal Air force Museum Cosford's recently restored Vickers Wellington Bomber.

WW2 Hall family military service history.

My uncle, Sgt Pilot Eric Hall, completed his initial flight training in the USA during 1942 and joined 426 'Thunderbird' Sqdn RCAF in January 1943, after a period of operational training on the Wellington and bombing operations with 20 OTU.

Operations Duisburg: 455 a/c: 26-27 March 1943: Wellington III X3696 OW “J” 426 Thunderbird Sqdn take-off 19.22, RCAF Dishforth.

Wellington (426 ‘J’) of 6 Group obtained a first class fix at 02:05 hrs 50 miles east of Withernsea, but nothing further was heard. A search revealed a patch of oil, but no survivors. There is no evidence to account for the loss of this aircraft.
Source: Bomber Command report on night operations, 26/27 March, 1943. Duisburg: Last fix: 53 47'N 01 20'E 50 miles east Withernsea (North Sea).

1216854 Sgt E. Hall Pilot Killed in action
657755 Sgt J.J. Reade Navigator Killed in action
1238939 Sgt F. Simpson B/A Killed in action
1369435 Sgt W. Stevenson W A/G Killed in action
710081 Sgt C.D. Reed R/G Killed in action

All remembered on the Runnymede Memorial

The family were informed that Eric was 'missing on night operations presumed killed' on the night of 26/27 March 1943. Although information was given that a late returning by a/c, thought to be Eric's, made radio calls over the North Sea, nothing further was heard or found and this information remained unofficial and unconfirmed. The family were only really able to find further details of Eric's loss decades later, with publication of brief accounts and availability of information on the internet. It is now known that returning 426 Squadron aircraft had to divert to bases in East Anglia, due to poor weather. X3696 was 1 1/2 - 2 hrs late on return from the raid and made a number of calls/radio fixes. This included calling Hull and the a/c was reported overhead RAF Catfoss at one point. A later fix, at 02:05 hrs, was made 46 nm west of Withernsea, over the North Sea, shortly before being lost. A Beaufighter search was made. Air Sea Rescue did report a patch of oil in the search area, but nothing more.

Information now made available includes: planned route, bomb load, RAF night raid report, 426 squadron detail of work carried out and summary of events and aircraft loss card. In addition we have Eric's log book, letters, photograph's and medals.

My father, Reg Hall, LAC RAF, wireless operator radio/radar tech, trained at RAF Cosford & spent most of the war posted with the RAF in Egypt/Middle East. He did not return home until 1948. He not only lost his brother and a number of years of his life but also suffered long-term serious illness and deafness he attributed to flying in bombers and gunfire range-practice.