Richard Edward Bragg

He was the pilot of Halifax II JB924 which took off 2317 13 May 1943 from Linton-on-Ouse to bomb Bochum. 10 aircraft from 78 Sqdn took part in this 442 plane raid - 135 Halifaxes, 104 Wellingtons, 98 Lancasters, 95 Stirlings, 10 Mosquitoes. 24 aircraft (5.4% of the attacking force) were lost - 13 Halifaxes including 3 from 78 Sqdn, 6 Wellingtons, 4 Stirlings & 1 Lancaster.

78 Sqdn's ORB recorded that since take off, 'no further news has been heard of either (Bragg's) aircraft or crew.' (TNA Air 27/660/70 May 1943 Record of Events). It subsequently transpired they were shot down by a night- fighter (Hptm Helmut Lent 1V - near Wijnaldum, Netherlands.

Seven fatalities: Pilot Officer RE Bragg (P/Cpt), Sergeant E Pritchard (P), Flight Lieutenant R Grey (FE), Sergeant J M Farrell (RCAF) (N), Sergeant R D Matches (W/Op), Sergeant D Baxter (MUG), Flight Sergeant A A Kew (RCAF) RG).

Sergeant H E Gell (BA) survived the crash to become a prisoner of war.

According to Middlebrook and Everitt (Bomber Command War Diaries p. 385), 'This raid started well but after 15 minutes, what were believed to be German decoy markers drew much of the bombing away fromm the target ... 394 buildings in Bochum were destroyed, 716 were seriously damaged and 302 people were killed.'

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