On the 13/14 July 1943 three hundred and seventy four aircraft took off from airfields all over the UK on a mission to bomb the city of Aachen in Germany, and Sergeant Joseph Marsh, (The webmaster's Great Uncle) was aboard one of those planes.
The night of the 13 July 1943 is remembered by many of the 102 veterans still alive for one reason, it is the night that Wing Commander Henry Coventry was shot down and killed along with all of his crew.
Pilot: W/C Henry Reginald Coventry (CWGC Page) DFC KIA Aged 27
Sgt Geoffrey Tristram Pine-Coffin (CWGC Page) Flight Engineer KIA
F/L Frederick Edward King (CWGC Page) Navigator DFC KIA Aged 21
F/O Crosby Frank Read (CWGC Page) Bomb Aimer KIA Aged 24
Sgt Walter Brown (CWGC Page) Wirewless Operator KIA Aged 23
Sgt William Hardy (CWGC Page) Gunner KIA Aged 20
F/L George Frank Hogg (CWGC Page) Gunner KIA Aged 33
.JD297 was airborne at 23.34 on the 13th Jul 1943 from Pocklington.
Cause of loss not established.
Crashed near Maubeuge (Nord), France, where all were buried 15 Jul 43.
W/C Coventry was the son of The Hon. T.G.Coventry and Alice Coventry of Victoria, British Columbia. W/C
Coventry was 102 Squadron Commander.
F/L Hogg was Squadron Gunnery Leader.