Remembering Today 2/2/45 Sergeant FREDERICK COWELL 3040693, 78 Sqdn., Royal Air Force VR

Sergeant FREDERICK COWELL

3040693, 78 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 02 February 1945
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Cowell, of North Shields, Northumberland.
Remembered with honour
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

 

Sergeant FREDERICK COWELL

3040693, 78 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 02 February 1945
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Cowell, of North Shields, Northumberland.
Remembered with honour
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

2-3 February 1945

78 Squadron
Halifax III NA167 EY-P
Op. Wanne-Eickel

The aircraft took off from Breighton at 2026 hrs to bomb an oil refining plant. Of those who died, three are buried in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery, While F/S. Fletcher is commemorated on panel 268 of the Runnymede Memorial. Until recently, Sgt. Cowell had been a member of the Air Training Corps.

Crew.

F/O. J L. Gutzewitz RNZAF +
F/S. W J. Paterson. pow
P/O. L B. Stuart RNZAF. pow
P/O. L P. O'Brien RNZAF. pow
F/S. F V. Robinson +
Sgt. E H. Fletcher +
Sgt. F. Cowell +

'Bomber Command Losses' Vol.6 - W R. Chorley.

......................

The Wanne-Eickel raid of 2-3 February 1945.

Wanne-Eickel: 323 aircraft - 277 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters, 19 Mosquitos - of Nos 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 4 Halifaxes lost. This target was also cloud-covered and the attack, intended for the oil refinery, was not accurate. Local people assumed that the target was a local coal mine - Shamrock 3/4; most of the bombing fell in the open ground around the mine.

'The Bomber Command War Diaries' - M. Middlebrook / C. Everitt

 

Hi - My uncle, Flight Sergeant Ernest Henry Fletcher, was in Squadron 78 during WW2 and was killed in Action on 2nd February 1945. I have a number of photographs of the first grave he was laid to rest in, including 2 of your relative Frederick Cowell and the flight Officer James Leslie Gutzewitz who served with Royal New Zealand Airforce. Also I have a group photograph of the Squadron which includes F/O Gutzewitz (middle row, extreme left - with wellies on). Unfortunately my Uncle isn't in the photograph but your relative may be.

I have my uncle's Log Book and a dozen aerial photographs of their flying missions.

Hope you find the attached photo's useful. View attachment 117492 View attachment 117493 View attachment 117494

 

Hi - My uncle, Flight Sergeant Ernest Henry Fletcher, was in Squadron 78 during WW2 and was killed in Action on 2nd February 1945. I have a number of photographs of the first grave he was laid to rest in, including 2 of your relative Frederick Cowell and the flight Officer James Leslie Gutzewitz who served with Royal New Zealand Airforce. Also I have a group photograph of the Squadron which includes F/O Gutzewitz (middle row, extreme left - with wellies on). Unfortunately my Uncle isn't in the photograph but your relative may be.

I have my uncle's Log Book and a dozen aerial photographs of their flying missions.

Hope you find the attached photo's useful.

 

Hello Sandra
Thank you for posting.
He is not a relative.
Each day we post a casualty in Remembrance.

regards
Clive

 

Hi, i have been researching my family history and come across this page. my mothers uncle was frederick cowell and i am wondering if you have any more information on him, would he be in the group photo below? Any info would be really good to have. Many thanks. Richard.

 

apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records

date of birth and CWGC cert is all that is required along with £30

Sergeant (Air Gunner) COWELL, FREDERICK
Service Number 3040693

Died 02/02/1945

78 Sqdn.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Cowell, of North Shields, Northumberland.

INSCRIPTION
DEARLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED BY HIS LOVING MOTHER AND BROTHER
Buried at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Number of casualties: 7500

Cemetery/memorial reference: 1. G. 14.

 

From the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 2013, 2014 & 2015.

 

more info and photo of Cowell here North East War Memorials Project - Every Name A Story Content

 

Thank you so much

 

Further info as follows;

Sgt Cowell was Rear Gunner on Halifax NA167 EY-F £Rothman F-Freddie" that had departed Breighton at 2026 for Ops Wanne-Eickel

It was probably the aircraft intercepted S of Bocholt by a Night-Fighter captained by Oblt Klaus Breithaupt (III/NJG2) and shot down for his 1st Abschusse

The aircraft crashed at 2345. Of those killed, three are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. F/S Fletcher has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 268 of the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey

Both P/O O'Brien and P/O Stuart were confined in Hospital due to their injuries until Liberation

Tony