Date: 11/12th August 1942
Unit: No. 75 Squadron
Type: Wellington III
Serial: BJ767
Coded: AA-?
Location: 700M South West Vaals, Holland
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Laurence St. George Dobbin 401375 R.N.Z.A.F. Age; 29, Killed
Obs: Sgt. W. E. Braddock P.O.W. (Later promoted to W/O in captivity, Camp. Stalag Lamsdorf. 344, No: 25637)
W/Op: Sgt. J. McQueen R.N.Z.A.F. P.O.W. (Later promoted to W/O in captivity, Camp. Stalag Lamsdorf. 344, No: 25680)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Jack Leslie Jury 411764 R.N.Z.A.F. Age; 20, Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. A. Elson P.O.W. (Later promoted to W/O in captivity Camp. Stalag Lamsdorf. 344, No: 25696)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22.15hrs from Feltwell, Norfolk part of a force of 154 aircraft to bomb the city of Mainz. Taking part in this operation were 68 Wellington's, 33 Lancaster's, 28 Stirling's and 25 Halifax's. The first raid on this city. It is reported that 152 people were killed on the ground, 87 men, 64 women and 1 soldier although some doubts remain about these figures.
16 aircraft were lost (although this figure differs depending on the source checked - one source states 6, another 14 and yet another 16?) on this operation and 3 were from 75 squadron alone. 7 of the force were claimed by night fighters.
BJ767 has been claimed by a German night fighter ace Lt. Hans Autenrieth of Stab II./NJG1 - engaged at a height of 1.300m south west of Vaals, Holland at 01.33 hrs on the 12th August.
Lt. Hans Autenrieth of Stab II./NJG1 survived the war but was shot down by a Mosquito from either 264 or 488 squadron north east of Rennes on the 3/4th August 1944 and became a P.O.W.
Wreckage of Wellington BJ767 (Courtesy of Anneliese Autenrieth)
Lt. Hans Autenrieth of Stab II./NJG1 with his gunner Gerf. Rudolf Adam (Courtesy of Anneliese Autenrieth)
Shown above left to right: Fl/Lt. Laurence St. George Dobbin, Lt. Hans Autenrieth taken during his training. (Courtesy of Anneliese Autenrieth), Sgt. Jack Leslie Jury
Burial Details:
Laurence St. George Dobbin Jonkerbos War Cemetery 24.F.8.
Son of George Hill and Alice, of Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand; husband of Marjorie, of New Brighton, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Jack Leslie Jury Jonkerbos War Cemetery 24.F.9.
Son of Francis Raymond and of Elsie May, (nee McCarthy), of Auckland City, New Zealand.
Photographs of Dobbin and Jury kindly supplied by Mike Harrison
