No. 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron
Royal Air Force
CREWS AND LOSSES
WELLINGTON
214 WELLINGTON
NOTE: If the serial number in
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Wellington listing SOURCE
http://www.bomber-command.info/c214wellloss.htm
SOURCE: picture from model art
NOTE: This is not a complete
listing of losses but is added to as more are identified. Please contact
this site if you can add to this list or have any information on the ones
that are listed.
'APRIL FOOLS DAY' TRAGEDY
A BLACK DAY FOR 214 SQUADRON
On 1st / 2nd April 1942 214 Squadron lost 7 Wellington Mark
I C's
R1789 X9979 Z1052 Z1156 Z8805 Z8842 Z8979
Mission: Take off 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to
bomb railway yards in Hanau, Lohr.
35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens
were to carry out attacks on railway targets. 22 aircraft reported that
they had carried out this task but 12 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden were lost.
7 of the lost Wellingtons were from 214 Squadron, with a loss of 41 lives
and only 1 survivor, Sgt C.H. Davidson in Z1052. As the few surviving aircraft
staggered back to base shot to pieces, the eagerly waiting ground crews
scanning the skies for their returning aircraft would have been stunned
beyond our comprehension to learn the few wrecks comming in was all there
would be. That evening there were an incredible 41 empty bunks of friends
and crew mates that would never be comming home and 41 dreaded telegrams
to mothers and fathers. Sixty years later this tragedy still tears at ones
heart. Unknown to many, this very day some of the long time veterans of
the squadron had left for Egypt (See Photo album 4 - Exodus from 214 to
215).
SOURCE:
Simon Dawes and Ian Hunt
Wellington (model
unknown) C9606
3 May 1943 Air Sea Rescue
- no further details known
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) C9606 consisted of :
Plt/Off Hurley, Pilot
Flt/Lt Donald 'Mac' MacGilchrist, 169977, Bomb Aimer, Royal
Air Force, Nationality : British
Source : Donald MacGilchrist
Date record last updated : 20 September 2008
Crew of HF856 coded BU-?
NOTE: Records indicate
Wellington lost as HF856, Research by Alan Butterworth indicates HB856
P/O James Walter Murray,
10443 Pilot
F/S Harry Alyn Neal, R67970
Co-Pilot (RCAF) age 26 of LaGrange Illinois.
Sgt Cyril Walter Penny,
925051 Navigator. age 22, son of Walter & Rose Penny, Southampton.
Sgt Fred Bonser, 992516
W/O, Gunner age 23, son of Fred & Hester Bonner, Birmingham and husband
of Madge E Bonser, Alum Rock, Birmingham.
Sgt D Smith, 1308089 W/O,
Gunner
Cpt. Harold M Butterworth,
( RA ) 176318 Age 20
On the 10th of April 1942
( 10/04/1942 ) a bombing force of 254 British planes took off from
various bases in the south and east of England destined for the German city
of Essen in the heavily defended industrial Ruhr Valley. At 22.50, Wellington
Mark 1c Bomber No. HB856 lifted off from Stradishall Royal Air Force base
to join up with the group and then headed out on the nights operation. Intelligence
had predicted clear weather over the whole bombing run and as with the 3
previous night sorties that week, the planes should return in the early
hours of the next morning. Complete radio silence would be maintained throughout
the flight as was normal procedure.
The weather forecast had
not been correct however, and once over Germany the formations broke up
in the heavy cloud and encountered concentrated and accurate anti-aircraft
fire. Only 3 out of the Stradishall planes managed to reach and bomb their
designated targets. Following which, one by one, all the planes that had
departed Stradishall returned to base the following morning with the exception
of HB856. No member of the crew was ever heard from again and some time
would pass before mates, family and friends would learn of their fate. That
news came 5 days later when the German authorities informed the British
military that their bodies had been recovered and buried at Gelsenkirchen.
HB856 had become separated
from the other planes due to the bad weather and either took a direct hit
from the very effective Ruhr Valley flak or was persued and shot down by
German nightfighters. At a top speed of 375 kms. and with a 2 ton bombload
on board the Wellington would have stood no chance against a sustained attack
from a number of nightfighters There was no witnesses to the crash and it
was written up "as a result of enemy action" The latter appeared
more likely as the bodies were able to be recovered, identified and buried
individually rather than in a mass grave. Later, rumors would circulate
that the crew was captured and executed by the S.S. but no evidence has
ever surfaced to support this. Interestingly enough the co-pilot Harry Neal
was an American from Chicago U.S.A. and had joined the Royal Canadian Air
Force before enlisting in the R.A.F. Tragically the previous week he had
flown on a sortie where only 7 out of 14 planes had returned. HB856 had
taken part in 3 raids that week
After hostilities had ended
in 1945 all of the crew members were moved and reinterred at Reichswald
Forest.
See full story written
by Alan Butterworth in the personnel section under Harold Butterworth.
The
crew of L4345 comprised of :
P/O J Lingwood (KIA)
AC1 A Matthews (KIA)
Flight lost on 6 November 1939.
SOURCE: Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006
Wellington
Mark I C L7840 BU-?
This Wellington had been
built by Vickers Armstrong at Chester and was fitted with Pegasus XVIII
engines. It was part of contract 992424/39 and had been delivered to 22MU
on 21 May 1940, before being transferred to 214 Squadron on 10 September
1940.
Wellington L7840 of 214 Squadron Reserve Flight attached to 150 Squadron
reserve flight.
On 11th October 1940 L7840 was taking off from Stradishall at 14.45hrs on
a training session on the SSE-NNW runway when it swerved to starboard and
crashed in flames and out of control into the SE corner of of No 1 hanger.
Four crew were killed and 2 were seriously injured.
Date of loss : 11 October 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C L7840 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt D J Capel
Sgt Richard Samuel
Eastment, 524673, Observer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 11 October 1940, Aged 31
Sgt Clifford A Hellewell,
935937, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 11 October 1940, Aged 20
Sgt George William
Hunt, 39922, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New
Zealand, KIA 11 October 1940, Aged 22
Sgt C D Pownie
Fg/Off Charles William
A Haughton Rafter, 41203, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 11 October 1940, Aged 22
Source : Bill Stubbs
and Jonathan Shipley and Chorley
Date record last updated : 7 August 2010
The
crew of L7843 coded? comprised of :
Sgt John Robert Hall (KIA)
P/O John Rea (KIA)
Sgt A C Peck (fate unknown)
Sgt Harry Edward Sambrook (KIA)
Sgt T F Williams (POW)
Sgt K S Thompson (POW)
Flight lost on 27/28 September 1940.
SOURCE: Andrew Lemon and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006
and CWGC
Wellington
(model unknown) L7847Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (11 & 12 August 1940)
Raid on Castrop-Rauxel - oil refinery 11 August 1940
Raid on Fredeburg - razzling 12 August 1940
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (11 & 12 August 1940) consisted of :
Flt/Lt Norman Maxwell Boffee DFC, Pilot
Flt/Lt Philip Richard Steuart Filleul, 33383, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944, Aged 26
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (15 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 5 Sep 1940)
Raids as follows:
15 August 1940 - Gelsenkirchen
17 August 1940 - Groitsch near Leipzig
19 August 1940 - Kiel canal - battleship Gneisenau
24 August 1940 - Knapsack near Cologne
5 September 1940 - Harzgeburge
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (15 Aug, 17 Aug, 19 Aug, 24 Aug, 5 Sep 1940) consisted of :
Flt/Lt Norman Maxwell Boffee DFC, Pilot
Flt/Lt Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, 117960, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 May 1944
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (8 Sep 1940)
Raid on barges at Boulougne
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (8 Sep 1940) consisted of :
Flt/Lt Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Flt/Lt Maurice Walter Hartford DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (10 Sep - 16 Oct 1940)
Raids on:
10 September 1940 Antwerp Aerodrome
12 September 1940 Osnabruck - marshalling yards
17 September 1940 Ostend
25 September 1940 Calais docks and harbour
28 September 1940 Sweeping - search
7 October 1940 Berlin - Siemens Electrical works
12 October 1940 Buterfield - changed to Hanover
16 October 1940 Kiel - battleships Scharnhost and Lutzow
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) L7847 (10 Sep - 16 Oct 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown, Pilot
Flt/Lt Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C L7849
Came down in the North
sea off the Norfolk Coast returning from Le Havre. Three crew members died
and three were rescued by the Coast Guard vessel.
Date of loss : 28 December 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C L7849 consisted of :
Sgt Vaughan-Davies
Sgt Albert William Hodgson, 636770, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 28 December 1940, Aged 20
Plt/Off J A Temperley
Sgt Edward Bertram Douglas Jenkins, 748696, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 28 December 1940
Sgt John Francis Huxtable, 901860, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 28 December 1940, Aged 24
Sgt Alleway
Source : Nightjar Newsletter
Winter / Spring 2006
Date record last updated : 21 February 2008
Wellington
L7859 BU-C
Wellington
(model unknown) L7859 (29 November 1940) BU-C
Wellington (model unknown) L7859 (29 November 1940) BU-C
Target was Cologne West Bank industrial port . No results seen due to cloud
cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) L7859 (29 November 1940) BU-C consisted
of :
Sqn/Ldr D F Balsdon, Pilot
Plt/Off Lodge, Co-pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Wellington
Mark I C N2746 (29 November 1940) BU-M
Target was Cologne West
Bank industrial port No results seen due to cloud cover.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C N2746 (29 November 1940) BU-M consisted of :
Fg/Off E Dawes, Pilot
Fg/Off Maclean, Co-pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 7 April 2009
Wellington
Mark I C N2746 BU-M
A picture of the German fighter pilot (Ofw. Gildner) and his wireless operator,
inspecting the wreck of Elder's Wellington which has been located by Stevin
Oudshoorn (see below).
Date of loss : 13 March 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C N2746 BU-M consisted of :
Sgt Victor Lawrence Bagley,
754080, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 13 March 1941, Aged
21
Sgt George Cedric Daniel,
618264, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, KIA 13 March 1941
Sgt Alexander Graeme
Elder, 754780, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 13 March
1941, Aged 19
Sgt Sol Glazer, 40621,
Observer, Royal New Zealand Air Force, KIA 13 March 1941, Aged 29
Sgt John La Bassee Tomkinson,
701366, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 13 March 1941, Aged 22
Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters,
Nose Gunner, POW 13 March 1941
Source : Stevin
Oudshoorn (Nachtjagdarchiv Horst Diener, via Ab Jansen in Wespennest Leeuwarden,
vol. I, pg 116). Permision obtained by Stevin Oudshoorn. See Stevin's website
for further information on all aircraft lost over the Netherlands. www.basher82.nl
Date record last updated : 9 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2776 BU-G
From left to right: John
Potter, Sgt Evans, Ted Hargest, George Steven, Maurice Hartford and Fg/Off
John Beck (in front sitting)
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2776 (pre September 1940) BU-G consisted
of :
Wg/Cdr John Leighton Beck DFC & Bar MiD, Pilot
Sgt Evans, Rear Gunner
Sgt Clayton Edward 'Ted' Hargest DFM, Wireless Operator
Plt/Off Maurice Walter Hartford DFC, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force
Sgt John Frederick Potter DFC, Navigator
Sgt George Steven, Air Gunner
Source : George Coates
(grandson of WC J L Beck) and Christopher Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber
Pilot
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Crew (left to right) Ted
Hargest, Sgt Evans, Maurice Hartford, George Steven, John Potter and Jack
Wetherly (leaning on ladder). September 1940.
Several of this aircrew's early operations formed Bomber Command's contribution
to the Battle of Britain: their attacks were on the German invasion barges
gathering in the Channel ports.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2776 BU-G consisted of :
Sgt Evans, Rear Gunner
Sgt Clayton Edward 'Ted' Hargest DFM, Wireless Operator
Flt/Lt Maurice Walter Hartford DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Sgt John Frederick Potter DFC, Navigator
Sgt George Steven, Air Gunner
Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged 28
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot.
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Crew (21 December 1940)
:
Flt/Lt F L H Eddison, Pilot
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Co-pilot
Target : Porto Maghera, Venice. Op duration 18.53 to 04.53.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 BU-R
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (29 November 1940) BU-R
Target
was the West bank industrial port Cologne. No results seen due to cloud cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (29 November 1940) BU-R consisted
of :
Flt/Lt Frank Leslie Herbert
Eddison DFC, 39377, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 30
Fg/Off O'Connor,
Pilot
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (19 December 1940) BU-R
Target : Boulogne. Unable to locate target due to cloud cover. Brought bombs
back and landed Debden. (Op duration 23.18 to 04.55?)
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (19 December 1940) BU-R consisted
of :
Sgt William Herbert Browell,
754853, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (01 January 1941) BU-R
Target : Bremen. Op duration 18.12 to 23.40.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (01 January 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Sgt William Herbert Browell,
754853, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (29 January 1941) BU-R
Target : Wilhelmshaven (The 'Tirpitz'). Hit close to aiming point and caused
15 small fires and 2 explosions. Fires still visible 40 miles from target.
Landed ok at base although cloud base only 150 ft. Op duration 02.52 to 08.17.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (29 January 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Sgt William Herbert Browell,
754853, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (10 February 1941) BU-R
Target : Hanover. Bombed at 23.00. Fires visible from 20 miles away on return.
Op duration 20.53 to (03.--?)
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (10 February 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Plt/Off Gilbert,
Co-pilot
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (14 February 1941) BU-R
Target : Gelsenkirchen (Nordstern Oil Refinery). Unable to locate target so
bombed factories on eastern outskirts of Essen at 21.00 from 10,000 ft instead.
One large explosion seen after the bombs had burst. Op duration 18.55 to 23.31.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (14 February 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Plt/Off Gilbert,
Co-pilot
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2778 (22 February 1941) BU-R
Target : Brest ('Hipper' Class Cruiser). Returned with bombs. Landed Hatfield.
Op duration 02.36 to 09.00.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (22 February 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Wg/Cdr Loughnan,
Co-pilot
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Target : Düsseldorf. Bombed on ETA as 10/10 cloud. Large red glow seen
after bombing. Op duration 18.51 to 23.43.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2778 (25 February 1941) BU-R consisted
of :
Sgt
William Herbert Browell, 754853, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2800 BU-P
Wellington
(model unknown) N2800 (3 January 1941)
Raid on Bremen - Blitz
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2800 (3 January 1941) consisted of :
Flt/Lt Beck
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Source : Sheila
Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) N2800 (9 January 1941)
Raid on Gelsenkirchen - Blitz
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2800 (9 January 1941) consisted of :
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Plt/Off J A Temperley
Source : Sheila
Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) N2800 (15 January 1941)
Raid on Wilhelmshaven - Blitz
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2800 (15 January 1941) consisted of :
Plt/Off Harold Johnstone
Paterson DFC, 83712 / 745714 / 742714, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, POW 20 April 1941
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Source : Sheila
Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) N2800 (22 January, 4 February and 10 February 1941
Raid on:
22 January 1941 Dusseldorf
4 February 1941 Brest - Cruiser hit
10 February 1941 Hanover
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2800 (22 January, 4 February and 10 February
1941 consisted of :
Flt/Lt Sidney Dobson
'Tich' Meadowcroft, 102104, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 2 June 1944, Aged 26
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Source
: Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Target : Düsseldorf. Bombed from 14,500 ft between "PQWP" [-
typo for 01.20 ?] and 01.40. No results seen except flashes due to haze. Op
duration 23.30 to 03.45.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2800 (11 June 1941) BU-P consisted of
:
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Flt/Lt Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source
: Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 3 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) N2802 BU-A
In mid November 1940 Jack
Wetherly took over as Captain of a new crew from OTU. Together this crew flew
ten or so operations during the bitingly cold winter of 1940 / 1941.
Sometimes Pockney was replaced by the most senior gunner on the squadron,
Flight Lieutenant Culley.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2802 BU-A consisted of :
Sgt Hubert William John Barr, 759105, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941
Plt/Off Ian Douglas Napier Lawson CB, CBE, DFC & Bar AE, 86354, Co-pilot,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom
Sgt Albert Livesey, 970744, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 19
Plt/Off Ewart Duncan Pockney, 76925, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 19 August 1941, Aged 35
Sgt Nigel Firth Walker DFC, DSO, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom
Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged 28
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot and Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner from 18/08/1941 to 18/02/1942
SOURCE Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I N2993 BU-?
Crashed near Ely, UK after the pilot was blinded
by the glare of searchlights whilst on a training fligh.t
Date of loss : 6 June 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I N2993 BU-? consisted of :
Fg/Off John Freeman Nicholson,
70501, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 June 1940,
Aged 22
Sgt Augustine Daniel
Flurence O'Driscoll, 580123, Observer, Royal Air Force, Nationality :
United Kingdom, KIA 6 June 1940, Aged 30
LAC Maurice Pelling,
749447, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 6 June 1940
Sgt Bernard Raper,
548176, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, KIA 6 June 1940
Sgt Ernest Albert Revell,
514831, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 June
1940
Source : Nightjar
Newsletter Spring 2006 and Chorley and Jock Whitehouse
Date record last updated : 8 August 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) N2994Wellington (model unknown) N2994 (5 August 1940)
The raid was on Hamm - marshalling yards.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) N2994 (5 August 1940) consisted of :
Flt/Lt Norman Maxwell Boffee DFC, Pilot
Flt/Lt Philip Richard Steuart Filleul, 33383, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944, Aged 26
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) P9267 Robert M Nelson may possibly be part of this crew
Date of loss : 4 April 1940
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) P9267 consisted of :
Plt/Off John Denton Hargreaves, 77035, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 4 April 1940, Aged 20
Fg/Off Herome Alexander Innes DFC, 40227, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 4 April 1940, Aged 27
Source : Jock Whitehouse & Traces of WW2 website
Date record last updated : 8 August 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) R1046Wellington (model unknown) R1046 (5 November and 7 November 1940)
Raids to:
5 November 1940 Emden
7 November 1940 Essen - Krupps works
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) R1046 (5 November and 7 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown, Pilot
Flt/Lt Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
This Wellington was built by Vickers Armstrong at Chester as part
of contract 992424/39. It was fitted with Pegasus XVIII engines. It was
delivered to 23 MU on 23 October 1940 and had been transferred to 214 Squadron
on 16 November 1940.
On 9 May 1941 Wellington
R1226 crashed at Breezand, Anna Paulowna (Province of North Holland) The
aircraft came down in the fields of the Homan company, tulipbreeders. The
aircraft crashed at 02:48 hrs (local time). It was shot down by a German
nightfighter of Oblt. Zur Lippe und Uffz. Renette. All crew were buried
in one grave at Den Helder, Huisduinen cemetery. After the war the crew
was reinterred at Bergen op Zoom grave no. 32 C.2
Target was: Hamburg/Bremen/Kiel/Emden/Berlin
Date of loss : 9 May 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-L consisted of :
Sqn/Ldr Frank Leslie Herbert Eddison DFC, 39377, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 30
Sgt John Holt, 749319, Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941
Plt/Off Norman Mervyn Kebbell Kirckaldie, 401315, Royal New Zealand Air
Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 23
Sgt Cyril Paton, 904673, Front Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 22
Sgt Kennedy Tait, 974125, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 20
Sgt Arnot Flaws Wilson, 935907, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19
Source : Jonathan Shipley
and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Wellington
(model unknown) R1246
This aircraft collided with a barrage balloon over France on 7 December
1940 whilst flying between R.A.F Stradishall and 70 Sqdn based in the
Middle East.
The RAF Historical branch seem to think there were six crewmen on board.
Can anyone else help with further information please?
Contact us at XXXraf214squadron@yahoo.com
(remember to remove the XXX before sending email).
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) R1246 consisted of :
WO Ronald Ayre,
114211, POW 9 December 1940
WO/I John Frederick
Coombs, NZ 401201, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New
Zealand
WO Frederick James
William Steele, 561898, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 19 April 1945, Aged 33, POW 7 December 1940
Flt/Lt Peter Fowler
Walker, 85280, Royal Air Force
Source
: Andy Buckley
Date record last updated : 28 December 2010
The crew of R1380 coded
BU-?
Sgt R A Williams
Sgt K Manson RNZAF
Sgt R A Chatfield
Sgt R C Plummer
Sgt H R Easton RCAF and
Sgt C H R Mercer
(- all killed).
08/04/1941 - 07/08/1941.
214 Sqn. Wellington 1c. "Took off Stradishall on operations
to Kiel. Lost without trace. All are commemmorated on
the Runnymede Memorial".
Wellington Mark I C R1447 flew out of Stradishall at 22:26hrs. It was shot
down by a German night hunter whereupon the aircraft, which was close to Woensdrecht,
crashed down. All six crew members were taken as Prisoners of War.
Date of loss : 9 May 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1447 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt H Barnes, POW
9 May 1941
Sgt J R Fry, Royal
New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, POW 9 May 1941
Sgt H E Y Gillies,
POW 9 May 1941
Fg/Off Marcus M Marsh,
POW 9 May 1941
Sgt B L Tillotson,
POW 9 May 1941
Plt/Off I K Woodroffe,
POW 9 May 1941
Source : Chorley
and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and
Wim de Meester of The Netherlands
Date record last updated : 30 July 2011
Delivered by Vickers (Chester)
between August 1940 and May 1941. Tropicalised to FE Standard. Airborne
from Stradishall.
Wellington R1462 missing from operations to Hamburg on 12 May 1941. Plt/Off
Toplis took over his crew from P/O Jack Wetherly who had completed his tour
in March 1941, Two usual members of the crew, Sergeant Nigel Walker navigator,
and gunner Plt/Off Duncan Pockney were not with them at this time: Walker
was on leave prior to being commissioned. Ian Hunt reports that Sgt P.R.K.
Burley was on board this flight, not Plt/Off Ian Lawson as the second pilot.
Date of loss : 12 May 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1462 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Hubert William John Barr, 759105, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941
Sgt Peter Richard Keith Burley, 1152213, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 20
Sgt Arnold Walker Gibson, 749389, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 26
Sgt Thomas Webley James, 541997, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 24
Sgt Albert Livesey, 970744, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 19
Plt/Off John Grahame Toplis, 61483, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 May 1941, Aged 20
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot and Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Wellington
Mark I C R1609
Operation to Emden
Took off at 23:59 from Stradishall. Lost without trace. All are commemorated
on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Sgt Cotton had survived a crash-landing earlier
in the month (June 1941) on return from Berlin.
Date of loss : 24 June 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1609 consisted of :
Sgt Kenneth Judson
Barton, R/64730, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA
24 June 1941
Sgt John Charles Eric
Black, 955681, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 24 June 1941, Aged 23
Sgt Godfrey Allenby
Douglas Cotton, 945560, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 24 June 1941, Aged 23
Plt/Off John Dodds-Forrest,
62022, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 25 June 1941, Aged 27
Sgt George Thomas
Hunt, 944629, Observer / Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 June 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Godfrey Tegid
Jones, 947989, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 25 June 1941, Aged 23
Source : Mrs
June Batley and Mrs Jeni Cook (both relatives of Sgt Hunt) Mrs Nadia Turrell
(Sister of Sgt Hunt) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 12 October 2011
THE CREW OF R1613
Coded BU-G consisted of:
P/O J.G. (Gordon) Crampton
P/O T. Jenkins (WR Chorley records as J.C. Jenkins)
Sgt R. Kent
Sgt Marshall A Johnson
F/Sgt H. E Jones
F/Sgt R. Instone
Drawing by Marsh 1942
P/O GORDON CRAMPTON P/O
T. JENKINS KIA
Sgt R. Kent KIA Sgt M A. JOHNSON RAG
F/Sgt
H. JONES WAG F/Sgt
R. INSTONE AG
THE ABOVE INSIGNIA WERE HAND DRAWEN IN MARSHALL
JOHNSON'S DIARY
14 - 15/07/1941 four aircraft
R1613, R1614, R1341 and T2913 left Stradishall on operations. Of the four
aircraft sent by 214 Squadron this night, two returned to base which ultimately
saved them from the disaster that lay ahead. R1341 piloted by P/O
Guild returned claiming bad weather and icing conditions and the aircraft
would not climb. T2913 piloted by Sgt Gwilliam returned claiming
engine trouble. The remaining two R1613 piloted by P/O Crampton and R1614
piloted by P/O Brown continued on to the target but never returned.
July 14, 1941 ( 14/07/1941
) While at 10,000 feet over the city of Bremen in Germany, BU-G
R1613 was attacked by a german fighter aircraft who came from above
and to the side. According to pilot Crampton, Marsh who was rear gunner
at the time, calmly announced over the intercom, as if he were talking about
the weather, "down the phones, we are under attack" and promptly
sent up a hail of gun fire to meet his attacker. The German fighter raked
the forward section of BU-G killing their second pilot Jenkins and the aircraft
immediately exploded in flames. The rest of the crew managed to bale out
safely with only minor injuries but Sgt Kent's chute caught and tangled
on the tail of the flaming aircraft and he was pulled down with it to his
death. All of the surviving members were captured by the germans,
two of whom were sent to a german hospital and the rest off to prison camp
where they spent the rest of the war.
Wellington
Mark I C R1614 BU-H
Took
off from Stradishall at 23:15hrs on a mission to Bremen.
Presumed lost over the North Sea. Plt/Off Brown is buried in Holland at
Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery, but the bodies of FS Lewis and Sgt Hull were
washed onto English beaches. The rest are commemorated on the Runnymede
Memorial.
Date of loss : 14 July 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1614 BU-H consisted of :
Plt/Off Victor Kingsley
Brown, 60071, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 14 July
1941, Aged 25
Sgt Maxwell Ritchie
Collins, R/74592, Royal Canadian Air Force, KIA 14 July 1941, Aged 35
Sgt Joseph Shield Else,
755881, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 14 July 1941, Aged 20
Sgt Ronald Douglas
Hull DFC, 912001, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, KIA 14 July 1941, Aged 19
FS William George Lewis,
967100, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, KIA 14 July 1941
Sgt Jack Taylor,
759305, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 14 July 1941, Aged 25
Source : Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 October 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) R1621 BU-G
Crew of Wellington (model
unknown) R1621 BU-G consisted of :
Fg/Off William Gordon
Venner, J88353 & R/54229, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Canadian
Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
Plt/Off Woods, Pilot
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
Mark I C R1717 BU-Z?
Took off from Stradishall on a mission to
Frankfurt. Presumed crashed in the sea off the French coast.
Date of loss : 3 September 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1717 BU-Z? consisted of :
Sgt Lionel Black,
948150, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 3 September 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Jesse Clemence Brakeman,
R/68117, Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA
3 September 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Clifford Hambleton,
955336, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 3 September 1941, Aged 26
Flt/Lt Reginald Hubert
May, 60822, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality :
United Kingdom, KIA 3 September 1941, Aged 28
FS James Patrick McKay,
R/58824, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA
3 September 1941, Aged 26
Sgt Leslie Whitehouse
Price, 981412, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 3 September 1941, Aged 21
Source : Captain
Glen McKay Retd (Canadian Armed Forces), (nephew of FS James Patrick McKay)
and CWGC and Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 December 2010
Wellington
Mark I C R1759 BU-L
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 31 August 1942.
On 15 January 1942 this aircraft took off from Stradishall at 17:40 hrs for
ops to Hamburg. For some reason the aircraft drifted too far north on it's
return and it was presumed to have crashed into the North Sea off Whitby,
Yorkshire, killing all on board.
Two bodies were recovered, one was buried at Thornaby on Tees Cemetery after
being washed ashore near Redcar. The other was buried at Driffield after being
washed ashore at Cloughton Wyke near Scarborough. The rest of the crew have
no known grave.
See www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk
Date of loss : 15 January 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1759 BU-L consisted of :
FS William John Elder, R/65845, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian,
KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 20
FS Edward Everett Hale, R/58480, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 25
Sgt Arthur Lionel Lax, 741541, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 25
Sgt Joseph Barnby Myers, 947280, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 27
Sgt George James Peck, R/77370, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: American, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 22
Plt/Off Henry Joseph Woodrow, 403487, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality
: New Zealand, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 27
Source : Liam Venner
and Richard Allenby and Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Took off from Stradishall on an operation to
Berlin. They are all buried in Berlin at the 1939-1945 War Cemetery.
Date of loss : 8 September 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1784 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Leonard Tyne Chapman,
929858, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 8 September 1941, Aged 27
Wg/Cdr Grahame Lawrence
Cruickshanks DFC, 34191, Pilot, Royal Air Force, KIA 8 September 1941
Sqn/Ldr William Davies,
74467, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 8 September 1941, Aged 42
Fg/Off William Esplen,
82979, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 8 September 1941, Aged 33
Flt/Lt Keith James Falconer
DFC, 84730, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 8 September
1941, Aged 33
Sgt Arthur Norman Page,
1376222, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 8 September 1941, Aged 26
Source : Simon
Esplen (Grandson of William Esplen) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 30 October 2010
From L-R ?, Dunn, ?, Burtwell, Wood,?
Flight was lost as part of the April Fool's
tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Mission: Take off 20:19hrs from Stradishall on Operation 'Lineshoot' to bomb
railway yards in Hanau, Lohr.
(35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens were to carry out attacks on railway targets.
22 aircraft reported that they had carried out this task but 12 Wellingtons
and 1 Hampden were lost. Seven of the lost Wellingtons were from 214 Squadron,
with a loss of 41 lives, and only 1 survivor.)
Crashed at Maxdorf, 10km WNW of Ludwigshafen. All are buried in Durnbach War
Cemetery.
Date of loss : 2 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R1789 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Sydney Burtwell DFM,
1172870, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 2 April 1942
Sgt Henry Downs,
616823, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, KIA 2 April 1942
Sgt John Clifford Dunn,
1310826, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 26
Sgt Arthur Edwin Rees,
934390, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 2 April 1942
Sgt Kenneth Horace Tibbatts,
1256777, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged
19
Sgt Peter Wood,
1310876, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 2 April 1942
Source : Simon
Dawes and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume and Diana
Beach, niece of Sidney Burtwell
Date record last updated : 20 September 2011
Wellington
Mark I C R2476
On 7 December 1940 three
crews were despatched half an hour ahead of the main force to act as pathfinders
by locating and marking the target, Dusseldorf, with incendiaries. The weather
was atrocious and Geoff Cole's aircraft lost both engines, falling several
thousand feet before he was able to start them again. The other two 'pathfinder'
aircraft, captained by **Flight Lieutenant Harris** and
Flying Officer Dadswell, were both lost.
Date of loss : 7 December 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R2476 consisted of :
Sgt Francis Thomas Buckingham, 758023, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940
Fg/Off David Allan Dadswell, 40367, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality :
United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 26
Sgt William Henry James, 972478, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940
Sgt Edward Cooper Lee, 969132, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 28
Sgt John Cunningham Macaskie, 936778, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Charles Duncan Powrie, 745352, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 24
Source : Nightjar Newsletter
Winter / Spring 2006
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
The
crew of R2699 comprised of :
P/O W L Comer (KIA)
P/O R A Russell-Forbes (KIA)
Flight lost on 14 December 1939.
SOURCE: Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006
Wellington
Mark I C R3208
Wellington
Mark I C R3208 (28 October 1940)
Raid on Kiel - changed to Cuxhaven
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (28 October 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown,
Pilot
Flt/Lt
Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Source : Sheila
Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C R3208 (5 November 1940)
The Operational Record
Book records that the primary target of Emden was successfully attacked and
fires were observed in the target area as aircraft were leaving.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (5 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell 'Boyk'
Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester,
742972, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Plt/Off Edward Robert
Matheson Pears, 84012, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 26
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Source : Richard Phillips (co author of Sway at war 1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington Mark I C R3208 (7 November 1940)
Target was the Krupps Works
at Essen
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (7 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell 'Boyk'
Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester,
742972, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Plt/Off Edward Robert
Matheson Pears, 84012, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 26
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Source : Richard Williams (co author of Sway war Memorial 1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington Mark I C R3208 (17 November 1940)
Target was the Ruhr Valley.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (17 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell 'Boyk'
Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester,
742972, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Plt/Off Edward Robert
Matheson Pears, 84012, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 26
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Source : Richard Williams (co author of Sway War Memroial 1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
Mark I C R3208 (21 December 1940)
Raid
on Venice - changed to Germany. They ran out of oxygen crossing the Alps so
rather than return to base they turned back across the Alps and bombed Germany
instead.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (21 December 1940) consisted of :
Plt/Off Harold Johnstone
Paterson DFC, 83712 / 745714 / 742714, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, POW 20 April 1941
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Source :
Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington Mark I C R3208 (13 January 1941)
Raid on Milan - cancelled after take off
Crew of Wellington
Mark I C R3208 (13 January
1941) consisted of :
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Sqn/Ldr A H 'Pug' or
'Sniffer' Smythe, Pilot
Sgt Williams, Co-pilot
Source :
Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington Mark I C R3208 (9 May 1941)
Take off was
at 22:22 hrs from Stradishall. Target was Hamburg.
The aircraft was presumed crashed in the sea. FS Browell was the only body
found and is buried at Soltau in Becklingen War Cemetery.
Simon Dean recalls that
his father told him they were flying over Hamburg and that Sgt Browell's body
was found in the river there. Simon knows that the rest of the crew were never
found, but their names are on the Runnymede Memorial.
This is believed to be
a photograph of Wellington R3208 but no markings can be seen.
Sgt Alan Dean is 2nd from
left. Can anyone identify who is who for the rest of the crew?
Date of loss : 9 May 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C R3208 (9 May 1941) consisted of :
Sgt Robert John Bennett,
908791, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
9 May 1941, Aged 20
FS William Herbert Browell,
754853, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Sgt Alan Walter Dean,
926810, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19
Sgt William James Stephen
McGregor, 990467, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 24
Sgt Maxwell George Robertson,
1063077, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 24
Sgt John Leslie Smith,
748177, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
9 May 1941, Aged 23
Source : Simon Dean (nephew
of Sgt Alan Dean) and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2005 and Robert Macleod (nephew
of Sgt Robertson) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 28 December 2011
Wellington
R3209 BU-H
Date of loss : 7 December 1940.
Took off at 17:40 on 7 December 1940 from Stradishall Suffolk, half and hour
before the main force to act as a pathfinder by locating and marking the target,
Dusseldorf with incendiaries. The weather was atrocious and the flight failed
to return. Lost without trace. 6 killed. Flt/Lt Harris's body was washed ashore
on the French coast where he is buried at Oye-Plage (Pas de Calais).
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) R3209 BU-H consisted of :
Sgt William Desmond Ingrams , KIA 07 December 1940.
Sgt Alan Asquith Wooding , Co-pilot , KIA 07 December 1940 Aged 27.
Sgt Arthur Charles Ashman , KIA 07 December 1940 Aged 19.
Sgt Richard Francis Stacey , KIA 07 December 1940 Aged 21.
Sgt Phillip James White , KIA 07 December 1940.
Flt/Lt Wilfred Arthur Harris , Pilot , KIA 07 December 1940 Aged 24.
Source Ian Hunt and CWGC
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 24/8/1941
SOURCE : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I C T2470 BU-K
Wellington T2470 of 214 squadron being towed into a hanger at Stradishall
On 27 September 1940 the target was Ostend invasion barges.
On 07 October 1940 the target was Calais barge concentrations.
On 12 October 1940 the target was Bitterfeld north of Leipzig.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2470 BU-K consisted of :
Fg/Off David Allan Dadswell,
40367, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 December
1940, Aged 26
Flt/Lt Wilfred Arthur
Harris, 33256, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 24
Flt/Lt K W Kaufmann,
Pilot
Source : Ian Hunt and Richard Williams (co author of Sway war Memorial
1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
Mark I C T2470 (30 August 1940)
Raid on Berlin - Siemens Electrical Works
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2470 (30 August 1940) consisted of :
Sqn/Ldr Heather
Flt/Lt K W Kaufmann,
Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C T2470 (2 September 1940)
Raid on Black Forest
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2470 (2 September 1940) consisted of :
Flt/Lt K W Kaufmann,
Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C T2470 (28 October 1940) BU-K
The target was Kiel.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2470 (28 October 1940) BU-K consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt
Harold Wignell 'Boyk' Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester,
742972, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Sgt Gilbert Ernest Turner,
745245, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 23
Source
: Richard Williams (joint author of Sway at War 1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
Mark I C T2470 (5 November 1940) BU-K
The aircraft took off from Stradishall at 17:50hrs. While approaching base
in readiness to land, another Wellington cut across the flight path of T2470,
causing Sgt Turner to lose control and the Wellington dived into the ground
at 22:15hrs near Denston, 1 mile east of Stradishall airfield Sussex.
Date of loss : 5 November 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2470 (5 November 1940) BU-K consisted of :
Sgt Andrew William Hay,
519077, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 5 November 1940
Sgt Edward Kenny,
968455, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
5 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Charles McCulloch,
745703, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 22
Sgt Thomas Henry Sansum,
902416, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Gilbert Ernest Turner,
745245, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 23
Sgt Stanley Allan Wormald,
758099, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 20
Source : Roger Sansum (nephew of Thomas Henry Sansum) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
Mark I C T2471 BU-?
On 23 November 1940 Wellington
1c T2471, Code BU-? Took off at 17.00 hrs from Stradishall on an op to Berlin
and dissappeared without a trace. Possibly lost over the coast of Holland.
The ORB states "This crew set out to bomb the Chancellory at Berlin,
since when nothing has been heard of them"
All crew members were reported missing, and subsequently listed as KIA .
The notes just say: "Lost without trace". It's therefore quite
likely that the crew were either shot down over the sea or otherwise had
to ditch into it.
The names of this crew are perpetuated on the "Runnymede Memorial"
"Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939-1945" which lists
German claims of allied aircraft shot down states that 3 aircraft were claimed
shot down on the night of 23-24 November 1940, two of which were Wellingtons.
The details given are as follows:
1) Wellington, 80km west of Scheveningen, 6.30 pm, by Hptm (Captain) Karl
Hulshoff of 3.NJG2
and
2) Wellington, 50km west of Scheveningen, 6.40 pm, by Fw (Sergeant) Heinz
Struning of 1.NJG2.
Martin Middlebrook's book on RAF Bomber Command states that two aircraft
were lost on this night - 2 Wellingtons - so it is likely one of these two
as noted above was T2471. Both being "west of Scheveningen" (on
the Dutch coast by The Hague) were intercepted well out over the North Sea
and (from the time of the claims) would have been incoming on their way
towards Germany.
Date of loss : 23 November 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2471 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell 'Boyk'
Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester, 742972,
Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Plt/Off Edward Robert
Matheson Pears, 84012, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 26
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Source : Ian Hunt and
W R Chorley's book 'RAF Bomber Command Losses 1939-1940' and Luftwaffe Night
Fighter Combat Claims 1939-1945
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) T2476 BU-X
Wellington (model unknown) T2476 (29 November
1940) BU-X
Target was Cologne West
Bank industrial port . No results seen due to cloud cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2476 (29 November 1940) BU-X consisted
of :
Sgt Francis Thomas Buckingham, 758023, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940
Fg/Off David Allan Dadswell, 40367, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality :
United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 26
Wellington (model unknown) T2708 (29 November 1940) BU-N
Target was Cologne West Bank industrial port . No results seen due to cloud
cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2708 (29 November 1940) BU-N consisted
of :
Sgt Elder, Co-pilot
Sgt E F Fry, Pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Wellington
Mark I C T2542
Wellington
Mark I C T2542 (09 January 1941) BU-J
Target
: Gelsenkirchen (Oil Refinery). Failed to reach the English coast: rear gunner's
intercom failed. Brought bombs back. Landed with undercarriage retracted.
Crew all OK. Op duration 18.03 to 18.33.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2542 (09 January 1941) BU-J consisted of :
Sgt William Herbert Browell,
754853, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 25
Plt/Off Walter Ronald
Nisbett Sturdy DFC & Bar, 42906, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Source :
Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington Mark I C T2542 (20 October 1940)
BU-J
Raid on Gelsenkirchen
oil refineries
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2542 (20 October 1940) BU-J consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown,
Pilot
Flt/Lt
Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty'
Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C T2542 (9 April 1941) BU-J
Mervyn Leyshon was the skipper of this crew at No 1 OTU (Bassingbourne).
Mervyn left Bassingbourne ahead of the rest of this crew to transfer to 214
Squadron Stradishall for operational experience and the rest of the crew were
to follow on. Unfortunately they flew with a Sgt Pilot Cusworth on a raid
to Kiel, before moving on, and were shot down over target- all were killed.
Date of loss : 9 April 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2542 (9 April 1941) BU-J consisted of :
Sgt Richard Brown,
944326, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 April 1941, Aged 22
Sgt James Clark Cattell,
40932, Observer, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA
9 April 1941, Aged 21
Sgt John Philip Cusworth,
745758, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 9 April 1941, Aged 22
Sgt Cornelius Matthew
Flinders Hitchcock, 904310, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 April 1941
Sgt Alexander John McHardy,
973376, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 9 April 1941, Aged 33
Sgt Douglas Cyril 'Ging'
Rowland, 910608, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 April 1941, Aged 21
Source : Nightjar
Newsletter and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C T2559
Memorial at Halle in The Netherlands
Please see the following documents created by Bennie Eenink.
The story behind the British war graves in Halle (NL) T2559 by
Bennie Eenink
The pictures of the story behind the British war graves in Halle
(NL) T2559 by Bennie Eenink
Date of loss : 30 August 1940
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2559 consisted of :
Sgt George Henry Bainbridge, 581078, Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 August 1940, Aged 29
Fg/Off Lionel Montague Craigie-Halkett, 39066, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 30 August 1940
Plt/Off Wilfred Bertram Stuart Cunynghame, 41560, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 August 1940, Aged 22
Sgt Sydney John Haldane, 551723, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 August 1940, Aged 19
Sgt George Edward Merryweather, 547673, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 30 August 1940, Aged 20
Sgt Arthur Burnham Puzey, 755485, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 August
1940, Aged 20
Source
: Bennie Eenink and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2006
Date record last updated : 23 June 2009
Wellington
(model unknown) T2562Wellington (model unknown) T2562 (10 October 1940)
Raid on Hanover oil refineries
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2562 (10 October 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown, Pilot
Flt/Lt Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington (model unknown) T2562 (1 November 1940)
They were enroute to operations over Berlin but due to high fuel consumption of the Wellington they changed their target to Osnabruck
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2562 (1 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Alan M Brown, Pilot
Plt/Off Edward Robert Matheson Pears, 84012, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 26
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) T2708 BU-N
Wellington
(model unknown) T2708 (29 November 1940) BU-N
Target was Cologne West
Bank industrial port. No results seen due to cloud cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2708 (29 November 1940) BU-N consisted
of :
Sgt Elder, Co-pilot
Sgt E F Fry, Pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Crew (13 March 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Hamburg (Shipyards?). Bombed the "Main Target" and all
bombs fell in the target area. Op duration 19.45 to 02.25.
Crew (23 March 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Berlin. Bombed at 23.18 to 23.33 from 10,500 ft but no results seen
due to haze and evasive action. Op duration 19.55 to 04.10.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
(model unknown) T2709 BU-D
Wellington
(model unknown) T2709 (25 October 1940)
Operation to Hamburg. Take off 18:29hrs and returned at 00:17hrs.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2709 (25 October 1940) consisted of :
Sgt Robert Charles Bishop,
653306, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell 'Boyk'
Brook, 581316, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester,
742972, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Alfred Hyam,
749403, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 28
Sgt Albert Edward Taylor,
906563, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 20
Sgt Gilbert Ernest Turner,
745245, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 23
Source : Richard Williams
(co author of Sway War Memorial 1914-1945)
Date record last updated : 22 August 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) T2709 (29 November 1940) BU-D
Target was Cologne West
bank Industrial port. No results seen due to cloud cover.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) T2709 (29 November 1940) BU-D consisted
of :
Sgt William Geoffrey Cole DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sgt Meadows, Co-pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Wellington
Mark I C T2841 BU-K
Wellington
Mark I C T2841 (29 November 1940) BU-K
Target was Boulogne
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2841 (29 November 1940) BU-K consisted of :
Flt/Lt
Aubrey Edward Henderson Cattle, Pilot
Sgt Williams, Co-pilot
Source : Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 19 April 2009
Crew (15 January 1941)
:
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
Target : Wilhelmshaven. (Or T2871, in ORB?). Op duration 20.07 to 00.56.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
Mark I C T2841 (29 January 1941) BU-K
Take off 03:02 hrs from Stradishall on a mission to Wilhelmshaven. As the
bomber left the ground with a full bomb load the port engine failed and
the Wellington sank back onto the runway and burst in to flames. Fortunately
none of the crew lost their lives. Padre Harrison (Squadron Chaplain) who
was nearby was one of the first to reach the scene of the accident and,
despite the risk of explosion, he was instrumental in saving the lives of
the crew. For this great heroism he was awarded the George Medal.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2841 (29 January 1941) BU-K consisted of :
Sgt M 'Jinx' Elelman,
Rear Gunner
Sgt H Foster, Navigator
/ Observer
Sgt Rothorn
Sgt Humphrey John Drummond
Smiles DFM, 103535, Pilot
Sgt J R Turner,
Front Gunner
Sgt Turner
Source
: Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 30 April 2011
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 18/8/1941
SOURCE : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I C T2992 BU-J
Crew (15 March 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Lorient (U-Boat Base). Attacked alternative target (Brest) due
to thick haze at Lorient. Bombed at 22.18 from 11,000 ft. 6 x 500 lb bombs
dropped in the dock area. Landed St Eval and returned to Stradishall next
day. Op duration 19.05 to 00.34.
Crew (21 March 1941) ? :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Target : Lorient? (U-Boat Base). (No a/c details in ORB). Attacked the "main
target" between 21.35 and 22.00 from 10,500 ft. 13 x 250 lb bombs.
No results seen.
Crew (27 March 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Cologne. Bombed at 23.13 from 10,000 ft. Op duration 20.25 to 00.(36?)
Crew (30 March 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Bremen. Failed to locate main target so attacked Oldenburg [to
west, between Bremen and Emden]. Bombed at 22.40 from 13,000 ft. Op duration
20.04 to 01.32.
Crew (03 April 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Brest (Warships). Bombed at 22.19 from 10,500 ft. Fires seen to
be started. Op duration 19.05 to 00.55.
Crew (22 April 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Jones, Co-pilot
Target : Brest (Warships). Bombed the "main target" at 22.30 to
23.00, from 11,000 ft. Nothing seen on arrival. RG saw fire blaze up for
15 mins, then die down again as a/c left. Op duration 20.00 to 01.25.
Crew (04 May 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Brest (The cruisers 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau'). Bombed at 23.47
to 00.29 from 10,000 ft. No results observed. Op duration 21.15 to 03.20.
(Note P/O Didsbury is also shown as flying with Sgt Parker in R1376).
Crew (06 May 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Hamburg. Unable to identify target: 10/10 cloud, so bombed flak
concentration at Bremen at 01.42 from 12,000 ft. Op duration 22.15 to 05.00.
Crew (08 May 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Hamburg. Unable to locate main target so bombed Husum at 01.50
from 12,500 to 11,000 ft, resulting in a large fire with a large explosion
seen in the northern part of the fire. Op duration 22.10 to 04.35.
Crew (09 May 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Mannheim. Bombed at 01.35 from 12,000 ft. Op duration 22.35 to
04.20.
Crew (11 May 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Hamburg (Shipping). Bombed at 01.38 to 02.00 from 15,000 ft but
no results seen due to evasive action. Op duration 22.37 to 04.55.
Crew (16 May 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Target : Cologne. Bombed at 00.54 to 01.10 from 13,000 ft causing fires
with red explosions and volumes of white smoke. Op duration 22.30 to 04.30.
Crew (07 June 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Target : Brest (The 'Prinz Eugen'). Took off 22.25. Landed Upavon, 04.00.
Crew (12 June 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Target : Hamm (Marshalling Yards). Unable to identify target so bombed flak
at Dortmund, from 12,000 ft at 01.40. No bursts seen, but 4 fires visible.
Op duration 23.30 to 03.55.
Crew (16 June 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Target : No details given. Cologne?. Bombed at 01.40 to 01.46 from 14,500
ft. No results seen due to evasive action. Scattered fires seen between
Cologne and the target area. Op duration 23.40 to 03.40.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
Mark I C T2992 (7 July 1941) BU-J
Airborne 22:04hrs on 7 July 1941 from Stradishall.
Crashed at Genk-Bodem (Limburg), Belgium.
Date of loss : 7 July 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C T2992 (7 July 1941) BU-J consisted of :
Plt/Off Donald Noel Robert Armstrong, 400009, Royal Australian Air Force,
Nationality : Australian, KIA 7 July 1941, Aged 28
Sgt Arthur Evans, 1106238, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 July 1941, Aged 21
Fg/Off Reginald Maurice Peter Jenkyns, 76584, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 July 1941, Aged 25
Sgt Edward Henry King, 918289, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 July 1941,
Aged 23
Plt/Off John McAnally, 62291, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 7 July 1941, Aged 23
Sgt G F Roughton, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, POW 7 July
1941
Source : Chorley and grave photograph by Ivo Swinnen of As, Belgium
Date record last updated : 2 October 2009
Wellington
T2998
Crew (23 May 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Target : Cologne. Bombed at 01.50 to 02.05 from 11,000 ft. No results observed
due to low cloud and ground haze. Op duration 00.10 to 04.25.
Source : Ian Hunt
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 29/9/1941
Source : Liam Venner
Wellington
W5713 BU-B
Crew (18 June 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
Target : Brest (The 'Scharnhorst'). Bombed the estimated position of the
ship from 15,000 ft at 01.1(8?) and 01.50. No results observed.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
(model unknown) X3206 BU-R
The crew of this aircraft
was returning from bombing Berlin when they had to fight for 3 hours against
flames in their aircraft. Their own incendiaries had been set alight by
flak and they could not jettison them. They were a target for every gun
and night fighter.
Finally the aircraft struggled across the coast. Five minutes later it ran
out of petrol and dived into the sea.
When the bomber hit the sea it's fire damaged back was broken and it sunk
less than a minute after hitting the sea. Fortunately all of the crew managed
to escape and spent the next two and a half days in a dinghy.
The pilot had one leg injured and his face was badly cut when he was thrown
against his instrument panels as the aircraft hit the sea.
The others had been able to prepare themselves for a crash landing.
They drifted towards the Isle of Wight where they were finally taken ashore
at Ventnor, exhausted.
Rescue site: Steel Bay, Bonchurch, Ventnor, IOW.
Letter written by Arthur Adsett, Special Constable, sent to and transcribed
by Roy Adsett. 12 February 1978 :
"I had been with the Police Rescue Party to help save the crew of five
from a Wellington Bomber which had been over Berlin and come down in flames
in the North Sea and drifted three days and nights in a rubber dingy. The
crew of five were drifted down the channel till the tide turned them round
near our lighthouse about a mile from Ventnor.
I was called out of the shop (men’s outfitters) and got into my uniform
(Special Constable) and commandeered the District Nurse’s car to take myself
and one of my men to Bonchurch, and with others we managed to save them
all, very exhausted and too weak to paddle the dingy. Ercolani was the Pilot
Officer in charge and was the only one slightly injured.
It turned out that he was under the chap Dudley, Sqn Leader, (full name
unknown) my pal in the Pub, and I said to Dudley, I believed on another
mission Ercolani was killed. He said he wasn’t but he did not know about
him being saved off Ventnor so I told him I had all the details and gen
about the rescue in my scrap book (since lost) but I would write the details
out for him if he liked, but 10 of the rescuers are now dead (1978) from
old age and I am one of the few who were there at Steel Bay to help.
So he said Ercolani is still alive and now has a factory for furniture (‘Ercol’)
at ‘Wycombe’ He got in touch by phone, sent my gen up to him and he came
down to Cowes to see Dudley, but I did not go to Cowes as I knew I could
not bear the strain of too much to drink."
Date of loss : 7 November 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X3206 BU-R consisted of :
Flt/Lt Lucian Brett
Ercolani DSO DFC, Pilot
Sgt Fry
Sgt Hamilton
Sgt Holdsworth
Sgt McLennan
Sgt Weller
Source : Colin Burningham
and Simon Esplen and Chorley and Ron Stilwell
Date record last updated : 14 March 2010
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 15/11/1941
SOURCE : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I C X9750 BU-?
Take off was from Stradishall.
The operation was to Mannheim. Aircraft and crew lost without trace and
all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
Date of loss : 7 August 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X9750 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Robert Gordon Burnett, 1053569, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 August 1941
Sgt William John Vincent 'Jack' Crowsley, 986890, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 August 1941, Aged
33
Plt/Off Colin McDougall Didsbury, NZ401259, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air
Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 7 August 1941, Aged 23
Sgt Norman Evans Mills, 1113963, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 August 1941
Sgt Edgar James Page, 1050934, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 7 August 1941, Aged 26
Plt/Off Gerald Daniel Edward Stack, J/3119, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 7 August 1941
Source : Chorley and
CWGC and John Crowsley
Date record last updated : 10 October 2009
Wellington
X9762 BU-T
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 27/9/1941
Source : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I C X9884 BU-?
Take off was from Stradishall
on a mission to Stettin. The aircraft crashed neer Landsmeer (Noord Holland),
7km North of Amsterdam due to engine failure. All crew members baled out
successfully and were taken as Prisoners of War.
Date of loss : 29 September 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X9884 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt H 'Tich' Antehley,
1110584, POW 29 September 1941
Sgt J I Burbridge,
958282, POW 29 September 1941
Sgt David F Cooper,
1109722, POW 29 September 1941
Sgt J W B Follitt,
???519, POW 29 September 1941
Sgt Leslie 'Hank'
Hancock, 745181, Pilot, POW 29 September 1941
Sgt A N Jones,
949607, POW 29 September 1941
Source : Nicola Jones
(daughter of Sgt Leslie Hancock) and 'Footprints on the sands of time' by
Oliver Clutton-Brock and Chorley
Date record last updated : 1 January 2010
The Crew were lost during
night bombing operations 28 January 1942 on operations over Munster Germany.
The crew of X9890 coded
BU-F were:
Pilot Officer George Hamilton
Webster (J5471) RCAF (KIA) Pilot*
Flight Sergeant Francis
Alexander Tait (R/70913) RCAF (KIA)
Sergeant Christopher John
Irwin (924231) RAF (KIA)
Sergeant George Marsh
Robinson (1169566) RAF (KIA)
Sergeant Peter Gray Milton
(997221) RAF (KIA)
Sergeant Frank Godfey Truscott
(1168521) RCAF (KIA)
According to the log of
F/Lt Edward Baker DFC this date, entry reads as follows:
Jan-28, Wellington
X9939, Pilot Ed Baker, 2nd pilot Sgt.Lancaster, and Crew D.C.O
Operations - Munster Airtime 4:25. By this it is
nearly certain X9890 was lost on operations to Munster. Interestingly, on
Jan-16 F/Lt Baker took X9890 on a test flight then flew it to Honnington
where he left it and returned to base via a different aircraft R1505. On
the morning of the 17th he apparently flew back to Honnington, re-tested
X9890 then tested R1505 then apparently rejecting both he took Z1094 on
operations to Bremen that night. I note that during this period many veteran
pilots did test fly their aircraft prior to operations. This being the case
one wonders what he found wrong with X9890 ?
This excert if from Harry Ward's memoirs : "He could remember quite
clearly as he rode out to their dispersal before take-off, seeing George
Webster and his crew standing beside F-Freddie. Chris Irwin was in front
of the plane in his Irvin jacket smiling broadly as he waved them on their
way." Like so many others before them, Harry recalls that nothing was
heard of them again.
SOURCE:
Stewart Murray, Canada - Allison: "They Shall Grow Not
Old"
SOURCE: Andrea Muzzi
of Toronto Ontario Canada. (Neice to Sgt Truscott, grandaughter of
Heloise - Franks sister)
SOURCE: Aileen Young (Harry Ward's Daughter)
Wellington
Mark I C X9939 BU-E
Operations - Kiel, Crew
Shot up and crash landed
On 25 February 1942, whilst attacking Kiel, the aircraft was extensively
damaged by anti-aircraft fire, the undercarriage, flaps and turrets being
rendered useless. The hydraulic system was put out of action, the undercarriage,
flaps and turrets being rendered completely useless. The undercarriage was
dangling and could not be raised or lowered. The trailing aerial was carried
away and the airspeed indicator ceased to function and the fabric was holed
in numerous places. On the return journey height was lost continually owing
to engine trouble and the windscreen became covered with ice. Despite this,
Flight Lieutenant Baker skilfully flew his damaged aircraft to Stradishall
where he crash landed with the undercarriage retracted. On touching down,
the starboard engine immediately caught fire.
The fire spread to the rest of the aircraft which was soon a mass of flames.
The crew managed to escape but the second pilot (J Lancaster) and a gunner
each sustained a fractured arm while Flight Lieutenant Baker's nose was
broken. His experiences have in no way diminished his enthusiastic daring
and fortitude. He is possessed of that unshakable disposition and high sense
of duty so essential to an officer and bomber captain for the successful
prosecution of this war.
This was one of 2 aircraft on this mission, the other being Z8858.
Date of loss : 25 February 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X9939 BU-E consisted of :
Flt/Lt Edward Donald
Baker DFC, J/5060, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian,
KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 23
Sgt Cole
FS Spencer Sidney Dawes,
R/67521, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 1 April 1942,
Aged 25
FS Edward Hamilton
Erby, 1287615, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 32
Sgt J Lancaster, Co-pilot
Sgt Eric George Walter
Shotter, 930243, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
Source : Chorley and
Kathy Cook (relative of Flt Lt Baker) and Ian Hunt
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Wellington
Mark I C X9979 BU-O
Flight was lost as part
of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Mission: Take off from Stradishall 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to
bomb railway yards in Hanau, Lohr.
Crashed at Bad Siedlung, near Russelsheim, where th crew were first buried.
Date of loss : 1 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X9979 BU-O consisted of :
Plt/Off Joseph Harold
Andrew Baker, 69491, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
FS Tom Flanagan,
651415, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA
Sgt Donald Albert
Stanley Hamilton, 403547, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality
: New Zealand, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 22
Cpt Howard Grantley
Tingle MC, 88507, Royal Artillery, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
1 April 1942, Aged 39
FS Ronald Anthony John
Trevillian, 755032, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
FS Alexander Robert
Vint, 915640, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942
Source : Liam Venner
and Simon Dawes and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
Mark I C X9979 (Autumn 1941) BU-O
William Venner's first crew posing in front of Wellington BU-O X9979.
Taken sometime in Autumn fall of 1941. X9979 piloted by Plt/Off J H A Baker
was later lost on the great April Fools Tragedy of 1 April 1942.
(Note: The writing on the back of the above photo listing the crew appears
to be that of Williams wife.)
Left to right:
F/Sgt Trevellian - Rear Gunner
Sgt Jack Allen (Canadian) - W/Op
F/Sgt Gordon Venner ( Canadian) W/Op/Ag
P/O David Wilson - Pilot
P/O Dick Clarkson - Navigator
P/O Joe Baker - 2nd Pilot
In a bizarre twist of fate, on April Fools Day 1 April 1942 a group of the
veterans and senior officers including FS Venner of 214 Squadron lifted
off the runway enroute to Egypt to join the 215 Squadron in the Middle East,
only hours later another group of the mostly green crews that were left
on 214 lifted off from Stradishall heading to operations over Germany. Little
could the first group know, but by the end of the day 41 of their former
crewmates would never be coming home. Of the group that headed to Germany,
7 Wellington's and their entire crews were lost. One of these was X9979
BU-O pictured above piloted by Plt/Off J H A Baker. Only one crew member
of the 42 survived.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C X9979 (Autumn 1941) BU-O consisted of :
Sgt Jack Allen,
Wireless Operator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
Plt/Off Joseph Harold
Andrew Baker, 69491, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
Plt/Off Dick Clarkson,
Navigator
FS Ronald Anthony John
Trevillian, 755032, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
Fg/Off William Gordon
Venner, J88353 & R/54229, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
Plt/Off David Wilson,
Pilot
Source : Liam Venner,
Fg/Off William's son. Liam has his fathers log book, service transcripton,
as well as other pictures and documents
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
Mark I C Z1052
Flight
was lost as part of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at
top of page.
Mission: Take off 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to bomb railway yards
in Hanau, Lohr
(35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens were to carry out attacks on railway targets.
22 aircraft reported that they had carried out this task but 12 Wellingtons
and 1 Hampden were lost. Seven of the lost Wellingtons were from 214 Squadron,
with a loss of 41 lives, and only 1 survivor.)
Sgt Davidson of this crew was the only survivor of this terrible tragedy.
Date of loss : 1 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z1052 consisted of :
Sgt C H Davidson, Nationality : United Kingdom, POW 1 April 1942
Sgt Hugh Mitchell, 525420, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 25
Sgt James Murphy, 1165663, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
WO/I Walter David Page, R/69723, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality :
Canadian, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 24
Sgt Stanley 'Stan' Perry, 1174623,
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 22
Sgt Richard Arthur Platt, 939816, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942,
Aged 21
Source
: Simon Dawes and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume
Date record last updated : 13 September 2009
Wellington
Mark I C Z1081 BU-B
12
February 1942: Mission targetting warships.
The aircraft was ditched after engine problems while taking part in "Operation
Fuller", the attempt to stop the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in their
"Channel dash" from Brest back up to Germany. Britain only discovered
the breakout once the ships were at sea and heading up the English Channel.
Being caught somewhat on the hop, several hundred RAF aircraft went out
to try and find and catch
them, but the weather was pretty dreadful and most of them never saw anything.
The ORB reports that "it was 10/10 cloud, down to 500 feet in most
places."
One of the other aircraft reported seeing Z1081 at position approx 52.10N
/03.30E, with occasional puffs of black smoke coming from it's port engine.
It was seen to be circling (on search patrol?) but did not appear to be
losing height at that point. Apparently the aircraft reported engine trouble
itself.
It is not clear how many of the crew managed to get in the dinghy but it
is known that all but one died, possibly of exposure before they wer found.
Only Sgt Murray was rescued, just about alive and was taken POW.
Date of loss : 12 February 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z1081 BU-B consisted of :
Sqn/Ldr Martin Tyringham Stephens DFC, 75730, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 February 1942, Aged
40
Sgt R Murray, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, POW 12 February
1942
Flt/Lt Patrick Roderick Hughes DFC, 60804, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 12 February 1942
Wg/Cdr Richard Denis Barry MacFadden DFC, 37476, Pilot, Royal Air Force,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 12 February 1942
Plt/Off James Wood, 69426, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 14 February 1942, Aged 25
Sgt Andrew Paton Everett, 979937, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 15 February
1942, Aged 26
Sgt George Ingate Taylor, 643077, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 12 February 1942, Aged 22
Source : Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2005 and Ian Hint
and Squadron ORB
Date record last updated : 22 March 2008
Wellington
(model unknown) Z1142 BU-B Wellington (model unknown) Z1142 (30 May and 1 June 1941) BU-B
Raids on:
30 May 1941 Cologne - Blitz - 1,000 Bomber Raid
1 June 1941 Essen - Blitz - 1,000 Bomber Raid
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) Z1142 (30 May and 1 June 1941) BU-B consisted of :
Wg/Cdr Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott MiD, 104442, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Flt/Lt Smith, Pilot
Source : Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
Wellington
Mark I C Z1143 BU-?
Take off was from Stradishall
and the operation was to Essen.
Shot down by night fighter (Oblt Herbert Lutje, 111./NJG1) and crashed at
22:55hrs at Vriezenveen (Overijssel) on the East side of the Overijsselsch
Kanaal and some 9Km NNW of Almelo in Holland. All are buried in the General
Cemetery at Vriezenveen. Captain Mair of the Royal Artillery was attached
to 214 Squadron.
Date of loss : 26 March 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z1143 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Walter Irvine Christsen,
404277, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian, KIA 26 March
1942, Aged 22
Plt/Off Eric William
Cuthbert Creed, 400581, Pilot, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality
: Australian, KIA 26 March 1942, Aged 22
Sgt Albert Frederick
Mons Emms, 1376234, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 March 1942, Aged
27
Cpt Alfred Peter Mair,
64403, Royal Artillery, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 March 1942
Sgt William Wynes Robey
Norton, 400885, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian,
KIA 26 March 1942, Aged 29
Sgt John Routledge
Payne, 984801, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 March 1942, Aged 25
Source : Hans J. Kobes,
Vriezenveen (NL) & Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2005 and Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Wellington
Mark I C Z1148 BU-L
The six graves starting
from the right in the foreground are of the crew of Z1148
Z1148 BU-L took off from
Stradishall at 23:12 hrs 15 April 1942 to take part in a bombing raid on
Dortmund.
News was received that the plane was shot down at 03:30 hrs 15 April 1942
and crashed at Overrepen Belgium, with the loss of the entire crew.
It is believed the plane was shot down by a night fighter piloted by Oblt
Alois Lechner E/NJG2.
The crew were buried by the Germans with full military honours at St Trond
Belgium. All were later interred at the British War Cemetery Heverlee, Louvain
Belgium, where they now rest.
Date of loss : 15 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z1148 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt Samuel Cox,
869313, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force), Nationality :
United Kingdom, KIA 15 April 1942, Aged 33
FS Billy Orrin Gates,
R/74829, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : American, KIA 15
April 1942, Aged 25
Plt/Off Robert Balfour
Halliday, J/6652, Air Observer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 15 April 1942, Aged 25
FS Douglas Harold
Morton Jacques, R/76606, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Canadian
Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 15 April 1942, Aged 20
FS Reginald Marcus
Lawrence, R/60620, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian,
KIA 15 April 1942
Sgt Eric Mason,
1167277, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 15 April 1942, Aged 32
Source : Chorley and
Norman Cox (son of Sgt Samuel Cox)
Date record last updated : 17 April 2010
Wellington
Mark I C Z1156 BU-E
Flight was lost as part
of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Mission: Take off 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to bomb railway yards
in Hanau, Lohr
(35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens were to carry out attacks on railway targets.
22 aircraft reported that they had carried out this task but 12 Wellingtons
and 1 Hampden were lost. Seven of the lost Wellingtons were from 214 Squadron,
with a loss of 41 lives, and only 1 survivor.)
Date of loss : 2 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z1156 BU-E consisted of :
Sgt Harry Chilvers, 1112050, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 26
Sgt Anthony Alexander Ferguson, 1110578, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 25
Sgt Dennis Owen George, 1164451, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 22
Sgt Norman Ramsbottom, 1115867, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 27
FS William Robert West, R/76959, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 2 April 1942
Sgt Vernon Philip Walrond Wheaton, 933154, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 32
Source : Simon Dawes
and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Wellington
Z1169 BU-W
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 26/1/1942
Source : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark II Z8373
News was received to say that, on 26 November 1941, the aircraft had never
reached Germany. After setting off at 5.30pm they had engine trouble and
had to return, giving their position every short while until they were 80
miles from the English Coast when, at 7.29pm communications ceased.
Rescue launchs and reconnaissance aircraft went out in search of the plane
or it's crew, but unfortunately nothing was found.
Date of loss : 26 November
1941
Crew of Wellington Mark II Z8373 consisted of :
Plt/Off Charles David Cooling, J/15853, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Harold James Cooper, 932086, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 20
Sgt George Leonard 'Lennie' Hall, 960499, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26
November 1941, Aged 21
FS Norman Gilbert Hettrick, R/68075, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian, KIA 26 November 1941
Plt/Off Anthony David Moore, 67079, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 20
Sgt Mervyn Alfred Weavers, 1283647, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 25
Source : Nightjar Newsletter
Spring 2005 and CWGC
Date record last updated : 10 August 2009
Wellington
Z8409 BU-Z
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 24/11/1941
Source : Liam Venner
Wellington
Z8805
Flight was lost as part
of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Sgt E Dixon
Wellington
Mark I C Z8842 BU-?
Flight was lost as part
of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Mission: Take off 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to bomb railway yards
in Hanau, Lohr (35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens were to carry out attacks
on railway targets. 22 aircraft reported that they had carried out this
task but 12 Wellingtons and 1 Hampden were lost. Seven of the lost Wellingtons
were from 214 Squadron, with a loss of 41 lives, and only 1 survivor.)
Wellington IC Z8842 lifted off the runway at Stradishall. It was 20:19 hrs
and they were off to bomb the railway yards in Hanau (Operation Limeshoot)
with 13 other aircraft. They would never be heard from again. Of the 14
aircraft which set out that day, only 7 would return. It is believed that
Z8842 was brought down by flack and crashed into the sea off the Dutch coast.
Only two bodies were ever recovered, the rest of the crew has no known grave.
Amazingly at least three families of this crew have now been in touch with
each other.
Date of loss : 1 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z8842 BU-? consisted of :
Flt/Lt Edward Donald
Baker DFC, J/5060, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian,
KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 23
FS Spencer Sidney Dawes,
R/67521, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 1 April 1942,
Aged 25
FS Edward Hamilton
Erby, 1287615, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 32
Sgt George Eric Newman,
1177845, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 1 April 1942
Sgt Eric George Walter
Shotter, 930243, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
Sgt Vincent Leslie
Stephens, 1119436, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 21
Source : Simon Dawes
and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Wellington
Mark I C Z8842 (9 February 1942) BU-?
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z8842 (9 February 1942) BU-? consisted of :
Sgt C T Enright,
A404312, Pilot
Sgt H Smith, 1377225,
Pilot
Fg/Off William Gordon
Venner, J88353 & R/54229, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
Mark I C Z8858 BU-B
Operation was on Kiel. Take off 23:35hrs from Stradishall. On return
to base in poor weather, the Wellington overshot the beacons at Honington
and Stradishall before crash-landing at 04:00hrs on open land at Fulbourn,
4 miles ESE of Cambridge. Initially it was thought that the damage was repairable,
but within a week of the incident the bomber was declared a write-off.
Sgt Anthony Alexander Ferguson was injured as a result of this crash.
This was one of 2 aircraft on this mission, the other being X9939.
Date of loss : 25 February 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z8858 BU-B consisted of :
Plt/Off John Merlin
Brown, J5317, Navigator / Observer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality
: Canadian
Sgt Anthony Alexander
Ferguson, 1110578, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 25
Sgt J C Mason
Sgt D McIlroy
Sqn/Ldr Cyril Miles,
Pilot
Sgt Watts
Source
: Malcolm Brown (son of Sqn/Ldr John Merlin Brown) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 24 February 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) Z8900
All of this crew, except
for Sgt Longdon and FS JE Williams left 214 Squadron together to go to the
Middle East.
On 19 January 1942 they were posted to 99 Squadron at Waterbeach.
On 23 February they flew from Waterbeach to Portreath, en - route to the Middle
East.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) Z8900 consisted of :
Plt/Off A Campbell,
A402636, Pilot
Sgt L G Dobson,
R/71398
Sgt W S Edington,
Air Gunner
Sgt P N Herbert,
931389, Navigator
Sgt Longdon
FS B Pickthorne,
R54358, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
FS J E Williams, R/67724,
Pilot
Sgt H Woodgate,
A407301 (A407310?)
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 29 May 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) Z8900 (15 November 1941)
Aircraft took off from
Stradishall. Shot up by a Me110 over the Frisian Islands, tearing a six foot
hole in the fuselage structure and damaging the controls. The crew succeeded
in returning to Coltishall, where a safe landing was made. Aircraft was written
off.
Date of loss : 15 November 1941
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) Z8900 (15 November 1941) consisted of :
Plt/Off A Campbell,
A402636, Pilot
Sgt W S Edington,
Air Gunner
Sgt P N Herbert,
931389, Navigator
Sgt Longdon
FS B Pickthorne,
R54358, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
FS J E Williams, R/67724,
Pilot
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Wellington
Z8949 BU-L
Flight extracted from the log of Gordon Venner on 7/2/1942
Source : Liam Venner
Wellington
(model unknown) Z8951 BU-X
Flight extracted from the
log of Gordon Venner on 10 January 1942.
Take off was from Stradishall on an operation to Dortmund. The aircraft was
believed to be shot down by a night-fighter (Uffz Schienbein, I./NJG1) and
crashed at 03:58hrs between Deurne and Helmond (Noord Brabant), two sizeable
towns east of Eindhoven. All of the crew were KIA and buried in Woensel General
Cemetery.
Date of loss : 16 April 1942
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) Z8951 BU-X consisted of :
Sgt Vernon Ernest Egan,
1092735, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942
Sgt Percy Heppenstall,
998624, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942, Aged 22
Plt/Off Lawrence Malcolm
Leech, J/5490, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian,
KIA 16 April 1942
Plt/Off Harry Arthur
Shortt, 100558, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942, Aged 25
Sgt Geoffrey Malcolm
Charles Turner, 1251531, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942, Aged 21
Sgt Jack Ward, 1064100,
Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942
Source
: Liam Venner and Adrian van Zantvoort and Chorley and Richard Schoutissen
(researcher from the Netherlands)
Date record last updated : 28 December 2011
Wellington
Mark I C Z8953 BU-? Took off from Stradishall on a mission to Hamburg. Crashed in the North Sea. Sgt Boland is buried in Den Burg Cemetery on the Dutch Island of Texel; his five companions have no known graves.
Date of loss : 30 November 1941
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z8953 BU-? consisted of :
Sgt John Robert Boland, 1054956, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941, Aged 24
Sgt Ronald William Ebsworth, 1257328, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941, Aged 35
Sgt Michael Joseph Fitzgerald, 1375074, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Gordon James Walter Fleming, 1380918, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941, Aged 21
Sgt Ian Arthur Flower, 1166146, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941
Sgt Herbert Leon Loveday, 1378203, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 30 November 1941, Aged 24
Source : Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 December 2010
Wellington
Mark I C Z8979 BU-P
Flight was lost as part of the April
Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note at top of page.
Mission: Take off 20:19 Hrs on Operation 'Lineshoot' to bomb railway yards
in Hanau, Lohr
(35 Wellingtons and 14 Hampdens were to carry out attacks on railway targets.
22 aircraft reported that they had carried out this task but 12 Wellingtons
and 1 Hampden were lost. Seven of the lost Wellingtons were from 214 Squadron,
with a loss of 41 lives, and only 1 survivor.)
From L-R George Hickey, John Nash or Ralph Kitney, Irvine Eagleton and William
Hayes
From L-R John Nash or Ralph Kitney, George Hickey, ? , ? , ?, William Hayes.
Can anyone help us name the the rest of this crew please?
Date of loss : 2 April 1942
Crew of Wellington Mark I C Z8979 BU-P consisted of :
Sgt Irvine Leonard Eagleton,
923470, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : Australian, KIA 2 April 1942
Plt/Off Ronald William
Stanley 'Ronnie' Hayes, 69424, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 25
FS Norman George Hickey,
R/75890, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 2 April
1942, Aged 22
Sgt George William Jackson,
930818, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 20
Sgt Ralph Kitney,
931029, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 21
FS John Nash, 1378097,
Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 21
Source : Liam Venner
and Simon Dawes and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume
and Ian Hunt and Doug Eagleton (great nephew of Irvine Eagleton)
Date record last updated : 27 February 2011
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Cole
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Cole (5 November 1940)
Target was Emden.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) ??Cole (5 November 1940) consisted of :
Sgt William Geoffrey Cole DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged 28
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot.
Date record last updated : 29 June 2009
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Eddison
The crew members who were KIA on 9 May 1941 were killed when crew of aircraft
Wellington R1226, and not while part of this crew.
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) ??Eddison consisted of :
Sqn/Ldr Frank Leslie Herbert Eddison DFC, 39377, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 30
Sgt John Holt, 749319, Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941
Sqn/Ldr Mervyn 'Taff' Leyshon AFC MiD, Non Comm 970070 Comm 103502, Co-pilot,
Royal Air Force, Nationality : British
Sgt Cyril Paton, 904673, Front Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 22
Sgt Kennedy Tait, 974125, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 20
Sgt Arnot Flaws Wilson, 935907, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19
Source : Aled Leyshon
(grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Wellington
Mark I C ??Enright
Wellington
Mark I C ??Enright (22 December 1941)
This was the first air
crew who were seconded to 215 Squadron on 22 Decmeber 1941.
Crew of Wellington Mark I C ??Enright (22 December 1941) consisted of :
Plt/Off R T Bowen,
Navigator
Sgt Anthony John Browne,
643058, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6
January 1942
Sgt C T Enright,
A404312, Pilot
Plt/Off C Logan,
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
Sgt John Philpin Williams,
983072, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 January 1942, Aged 26
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Glass
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Glass (1941)
Crew of Wellington (model
unknown) ??Glass (1941) consisted of :
Sgt Robert Raymond 'Ray' Glass DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Pilot, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943,
Aged 28
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot
Date record last updated : 28 June 2009
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Lewendon
On 9 March 1942 this aircrew
reported for duty with 215 Squadron at 150TU Harwell.
On 20 March 1942 the crew then departed Hampstead Norris for St Eval,
en-route to India.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) ??Lewendon consisted of :
FS L E Baxter,
R/56098
Sgt C K Fawthrop,
986112
Sgt W E Lewendon,
1288221, Pilot
Sgt K G McClung,
1058693
Sgt J Newell,
642329
Plt/Off E W Self
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 29 May 2010
Wellington
(model unknown) ??Leyshon
Leyshon took over this
crew from Sgt Smiles after they survived the crash of T2841 on 29 January
1941.
Leyshon had several co-pilots with this crew:
Sgt Evans
Sgt T Jones
Fg/Off Jenkins
Sgt Nicholls
Wg/Cdr Jordan
Sgt Ruoff
Crew of Wellington (model unknown) ??Leyshon consisted of :
Sgt M 'Jinx' Elelman, Rear Gunner
Sgt H Foster, Navigator / Observer
Sqn/Ldr Mervyn 'Taff' Leyshon AFC MiD, Non Comm 970070 Comm 103502, Pilot,
Royal Air Force, Nationality : British
Sgt J R Turner, Front Gunner
Sgt T Yates, Wireless Operator
Source : Aled Leyshon
(grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Wellington
(model unknown) ??McKeand
Wellington
(model unknown) ??McKeand (1941)
Crew of Wellington (model
unknown) ??McKeand (1941) consisted of :
FS George McKeand DFC DSO, 101511, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom
Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Pilot, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged
28
Source : Christopher
Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot
Date record last updated : 28 June 2009
Wellington
Mark I C ??Smith
On 11 March 1942 this crew
reported for duty with 215 Squadron at 150TU Harwell.
On 22 March 1942 Sgt H Smith was replaced by CO Wing Commander G Warrington
at Harwell.
On 28 March 1942 the crew departed from Harwell to Portreath.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".
Crew of Wellington Mark I C ??Smith consisted of :
Sgt B G Brown, R/49849,
Air Gunner
Sgt C T Enright,
A404312, Pilot
Sgt A N Jenkins,
R/70070, Observer
Plt/Off C Logan,
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
Sgt H Smith, 1377225,
Pilot
Fg/Off William Gordon
Venner, J88353 & R/54229, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal
Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
Wellington
Mark I C ??Williams
On 11 March 1942 This aircrew reported for duty with 215 Squadron at 150
TU Harwell.
On 20 March 1942 The crew departed Hampstead Norris for St Eval, en-route
for India.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".
Crew of Wellington Mark I C ??Williams consisted of :
Sgt J A Dillow,
1381369, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
Plt/Off R Fellows,
103575, Observer
FS C M Gillis,
R/56399, Pilot
Sgt G Hill, 946109,
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
Sgt F B Kershaw,
701962, Air Gunner
FS J E Williams, R/67724,
Pilot
Source : Colin Burningham
Date record last updated : 16 June 2010
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