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
Wellington
Mark I C HF856
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.
Wellington
Mark I L4345
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
(model unknown) 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 at 14.40 hrs on the SSE-NNW runway
when it swerved to starboard and crashed in flames into the SE corner of of
No1 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
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
Date record last updated : 14 June 2009
Wellington
Mark I C L7843
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
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 BU-M
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
The crew
of N2746 coded BU-M consisted of:
Sgt Alexander
G. Elder - pilot
Sgt Victor
L Bagley - 2nd pilot
Sgt George
C Daniel - air gunner
Sgt Sol
Glazer (NZ) - Observer
Sgt John
L Tomkinson - wireless operator
Sgt Douglas
Wilmott Waters
Wellington
IC N2746 , BU-M took off at 20:00 from Stradishall, Suffolk on a raid
to Hamburg on 13 March 1941 ( 13/03/1941 ). The aircraft captained by Sgt.
Elder was shot down over the Netherlands by a German nightfighter shortly
after 23:00 and crashed near city of Groningen. The nose gunner Sgt Douglas
Wilmott Waters survived and became a POW, the rest were KIA. They are buried
at the Esserveld cemetery, Groningen. Most are buried in communal graves,
some with members of another crew which crashed in the vicinity on the same
night.
German
fighter pilot (Ofw. Gildner) and his wireless operator, inspecting the wreck
of Elder's Wellington. SOURCE: (Nachtjagdarchiv Horst Diener, via Ab Jansen
in Wespennest Leeuwarden, vol. I, pg 116) Permision obtained by Stevin Oudshoorn
(see below).
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Very kindly submitted Stevin Oudshoorn. See Stevin's
website for further information on all aircraft lost over the Netherlands.
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
N2778 BU-R
Crew (19
December 1940) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
Target : Boulogne. Unable to locate target due to cloud cover. Brought bombs
back and landed Debden. (Op duration 23.18 to 04.55?)
Crew
(01 January 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
Target : Bremen. Op duration 18.12 to 23.40.
Crew
(29 January 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
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 (10 February 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Gilbert, Co-pilot
Target : Hanover. Bombed at 23.00. Fires visible from 20 miles away on return.
Op duration 20.53 to (03.--?)
Crew (14 February 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Plt/Off Gilbert, Co-pilot
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 (22 February 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Wg/Cdr Loughnan, Co-pilot
Target : Brest ('Hipper' Class Cruiser). Returned with bombs. Landed Hatfield.
Op duration 02.36 to 09.00.
Crew (25 February 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
Target : Düsseldorf. Bombed on ETA as 10/10 cloud. Large red glow seen after
bombing. Op duration 18.51 to 23.43.
Source : Ian Hunt
Wellington
N2800 BU-P
Crew (11
June 1941) :
Flt/Lt Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot
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.
Source : Ian Hunt
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
Wellington
N2855 BU-N
Flight
extracted from the log of Gordon Venner from 18/08/1941 to 18/02/1942
SOURCE Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark I A N2993
The
crew of N2993 comprised of :
F/O J F Nicholson (KIA)
Sgt B Raper (KIA)
Flight lost on 6 June 1940 when it crashed near Ely (England) after the
pilot was blinded by searchlights.
SOURCE: Nightjar
Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006
Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-LThis
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 Mark I C R1380
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
The crew
of R1447 coded BU-?
Plt.Off.
I.K. Woodroffe - pow
Sgt.
H.Barnes - pow
Sgt.
J.R. Fry RNZAF - pow
Sgt.
H. Gillies - pow
Sgt.
B.L. Tillotson - pow
Flg.Off.
M.M. Marsh - pow
Wellington
Mk.1C (R1447) van No.214 squadron - om 22.26 uur gestart van Stradishall -
werd door een Duitse nachtjager neergeschoten waarna de machine nabij Woensdrecht
neerstortte. De zes bemanningsleden slaagden erin om zich tijdig in veiligheid
te brengen en werden (uiteinde lijk) allemaal in krijgsgevangenschap afgevoerd.
In de
nacht van 9 op 10 mei voerden 146 bommenwerpers - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitley's,
24 Hampdens en 11 Manchesters - van Bomber Command een succesvolle aanval
uit op de tweelingsteden Mannheim en Ludwigshafen. Zware schade werd onder
meer toegebracht aan 22 fabrieken en elf spoorwagons, geladen met industriële
brandstoffen, brandden volledig uit. Twee bommenwerpers - een Wellington en
een Whitley - gingen verloren.
Wellington
Mk.1C (R1447) of No.214 squadron - at 22.26 started of Stradishall - was shot
down by a German night hunter whereupon the machine close to Woensdrecht crashed
down. The six crew members survived and were taken as Prisoners of War. On the
night of 9 /10 May 1941 146 bombers - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitley's, 24 Hampdens
and 11 Manchesters - of Bomber Command carried out a successful attack on Mannheim
and Ludwigshafen. Heavy damage was among others dealt to 22 factories and 11
spoorwagons, charged with industrial fuels, burned out entirely. Two bombers
- a Wellington and Whitley - went lost.
SOURCE:
Wim de Meester, Holland (Translated by Babel Fish)
Wellington
Mark I C R1462 BU-?
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 II R1613 BU-G
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 R1614
The crew
of R1614 coded BU-? consisted of:
P/O Brown,
Sgt Collins,
Sgt Taylor,
Sgt Else,
Sgt Hull
F/Sgt
Lewis.
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.
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
R1717 BU-Z
Flight
extracted from the log of Gordon Venner on 26/8/1941
SOURCE Liam Venner
The
crew of R1717, coded BU-Z comprised of:
F/Lt Reginald Hubert May (Pilot)
F/Sgt
James Patrick McKay (Navigator) RCAF
Sgt
Clifford Hambleton (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Sgt
Leslie Whitehouse Price (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Sgt
Lionel Black (W.Op./Air Gnr).
Sgt
Jesse Clemence Brakeman (Air Gnr.) RCAF
All
KIA on 2/3 September 1941 in an operation over Frankfurt.
SOURCE:
Glen McKay, Captain, Canadian Armed Forces (Retd) and CWGC
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
Wellington
R1789
Flight was lost as part of the April Fool's tragedy on 1 April 1942. See note
at top of page.
Sgt S Burtwell
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
Wellington
Mark I R2699
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
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 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
Date record last updated : 30 July 2009
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
Wellington
T2078 BU-F
Flight
extracted from the log of Gordon Venner on 24/8/1941
SOURCE : Liam Venner
Wellington
Mark
I C T2470
BU-K
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 (model unknown) T2470 BU-K consisted of :
Flt/Lt K W Kaufman , Pilot.
Fg/Off Wilfred Arthur Harris , Co-pilot.
Source
: Ian Hunt
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
near Denston, 1 mile east of Stradishall.
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 : 27 September 2009
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.
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 23-24/11/1940, 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, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 21
Sgt Harold Wignell Brook, 581316, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
KIA 23 November 1940, Aged 25
Sgt Stanley Charles Chester, 742972, 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, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 23 November 1940
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 : 13 February 2009
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
Crew (09
January 1941) :
Plt/Off Walter R N Sturdy, DFC & Bar, Pilot
Sgt Browell, Co-pilot
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.
Source :
Ian Hunt
Wellington
Mark I C T2542 (9 April 1941)
Mervyn Leyshon was the
skipper of this crew at No 1 OTU (Bassingbourne).
Mervyn left Bassingbourne ahead of the rest 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) 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 Rowland, 910608, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 April 1941, Aged
22
Source
: Nightjar Newsletter and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
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) 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 (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 :
Sgt 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
Sgt J R Turner, Front Gunner
Sgt Turner
Source : Aled Leyshon
(grandson of Mervyn Leyshon) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Wellington
T2850 BU-K
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
Wellington
W5442 BU-V
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
Wellington
X3233 BU-N
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
Wellington Mark I C X9890 BU-F
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,
R67521, 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 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
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,
R67521, 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 AA 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 C Miles, Pilot
Sgt Watts
Source
: Malcolm Brown (son of Sqn/Ldr John Merlin Brown) and Chorley
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
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 sho t 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
Date record last updated : 1 January 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.)
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 : United Kingdom, 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
Date record last updated : 23 August 2009
