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20/21 July 1944
Lancaster Mk III - ND913 A4-M |
Crashed at Papendrecht/Sliedrecht, Netherlands at 0500 hours.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
147 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups,
Attacked the oil plant at Homberg and caused severe damage.
German documents show that the production of aviation fuel, which had stood at nearly
6,000 tons per day at the end of April, was now fluctuating between 120 and 970 tons per day,
following Bomber Command and American Eighth Air Force raids.
But German night fighters caught the Homberg bomber force.
20 Lancasters were lost. No 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, from Mepal, lost 7 of its 25 aircraft on the raid.
6 aircraft - 5 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster - were shot down.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary July 1944.
ORB 20th July, 1944.
22 aircraft (23 aircraft - 7 from "A" Flt., 8 from "B" Flt., & 8 from "C" Flt.)
were detailed to attack HOMBERG and took off between 22.47 hours and 23.30 hours
One aircraft failed to return from operations - no news being received.
The remainder identified the target by means of red & green indicator markers on which they
bombed from heights ranging between 17,500 feet and 20,000 feet.
Bomb bursts were followed 01.21 hours by an orange red explosion with much black smoke
and a shower of sparks.
Bombing was well concentrated.
After the bombing run, one aircraft (K.LM.510 - Captain F/S. GASTON, J.) was attacked by an enemy aircraft
which appeared starboard quarter down, firing one minute later - oxygen in Pilot's cockpit caught fire,
Pilot's instrument panel shot up and compasses made unserviceable. Aircraft corkscrewed all way back,
course being steered by navigational GEE and later by North Star.
Aircraft eventually crashed at R.A.F. WOODBRIDGE, the undercarriage (starboard) collapsed
causing damage to fin rudder and starboard propellers.
In the attack the WOP/Air (Sgt. REED, D.) and Rear Gunner (Sgt. HELLAMY, W. H.) were killed
and remainder of the crew were slightly wounded or slightly injured.
Lancaster Mk III LM510 KO-K, 2 KIA, 5 survived.
Another aircraft (A/C. F.HK.556 - Captain W/O. HOLDER, D.)
sustained extensive damage due to cannon fire from enemy aircraft.
02.40 1 aircraft crashed at R.A.F. WOODBRIDGE.
03.48 20 aircraft had returned safely to base after operation.
The only know photo from the complete crew and their "Popeye".
Ted Line is the second of left.
This photo was made between March and July, 1944.
Source: photo Dorpsbehoud Papendrecht
Aerial photo (pdf) taken one week before Market Garden that shows the crash site.*
The life story of F/S. Navigator - Edward John Line,
By: Peter Child and Linda Kennedy, June, 2014.*
Van crash tot monument, kroniek van 1944-2004 . (Dutch pdf - large file*).
Last flight of Lancaster Popeye.
From the moment of the crash to the Monument in Papendrecht.(pdf).*
Special thanks to Margré van Wijngaarden and Peter-Jan van der Giesen.*
weiland, heeft hij bloemen gelegd (in de sloot anders aten de koeien deze op). De kuil van de crash in het landschap is nog goed te zien.
Visit of Peter Clarey (son of the pilot and himself a pilot on a Qantas 747) on July 21, 1994. At the crash site, then pasture,
he laid flowers
in the ditch(otherwise the cows would eat them ). The pit of the crash in the landscape is still clearly visible.
(left) De onthulling van het informatiebord op 4 mei 2015 door Linda Kennedy. Zij is de dochter van Sergeant Line.
The unveiling of the monument on July 21, 2004, exactly 60 years after the crash.
The unveiling of the information board on May 4, 2015 by Linda Kennedy. She is the daughter of Sergeant Line.
21 juli 1944 zijn omgekomen toen hun Lancaster bommenwerper door de bezetter werd neergehaald.
Het is geplaatst op de locatie van de crash.
Als basis voor de vorm van het monument heeft de uitgevoerde vluchtroute, symbolisch
weergegeven, als uitgangspunt gediend.
Het vlak, bekleed met granietblokken stelt de startbaanvoor aan het begin van de vlucht.
De Engelse en Australische vlaggen aan het begin van de startbaan staan symbool voor de vijf Engelse en twee Australische vliegers.
Op de kruising met het loodrecht op deze baan staande vlak is de Nederlandse vlag geplaatst.
De vlag en de wijziging vanhoofdrichting duiden aan dat hier de ramp van de Lancaster is begonnen.
Het gat in dit tweedevlak en de propeller die hierop is aangebracht geven dit duidelijk weer.
De kleur van de beidegenoemde vlakken zijn om voor de hand liggende redenen donker gehouden.
De Lancaster mag dan grotendeels in de grond zijn verdwenen, de bemanning allerminst.
Zij stijgen op naar het eeuwige licht, weergegeven door de uit de grond oprijzende lichtkleurige zuil.
Zij blijven voorgoed leven in ons hart, zoals de gelijke kleuren van hun namen op de zuil en detekst op de grondplaat aangeven:
Wij zullen hen steeds blijven herdenken.
Het monument is ontworpen door de Papendrechtse architect Ir. Jan van Luijk en onthuld op 21 juli 2004,
exact zestig jaar na deze tragische gebeurtenis.
Op 4 mei 2015 is door de Linda Kennedy, dochter van de navigator Edward John Line, een informatiebord naast het monument onthult.
Clarey Colin Mervyn - Pilot
F/O - Service No 426312
Age: 30
RAAF
Son of Alexander William and Clarice Leila Clarey.
Husband of Ida Vivian Orchard x21 May 1938 (°1915 - +2000),
of Graceville, Queensland, Australia.
Their sons, Peter +2000, John 2015). Daughter Judith died in 2016.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 9.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by LANC.
Luton Herbert Charles - FE
Sgt - Service No 542814
Age: 25
RAF
Son of William Retford Luton and Lucy Jane Luton,
of Brislington, Bristol.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 12.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by Bert de Lange.
Line Edward John "Ted" - Nav
Sgt - Service No 1579769
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Line.
Husband of Marie Ballinger x16 May 1944,
of Potterspury, Northamptonshire.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1, Grave 6.
Source: CWGC - photo: Find a grave by Martin Carrack - Bert de Lange.
Hancock Douglas - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1337513
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hancock, of Tredegar, Monmouthshire.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 10.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by Bert de Lange.
Kirkland Samuel Edward - BA
F/S - Service No 1581273
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Nathaniel and Violet Kirkland, of Stockingford, Warwickshire.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 7
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by Bert de Lange.
Middleton Arthur Walter - MUG
Sgt - Service No 1569017
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Ernest and Margaret R. Middleton, of Sherburn, Co. Durham.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 11.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by Bert de Lange.
Barlow Charles Alfred - RG
F/S - Service No 427790
Age: 19
RAAF
Son of Charles Percival and Beatrice Adeline Barlow,
of Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia.
Papendrecht General Cemetery - grave Plot G. Row 1. Grave 8.
Source: CWGC - photo via Peter-Jan van der Giessen - Find a grave by Bert de Lange.