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29/30 June 1941 Wellington Mk IC - R1509 - KO-P |
An engine was lost to flak over the target. The aircraft was attacked by a Bf109 which was shot down.
A Bf110 then intercepted the bomber and shot it down in flames. All baled out.
*Claim by Uffz Herbert Ludwig 5/NJG1 - 700m East of Deinstedt SSE Bremervorde (2C): 4,500m at 02:50.
Coned by 1 Res Flakscheinw Abt 258 (Armstrong Deinstedt 02:50).
Ref:-Nachtjagd Combat Archives Part 1 1941 - Theo Boiten - *info via John Jones, thanks.
ORB. 29/6/1941.11 aircraft (6 from 'A' Flight, and 5 'B' Flight) were detailed to attack Targets HAMBURG and BREMEN.
Aircraft took off between 2259. hours and 2315. hours.
In the attack on HAMBURG, carried out in good visibility, many bombs were dropped in the target area,
and the 4.000 lb. Special bomb, caused a large yellow explosion, which started a fire with a great deal of white smoke.
Attacking BREMEN at bombing height ranging from 11.000 feet to 14.000 feet, all bombs fell in target area,
and numerous small fires were started but no definite results were observed.
A/C. W.5459. (Captain F/L. BAILEY) Wellington MK II W5459 KO-L and
A/C. R.1509. (Captain P/O. McSWEYN) failed to return from Operations, and
A/C. R.1805. (Captain Sgt. PAYNE) crashed at MANBY on the return.
A/C. R.1085. (Captain Sgt. SMITH) A/C. later got off its course and passed over HELIGOLAND
and bombed BREMERHAVEN owing to time getting short.
A/C. R.1500. (Captain Sgt. MATTHEWS) returned owing to intercommunication failure.
0533. All aircraft with the exception of W.5459., R.1509. and R.1805. had returned safely to Base after Operations.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
McSweyn Allan Frank - Pilot
P/O - Service No 402005 - Military Cross - AFC.
(°1918 / +1994) - Biography by John Moremon
POW - evaded for three days. Stole a bicycle at a farmhouse and reached a military airfield.
He got into the cockpit of a Bf110 but was apprehended while trying to start the engines.
Subsequently he escaped from captivity and got back to the UK.
His escape story Source: conscript-heroes.com/escapelines.
RAAF
Source: Photo and more info on: National archives of Australia.
Wild S W "Bill" - 2nd Pilot
P/O - Service No 86682
POW - was wounded in the thigt. No. 108263 Luft III
RAFVR
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan
Hetherington W "Wilf" - Observer
P/O - Service No 89321
POW No. 1383 Luft III
RAFVR
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan .
Davidson T L "Frank" - W.Op.
Sgt - Service No 916932
POW - No 39175 Luft 6
RAFVR
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan .
Gibbs E A "Laddy" - FG
Sgt - Service No 908879
POW - No 39179 Stalag 357
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Gill James Vivian "Jimmy"- RG
Sgt - Service No 759007 - Shot down (probably) a Bf109.
Age: 19 - Was hit in the shoulder and upper body.
Landed in a tree, dazed by the shock of his wounds he undid his
parachute harnes and fell forty feet breaking his back.
He died in a German hospital the following day.
RAFVR
Son of Dennis and Eva Beardsall Gill, of Bawtry, Yorkshire.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 5.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.