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29/30 June 1941 Wellington Mk II - W5459 - KO-L |
One of four modified Wellington's to carry a 4000lb bomb (blockbuster bomb or cookie.)
Shot down by night fighter Hptm Walter Ehle, II./NJG1.
Crashed at Altenwarder, 3,5 km. SW of Hamburg.
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) and
A/C. R.1509. (Captain P/O. McSWEYN) Wellington MK IC R1509 KO-P failed to return from Operations, 5 POW, 1 escaped, 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.

F/Lt - Service No 86371 - DFC May 1941.
Age: 23
RAF
Son of Harry Alexander Bailey and Ethel Constance Bailey, of Manchester.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 11.
Source: CWGC. - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.

P/O - Service No 60757
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of Rupert and Winifred Tetlow, of Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 10.
Source: CWGC - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.


P/O - Service No J/2832
Age: 21
RCAF
Son of John Frederick and Daisy Purser.
Husband of Margaret Laird, of London, Ontario, Canada.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 8.
Source: CWGC - Letters via John Jones, thanks -
photo: Canadian virtual war memorial, Find a Grave.

Sgt - Service No 975770
Age:
RAFVR
Son of Reginald Ballie Panes and Alice Florence Panes, of Long Ashton, Somerset.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 7.
Source: CWGC. - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.

Sgt - Service No 975787
Age: 30
RAFVR
Son of Frederic Claude and Cleva Nichols, of Southbourne, Bournemouth, Hampshire.
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 6.
Source: CWGC. - photo Find a Grave by Flipside20.


F/Sgt - Service No 808255- DFM
Age:
RAF - (Auxiliary Air Force)
Becklingen War Cemetery - 26. B. 9.
Source: CWGC. - photos Find a Grave by Honour those who fell & Flipside20.