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28 September 1942 Wellington Mk III - Z1663 - KO-J |
Cloud cover (day) operation, a/c bomb load was 9 x 500lbs GP bombs.
Shot down by Uffz Kurt Knespel X./JG1, FW190.
Executing a beam attack and crashed 1802 into the IJsselmeer,
8 kms S of what was in 1942 the island of Urk, Netherlands.
F/S Parker was killed in the attack and F/S Clough
was last seen using the cabin fire extinguisher
in a brave attempt to put out the fire which was raging in the fuselage.
S/L Parsons and F/S Parker Collective Grave 69.D.11-13.
In Grave 69.D.11-13 also lies an unidentified airman,
a Sgt Air Observer, RCAF(?), buried 14 Oct.
This unknown airman came from Urk - Sgt Clough?
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
A Bomber Command directive was now issued whereby crews stood down from night flying would be
employed on daylight intruder sorties to keep the German sirens wailing and disrupt industry by driving the
workers into air raid shelters.
The RAF crews' only protection was cloud cover and it was essential that there was sufficient cloud to hide in.
The final Wellington loss flying from Marham occurred on Monday 28 September when six Wellingtons were
detailed for a 'cloud cover' daylight bombing attack on Lingen on the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
A Wellington was no match for a German fighter and all aircraft captains had strict order to return to base if the
cloud cover broke up.
On three Wellingtons of 115 Squadron as the aircraft made their way east the cover thinned out
rapidly to a scattering of isolated clouds.
Sgt. Crimmin in BJ695 decided to turn back. S/L. Sandes in BK272 made a similar decision.
S/L. Robert James Parsons in Z1663 decided to press home the attack but eight kilometers south west of Urk
over the Zuider Zee,
he was attacked by Unteroffizier Kurt Knespel of 10./JG1 in a FW 190.
As his cannon shells tore through the fuselage F/S. John Austin Parker, the Canadian WOP/AG was hit and died instantly,
flames from the ruptured wing gasoline tanks, fanned by the slipstream, spread rapidly.
Parsons shouted over the
intercom that he would try to ditch the bomber.
The Canadian front-gunner, Sgt. J. M. Golmour, entered the cockpit from his turret and saw
F/S., William Leonard Clough, the 31-year-old observer with the cabin fire extinguisher in
his hand vainly trying to subdue the raging furnace.
The aircraft hit the sea and only the Canadian gunner, Sergeants Golmour and J. J. Stansell emerged.
Source: book, The Heavy Bomber Offensive of WWII by Martin Bowman.
6 Wellingtons to Lingen, on the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
Only 1 aircraft bombed ships, but missed.
1 Wellington lost
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary September 1942.
ORB. 28th September, 1942.
3 aircraft (1 from "A" Flight & 2 from "B" Flight)
took off on daylight operations between the hours of 1333 and 1336 to attack target LINGEN.
Two aircraft returned to base early owing to lack of cloud cover,
one bringing back its bombs and the other jettisoning its bombs safe.
One aircraft failed to return from operations.
1615. The remaining two aircraft had returned safely to base by 1615 hours.
Parsons Robert James Sealer - Pilot
S/L - Service No 33462
Age:
RAF
Son of
Amsterdam (New Eastern) General Cemetery,
Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaat - Plot 69. Row D. Coll. grave 11-13.
Source: CWGC - Photo via Find a grave, by fulhamrocks.
Clough William Leonard - Observer
F/S - Service No 923190
Age: 31
RAFVR
Son of Albert John and Hannah Clough.
Husband of Marjorie Chloe Clough of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 73
Source: CWGC.
Parker John Austin - WOP
F/S - Service No R/83152
Age: 21
RCAF
Son of John Henry and Lila Isabel Parker,
of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Amsterdam (New Eastern) General Cemetery -
Plot 69. Row D. Coll. grave 11-13.
Source: CWGC - photo: Canadian virtual war memorial - Find a Grave.
Gilmour John Mitchell - FG
Sgt - Service No R/79078
Age:
RCAF
POW: *Camp L3 - No. 27198 - Gilmour J. M. - 115 - Z1663 - R/79078 - RCAF - 28/09/42
Photo en *info via website Teunis Pats
Stansell John James - RG
Sgt - Service No R/86311
Age:
RCAF
POW - *Camp 344 - POW No. 27241 - Stansell J. J. - 115 - Z1663 - R/86311 - RCAF - 28/09/42 Photo en *info via website Teunis Pats
!!! Discrepancy in surname and Army Service Number for Stansall / Stansell !!!