Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Kiel
The Kiel War Cemetery at the Nordfriedhof (Westring 481, Kiel) holds 35 New Zealand/RNZAF war graves. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission' website lists 33 RNZAF personnel; two airmen from New Zealand, Henry Eric Archibald Craven and Laurence Herbert McFarlane, served in the RAF.
Henry Eric Archibald Craven
Laurence Herbert McFarlane
Sgt Henry Eric Archibald Craven was the Wireless Operator/Air gunner in the crew of P/O C. J.T Jones. The other New Zealander in the crew was pilot Laurence Herbert McFarlane. At 21.00 hrs on 1 July, 1940, Whitley V N1461 of No.58 Squadron departed RAF Linton-on-Ouse for an operation against the German battleship Scharnhorst, docked in Kiel harbour. Once in the target area, the Whitley was hit by land-based Flak as well as fire from several Kriegsmarine vessels including Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst. N1461 crashed in flames and exploded near the mental hospital in the Düsternbrooker Gehülz, Kiel, at 01.58 hrs. All but one on board perished. Sgt J. P. Caldwell survived with a broken collar bone. He became a Prisoner of War.
Crew of Whitley N1461:
P/O Cecil John Trevelyan Jones, RAF
F/O Laurence Herbert McFarlane, RAF
Sgt David Leishman, RAF
Sgt Henry Eric Archibald Craven, RAF
Sgt. John Primrose Caldwell, RAF
P/O Cecil John Trevelyan Jones, RAF
F/O Laurence Herbert McFarlane, RAF
Sgt David Leishman, RAF
Sgt Henry Eric Archibald Craven, RAF
Sgt. John Primrose Caldwell, RAF
Of the 35 New Zealand airmen interned here, F/O McFarlane and Sgt Craven were in Royal Air Force service, all others served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
John Alistair Graham
On 8 April, 1941, Wellington Ic X3167 'OJ-B', of No.149 Squadron had left her base at RAF Mildenhall for a bombing mission to Kiel. There the aircraft was hit by fire of a Marine Flak battery. The Wellington came down with no survivors.
On board of the Wellington:
Sgt John Barker Churchill Jago, RAFVR
Sgt Frank Maitland Jarrett, RAFVR
P/O John Alistair Graham, RNZAF
Sgt Albert William Rose, RAFVR
Sgt Peter Eric Montague Mertens, RAFVR
Sgt Alfred George Coster, RAF
Sgt John Barker Churchill Jago, RAFVR
Sgt Frank Maitland Jarrett, RAFVR
P/O John Alistair Graham, RNZAF
Sgt Albert William Rose, RAFVR
Sgt Peter Eric Montague Mertens, RAFVR
Sgt Alfred George Coster, RAF
Note.
According to information on the RAF Commands website, this Wellington was brought down by Flak positioned at the Kiel Canal Lock gates. Apart from Sgt Jarrett and Sgt Mertens, the crew was initially laid to rest at the Garrison cemetery, before being interred in the Kiel War Cemetery. Jarret and Mertens have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
As to the crash location, this source states: 'brought down near Holtenau.'
Boiten, in Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.75, states that the Wellington was brought down by Marine Flak and crashed in the Kiel area. The time of the crash is not known, but the Flak defences were active between 23.30 and 02.59 hrs.
According to information on the RAF Commands website, this Wellington was brought down by Flak positioned at the Kiel Canal Lock gates. Apart from Sgt Jarrett and Sgt Mertens, the crew was initially laid to rest at the Garrison cemetery, before being interred in the Kiel War Cemetery. Jarret and Mertens have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
As to the crash location, this source states: 'brought down near Holtenau.'
Boiten, in Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.75, states that the Wellington was brought down by Marine Flak and crashed in the Kiel area. The time of the crash is not known, but the Flak defences were active between 23.30 and 02.59 hrs.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.38
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.75
X3167 -RAFCommands website
John Alistair Graham - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
James Clark Cattell
At 20.25 hrs on 8 April, 1941, Wellington T2542 of No.214 Squadron took-off from RAF Stradishall for a bombing mission to Kiel Germany. In the target area, the aircraft was hit by Flak and crashed. No one on board survived.
The crew of this Wellington consisted of:
Sgt John Philip Cusworth, RAFVR
Sgt Cornelius Matthew Flinders Hitchcock, RAFVR
Sgt James Clark Cattell, RNZAF
Sgt Richard Brown, RAFVR
Sgt Alexander John McHardy, RAFVR
Sgt Douglas Cyril Rowland, RAFVR
Sgt John Philip Cusworth, RAFVR
Sgt Cornelius Matthew Flinders Hitchcock, RAFVR
Sgt James Clark Cattell, RNZAF
Sgt Richard Brown, RAFVR
Sgt Alexander John McHardy, RAFVR
Sgt Douglas Cyril Rowland, RAFVR
Note.
On this mission, Sgt Cusworth's crew had been formed at No.1 OTU at RAF Bassingbourn, with Mervyn Leyshon as their skipper. Leyshon had left Bassingbourn ahead of the rest of his crew to transfer to 214 Squadron at RAF Stradishall for operational experience and the rest of the crew were to follow on. Unfortunately on the night they flew with Sgt Cusworth on this raid to Kiel, they were shot down over target. Mervyn 'Taff' Leyshon survived the war.
On this mission, Sgt Cusworth's crew had been formed at No.1 OTU at RAF Bassingbourn, with Mervyn Leyshon as their skipper. Leyshon had left Bassingbourn ahead of the rest of his crew to transfer to 214 Squadron at RAF Stradishall for operational experience and the rest of the crew were to follow on. Unfortunately on the night they flew with Sgt Cusworth on this raid to Kiel, they were shot down over target. Mervyn 'Taff' Leyshon survived the war.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.39
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.75
James Clark Cattell -Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
T2542 - No.214 Squadron website
T2542 -RAFCommands website
Roderick William Finlayson
On 11 May, 1941, at 22.25 hrs, Wellington Ic R1330 of No.40 Squadron departed her base at RAF Alconbury. The Wellington was intercepted by a German night fighter and was shot down.
The crew of this Wellington consisted of:
Sgt Roderick William Finlayson, RNZAF
Sgt James Bartle Murray, RAFVR
Sgt Deryck Fletcher, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Shaw, RAFVR ?
F/Sgt Harold Charles Tuckwell, RAFVR
F/Sgt Percy Herbert Beckett, RAFVR
Sgt Roderick William Finlayson, RNZAF
Sgt James Bartle Murray, RAFVR
Sgt Deryck Fletcher, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Shaw, RAFVR ?
F/Sgt Harold Charles Tuckwell, RAFVR
F/Sgt Percy Herbert Beckett, RAFVR
Of the crew, only F/Sgt Shaw survived. He was taken PoW.
Note.
The Wellington was intercepted and shot down by a night fighter aircraft. Leutnant Lothar Linke of 6./NJG 1 as well as Oberleutnant Helmut Lent (6./NJG 1) claimed this aircraft.
Linke at 01.16 hrs to the Southeast of Ostenfeld at a height of 5,000 metres and Lent at 01.40 hrs 800 metres South of Süderstapel, intercepted at a height of 4,500 metres.
There was another claim from the ground: The Wellington was coned by Flakscheinwerfer Regiment 2, and also claimed by Flak of 1./Res. Flak Abt. 218 at 01.43 hrs.
The Aviation Safety Network websites gives the location where the Wellington came down as Norderstapel.
The Wellington was intercepted and shot down by a night fighter aircraft. Leutnant Lothar Linke of 6./NJG 1 as well as Oberleutnant Helmut Lent (6./NJG 1) claimed this aircraft.
Linke at 01.16 hrs to the Southeast of Ostenfeld at a height of 5,000 metres and Lent at 01.40 hrs 800 metres South of Süderstapel, intercepted at a height of 4,500 metres.
There was another claim from the ground: The Wellington was coned by Flakscheinwerfer Regiment 2, and also claimed by Flak of 1./Res. Flak Abt. 218 at 01.43 hrs.
The Aviation Safety Network websites gives the location where the Wellington came down as Norderstapel.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.57
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.96
Roderick William Finlayson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
AircrewRemembered website
RAFCommands website
R1330 - Aviation Safety Network website
Footprints on the sand of time, p.401
Francis Sydney Haslemore
Sgt Francis Sydney Haslemore was Air Gunnerin F/O K.G. Webb's crew in No.61 Squadron, RAF. At 23.01 hrs on 26 June, 1941, Manchester I L7304 departed RAF Hemswell for an air operation to Kiel. In total 41 took part in this raid. Two Manchesters failed to return. L7304 fell to the guns of Oblt Walter Fenske's nightfighter of 3./NJG 1.
The Manchester came down on the Adolf Hitler Koog, Marne, Holstein, at 02.18.
The Manchester came down on the Adolf Hitler Koog, Marne, Holstein, at 02.18.
The crew of L7304 consisted of:
F/O Kenneth Gordon Webb, RAF
P/O Laurence Trevor Glover, RAFVR
F/Sgt Frank Woodruff, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Woodward, RAFVR
Sgt Francis Sydney Haslemore, RNZAF
P/O Cyril McCulloch Bateman, RAFVR
There were no survivors.
F/O Kenneth Gordon Webb, RAF
P/O Laurence Trevor Glover, RAFVR
F/Sgt Frank Woodruff, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Woodward, RAFVR
Sgt Francis Sydney Haslemore, RNZAF
P/O Cyril McCulloch Bateman, RAFVR
There were no survivors.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.74
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 1, p.111
Francis Sydney Haslemore - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
AircrewRemembered website
RAFCommands website
Donald Alfred Lewis
On 23 July, 1941, The RAF resumed the hunt for three German warships, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, thought sheltering in the French port of Brest. As revealed by a reconnaissance flight by the PRU, the Scharnhorst had left her berth and had headed south along the French coast for a more secure shelter.
After being on stand-by during the afternoon, three Stirlings from No.15 Squadron, captained by F/O Campbell (in N6038 'R'), P/O Needham (in 'K') and Sgt Jones (in W7428 'F') took-off from RAF Wyton in the early evening. P/O Needam aborted the mission due to a faulty undercarriage. According to the ORB, Sgt Jones pinpointed the new location of the Scharnhorst to the harbour of Fromentine. Also in the ORB it is believed, F/O Campbell made an attack at the correct position. At some point, signals were received which indicated Campbell and his crew were on their way to St. Eval, and the last report stated, that they were adrift 50 miles W.S.W. of Milford Haven. Nothing further was heard of ‘R’ in spite of search by Lysanders and Hurricanes.
The body of P/O Donald Alfred Lewis washed up on the North Frisian island of Anrum. He was innitially buried on the island at Nebel. He now rests in the Kiel War Cemetery. His fellow crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
After being on stand-by during the afternoon, three Stirlings from No.15 Squadron, captained by F/O Campbell (in N6038 'R'), P/O Needham (in 'K') and Sgt Jones (in W7428 'F') took-off from RAF Wyton in the early evening. P/O Needam aborted the mission due to a faulty undercarriage. According to the ORB, Sgt Jones pinpointed the new location of the Scharnhorst to the harbour of Fromentine. Also in the ORB it is believed, F/O Campbell made an attack at the correct position. At some point, signals were received which indicated Campbell and his crew were on their way to St. Eval, and the last report stated, that they were adrift 50 miles W.S.W. of Milford Haven. Nothing further was heard of ‘R’ in spite of search by Lysanders and Hurricanes.
The body of P/O Donald Alfred Lewis washed up on the North Frisian island of Anrum. He was innitially buried on the island at Nebel. He now rests in the Kiel War Cemetery. His fellow crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Transcript of entry for July 23, 1941:
23.7.41. P.R.U. disclosed that Scharnhorst had slipped her mooring and left the M.T.B. berth at Brest. 3 Stirling crews stood by all afternoon, and in early evening F/O Campbell, P/O Needham and Sgt Jones took off for La Rochelle. Later reconnaissance gave La Pallice as Scharnhorst’s new lodging. P/O Needham could not get ‘K’ to retract undercarriage and he had to jettison petrol to land with bombs on. Sgt Jones in ‘F’ found an island on E.T.A. with a jetty and ship alongside in approximately the correct position. As no flak or other opposition appeared after the attack had been made he investigated further and pinpointed harbour as Fromentine.
F/O Campbell is believed to have attacked correct position: signals were received which indicated they were on their way to St. Eval, and last report was that they were adrift 50 miles W.S.W. of Milford Haven. Nothing further was heard of ‘R’ in spite of search by Lysanders and Hurricanes.
ORB No.15 Squadron in AIR27/203/13, The National Archives, Kew, London.
23.7.41. P.R.U. disclosed that Scharnhorst had slipped her mooring and left the M.T.B. berth at Brest. 3 Stirling crews stood by all afternoon, and in early evening F/O Campbell, P/O Needham and Sgt Jones took off for La Rochelle. Later reconnaissance gave La Pallice as Scharnhorst’s new lodging. P/O Needham could not get ‘K’ to retract undercarriage and he had to jettison petrol to land with bombs on. Sgt Jones in ‘F’ found an island on E.T.A. with a jetty and ship alongside in approximately the correct position. As no flak or other opposition appeared after the attack had been made he investigated further and pinpointed harbour as Fromentine.
F/O Campbell is believed to have attacked correct position: signals were received which indicated they were on their way to St. Eval, and last report was that they were adrift 50 miles W.S.W. of Milford Haven. Nothing further was heard of ‘R’ in spite of search by Lysanders and Hurricanes.
ORB No.15 Squadron in AIR27/203/13, The National Archives, Kew, London.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.99; with online amendment: N6038 Summary amendment:
T/o Wyton to attack the Scharnhorst. Believed damaged by enemy action and initially reported down in the sea 50 miles off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Subsequently, this proved incorrect and it is now known that the Stirling was lost in the North Sea. Six of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while P/O Lewis RNZAF now rests in Kiel War Cemetery, his body having been exhumed from Nebel Friedhof on the German Frisian Island of Amrum. Commissioned in March 1941, P/O Lewis had joined 15 Squadron in 1940, and had flown at least 26 sorties; 3 in Blenheims and a dozen in Wellingtons. [Errol Martyn and John Reid, 13/11/08]
T/o Wyton to attack the Scharnhorst. Believed damaged by enemy action and initially reported down in the sea 50 miles off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. Subsequently, this proved incorrect and it is now known that the Stirling was lost in the North Sea. Six of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while P/O Lewis RNZAF now rests in Kiel War Cemetery, his body having been exhumed from Nebel Friedhof on the German Frisian Island of Amrum. Commissioned in March 1941, P/O Lewis had joined 15 Squadron in 1940, and had flown at least 26 sorties; 3 in Blenheims and a dozen in Wellingtons. [Errol Martyn and John Reid, 13/11/08]
Bomber Command War Diaries, p.183-184
ORB No.15 Squadron in AIR27/203/13, The National Archives, Kew, London.
Donald Alfred Lewis - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
AircrewRemembered website
RAFCommands website
Stirling File, AirBritain, p.35
Alfred Cecil Nuttall
Hampden I X3127 of No.61 Squadron had left RAF North Luffenham at 22.18 hrs on 8 August, 1941, for a bombing mission to Kiel. In the target area the aircraft was coned by searchlights and hit by heavy Flak of the 1. Marine Flak Regiment. X3127 crashed at Revensdorf near Kiel at 02.00 hrs. It is thought, that all four crew members managed to escape, but that Sgt Nuttall had been killed whilst in the air. His three fellow crewmembers survived and were made PoW.
Crew of Hampden X3127:
P/O John William Whymark Graham
Sgt Leslie Richard Biddlecombe
Sgt W.D. Hughes
Sgt Alfred Cecil Nuttall, RNZAF
P/O John William Whymark Graham
Sgt Leslie Richard Biddlecombe
Sgt W.D. Hughes
Sgt Alfred Cecil Nuttall, RNZAF
Note.
The village of Revensdorf is 15 kilometers to the Northwest of Kiel city centre. The RAF Commands website spells the location as Revenstorf.
The village of Revensdorf is 15 kilometers to the Northwest of Kiel city centre. The RAF Commands website spells the location as Revenstorf.
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.112
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.20
Alfred Cecil Nuttall - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
x3127 - Hampden File AirBritain, p.124
X3127 - RAF Commands website
Geoffrey Fraser Williams
On 20 October, 1941, Hampden I AD984 took-off at 18.30 hrs from her base at RAF Coningsby for a mission to the city of Bremen. On reaching the German coast, the Hampden of No.106 Squadron, RAF, was coned by searchlights at Fleckeby, Windeby Pukolt and Schnellmark. On trying to evade the lights, the Hampden manoeuvred heavily, causing her to break up in mid-air. AD984 crashed to the Southwest of Louisenberg near Borby/Eckernføurde at 22.32 hrs. Ther were no survivors. The crew was buried here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew of AD984 consisted of:
Sgt John Lawson Lockwood, RCAF
Sgt Geoffrey Fraser Williams, RNZAF
Sgt William Alton, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Growny Jones, RAFVR
Sgt John Lawson Lockwood, RCAF
Sgt Geoffrey Fraser Williams, RNZAF
Sgt William Alton, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Growny Jones, RAFVR
Sources:
BCL, Volume II, 1941, p.164
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.61
Geoffrey Fraser Williams - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
RAF Commands website
John Lukies Brown
Campbell Ewin Justin Aitchison
On 12 March, 1942, Wellington III X3282 had left RAF Feltwell for a mission to Kiel. Between 22.55 and 00.00 hrs (CET), 68 Wellingtons bombed the city. Five of the aircraft were claimed by the 1. Marine Flak Regiment, including the machine flown by Sgt Parnham. X3282 crashed in the Eckernförder Bucht. There were no survivors. The airmen were buried here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
Sgt J.F.M. Parnham, RAFVR
Sgt J.L. Brown, RNZAF
Sgt R. McGibbon, RAFVR
Sgt C.E.J. Aitchison, RNZAF
Sgt M.A. McDonald, RAAF
Sgt J.H. Godfrey, RAFVR
Sgt J.F.M. Parnham, RAFVR
Sgt J.L. Brown, RNZAF
Sgt R. McGibbon, RAFVR
Sgt C.E.J. Aitchison, RNZAF
Sgt M.A. McDonald, RAAF
Sgt J.H. Godfrey, RAFVR
Sources:
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.46
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.90-91.
John Lukies Brown - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Maurice Perrott Bell
Franklin Bertram Cran
Claude Joseph Harris
On 28 March, 1942, Wellington III X3462/AA-N of No.75 Squadron had left RAF Feltwell for a mission to Lübeck. At 00.22 hrs the Wellington was coned by searchlights of the Marine Flak Abteilung 241 and hit by fire from both the 1. Marine Flak Regiment and the Kriegsmarine vessel Thetis. The Wellington crashed in flames at the Johannesstraße 9 in Kiel-Gaarden at 00.24 hrs. There were no survivors.
No. 75 Squadron participated with ten Wellington aircraft. Bomb load consisting of 4,000 lbs, 1,000 lbs, 500 lbs, 250 lbs, and containers of incendiaries was dropped in the target area. Bombs were seen to burst on target and large fires were seen burning in the target area. About 30% of Lübeck was obliterated, with 320 citizens losing their lives.
X3462's crew was captained by P/O Maurice Perrott Bell, RNZAF, consited of:
Sgt F.B. Cran, RNZAF
Sgt C.J. Harris, RNZAF
Sgt R.G. Allen, RAFVR
Sgt T.R. Cross, RAFVR
Sgt J.W. Hinton, RAFVR
They were all buried at the Kiel War Cemetery.
Sgt F.B. Cran, RNZAF
Sgt C.J. Harris, RNZAF
Sgt R.G. Allen, RAFVR
Sgt T.R. Cross, RAFVR
Sgt J.W. Hinton, RAFVR
They were all buried at the Kiel War Cemetery.
Sources:
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.55
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.98-99.
Maurice Perrott Bell - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
RAF Commands website
75 NZ Squadron website
Warwick St. George Ruxton Wilson
On 17 April, 1942, at 23.50 hrs, F/Sgt Wilson, RNZAF, lifted his Wellington III X3542 from RAF Feltwell's runway for a bombing mission to Hamburg. The No. 57 Squadron machine, part of a 173-strong bomber force, was intercepted by a German nightfighter aircraft of 6./NJG 3, flown by Fw Ernst Meess, at a height of 20,000 feet. At 03.00 hrs the Wellington crashed near Rickert, 2 kilometres to the North of Büdelsdorf. Of the crew, three had managed to escape from the stricken aircraft: F/L Ronald Hicks, P/O John Stanley Skinner and Sgt Ronald David Meek. They were made Prisoner of War. Sgt A.J.S. Gillespie and Sgt R.S. Andrews are believed to remain in the wreck, buried deep in the soft ground. They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, on Panels 83 and 77 respectively.
Ronald Hicks died of cancer at the age of 94 at Southbourne, England in January 2008. No further information on the fates of Skinner and Meek (as of August 2023).
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.73
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.109-110.
Footprints on the sands of time, p.317, p.361 and p.404.
Warwick St. George Ruxton Wilson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
AircrewRemembered.com website on the loss of Wellington X3542.
X3542 Aviation Safety Network website.
Myles Frederick Gordon Fraser
Albert Ivan Smith
Norman Edward Whiting
Wellington III X3483 'AA-J' of No.75 Squadron had left RAF Feltwell on 15 May, 1942, for a mining operation in the bay to the east of the city of Kiel. The Wellington crashed in the sea off Sylt. All crew members perished in the crash and were initially laid to rest in Westerland Friedhof. After the end of the war, their remains were taken to Kiel War Cemetery at the Nordfriedhof:
F/Sgt M.F.G. Fraser, RNZAF
F/Sgt A.I. Smith, RNZAF
Sgt J.O.H. Nichols, RAFVR
Sgt S.A.G. Shaw, RAFVR
Sgt N.E. Whiting, RNZAF
F/Sgt M.F.G. Fraser, RNZAF
F/Sgt A.I. Smith, RNZAF
Sgt J.O.H. Nichols, RAFVR
Sgt S.A.G. Shaw, RAFVR
Sgt N.E. Whiting, RNZAF
Sources:
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
BCL, Volume 3, 1942, p.93
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9 and AIR27/646/10, The National Archives, Kew.
BCL, Volume 3, 1942, p.93
75 NZ Squadron website On this excellent site the last few days of operations of this Wellington are documented as well as a link to a YouTube clip, showing X3483/AA-J taxiing and in take-off from, most likely RAF Feltwell.
Left: ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/9, TNA, Kew. Right: ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/646/10, TNA, Kew.
Myles Frederick Gordon Fraser - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Albert Ivan Smith - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Norman Edward Whiting - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Colin John Stirling
On the 25th June, 1942, as part of the third and final 1,000 bomber raid, 904 Main Force and aircraft from several OTU's as well as 102 aircraft from RAF Coastal Command, Wellington Ic DV721 'N' of 26 OTU from RAF Wing headed for the city of Bremen. Piloted by W/O Colin John Stirling, RNZAF, the Wellington had left her base at 22.40 hrs. What happened during the course of the flight, remains unknown to this day. In the early hours of the 26th of June, two aircraft were claimed by German Flak units, one unidentified aircraft and one unidentified Wellington. The first came down near Rönnelmoor Neustadt at 01.05 hrs, the latter between Kieselhorst and Winkelsett, to the Sout-southwest of Harpstedt, at 01.20 hrs.
Fact is, that the entire crew of DV721 was laid to rest here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
Fact is, that the entire crew of DV721 was laid to rest here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew of DV721 consisted of:
W/O Colin John Stirling, RNZAF
F/Sgt Hubert Hill Jordan, RAF
F/Sgt Arthur Reginald Watkins, RAFVR
F/O Albert Sharples,RAFVR
F/Sgt Douglas Hiram Baddeley, RAuxAF
W/O Colin John Stirling, RNZAF
F/Sgt Hubert Hill Jordan, RAF
F/Sgt Arthur Reginald Watkins, RAFVR
F/O Albert Sharples,RAFVR
F/Sgt Douglas Hiram Baddeley, RAuxAF
The Wellington was loaded with 1 x 500 lb GP (General Purpose) bomb and 6 SBC (Small Bomb Containers) containing 90 x 4lb incendiaries.
Details of the DFM held by W/O Stirling R.N.Z.A.F, who had served previously with 150 Squadron, were published in the Supplement to theLondon Gazette the day he died, 26th June, 1942.
His tail gunner, F/Sgt Douglas Hiram Baddeley had participated in the Battle of Britain, having been a member of 25 Squadron, on Blenheim I’s.
Details of the DFM held by W/O Stirling R.N.Z.A.F, who had served previously with 150 Squadron, were published in the Supplement to theLondon Gazette the day he died, 26th June, 1942.
His tail gunner, F/Sgt Douglas Hiram Baddeley had participated in the Battle of Britain, having been a member of 25 Squadron, on Blenheim I’s.
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.135
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 2, p.31-33.
John Colin Stirling - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
AircrewRememberance Society website on the loss of Wellington DV721 and 26 OTU aircraft.
DV721 Aviation Safety Network website.
RAF Commands website on loss of DV721.
Ivan Fenton Waugh
Sgt Ivan Fenton Waugh was air gunner in the crew of No.61 Squadron Hampden I AE189 'QR-G'. On 24 July, 1941, the aircraft left RAF North Luffenham at 23.04 hrs for a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany. At some stage in the flight, the aircraft crashed into the sea, with no survivors.
On board of Hampden I AE189 were:
F/O Maurice Parry, RAF
P/O George Peter Wise, DFM, RAF
F/Sgt Alfred Frederick Hill, RAFVR
Sgt Ivan Fenton Waugh, RNZAF
F/Sgt Hill was laid to rest at the Algemene Begraafplaats in West-Terschelling and Sgt Waugh found his last resting place at the Kiel War Cemetery. F/O Parry and P/O Wise havo no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, on Panels 30 and 35 respectively.
F/O Maurice Parry, RAF
P/O George Peter Wise, DFM, RAF
F/Sgt Alfred Frederick Hill, RAFVR
Sgt Ivan Fenton Waugh, RNZAF
F/Sgt Hill was laid to rest at the Algemene Begraafplaats in West-Terschelling and Sgt Waugh found his last resting place at the Kiel War Cemetery. F/O Parry and P/O Wise havo no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, on Panels 30 and 35 respectively.
Note.
W.R.Chorley (in BCL, Vol.III, p102) states, that the Hampden was shot down by a night fighter and crashed into the North Sea off the port of Den Helder at 01.05 hrs.
In the Hampden File on p.134: Shot down by night fighter off Den Helder.
There is no reference to this loss in Boiten's Nachtjagd Combat Archive.
W.R.Chorley (in BCL, Vol.III, p102) states, that the Hampden was shot down by a night fighter and crashed into the North Sea off the port of Den Helder at 01.05 hrs.
In the Hampden File on p.134: Shot down by night fighter off Den Helder.
There is no reference to this loss in Boiten's Nachtjagd Combat Archive.
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.102
Ivan Fenton Waugh - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Hampden File, AirBritain, p.134
RAF Commands website on loss of AE189.
Trevor Haughton Cray
Sgt Trevor Haughton Cray, RNZAF, was wireless operator in the crew of F/L F.Lowe, tasked on 28 July, 1942 with a bombing mission to Hamburg. Their aircraft took-off from RAF Upper Heyford at 22.14 hrs. On passing over Schleswig at 11,500 ft, the 16 OTU Wellington Ic R1450 was intercepted by a nightfighter and shot down. Three of the crew, F/L Lowe, F/L P.W. Langford, RCAF, and W/O W. White survived the subsequent crash and were made prisoners of war.
The Wellington was claimed by Oblt Günther Köberich of the Stab II./NJG3 at 00.16 hrs in the early morning 29 July, 1942, near Brunsbüttel. This claim however appeared not in the OKL/RLM Abschussübersicht of Stab II./NJG3.
The Wellington was claimed by Oblt Günther Köberich of the Stab II./NJG3 at 00.16 hrs in the early morning 29 July, 1942, near Brunsbüttel. This claim however appeared not in the OKL/RLM Abschussübersicht of Stab II./NJG3.
R1450' s crew consisted of:
F/L Francis Lowe, RAF, made PoW
F/L Patrick 'Pat' Wilson Langford, RCAF, made PoW; Murdered by the Gestapo on 31 March 1944. He is buried at the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery.
P/O Arthur Ferdinand Litzow, RAFVR
Sgt William John Atchison, RAFVR
Sgt Trevor Haughton Cray, RNZAF
W/O William White, RAF, made PoW
F/L Francis Lowe, RAF, made PoW
F/L Patrick 'Pat' Wilson Langford, RCAF, made PoW; Murdered by the Gestapo on 31 March 1944. He is buried at the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery.
P/O Arthur Ferdinand Litzow, RAFVR
Sgt William John Atchison, RAFVR
Sgt Trevor Haughton Cray, RNZAF
W/O William White, RAF, made PoW
In the night 0f 28-29 July 1942 the city of Hamburg was the target of 256 RAF aircraft, including 91 from various OTU's. In all 30 aircraft of the Main Force were lost, one being Wellington Ic R1450. No.16 OTU also lost Wellington L7894. This aircraft was shot down by Flak and came down near Glinde-Schönningstedt. There were no survivors.
Trevor's younger brother P/O Geoffrey Haughton Cray lost his life on 17 April, 1944, when his No.25 Squadron, RNZAF, SBD-5 Dauntless NZ5050 crashed into the South Pacific Ocean. He is commemorated on the Bourail Memorial, Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia.
Sources:
BCL, Volume VII, Operational Training Units, 1940-1947, p.139
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.53-56.
RAF Commands website
Online Cenotaph - Auckland War Memorial Museum and for Geoffrey Haughton Cray.
Footprints on the sands of time, Oliver Clutton-Brock: p.340 for P.W. Langford; p.347 for F.Lowe, whose rank is given as P/O; W.White on p.433.
B24.net website for further information on the 50 officers executed after 'The Great Escape'.
International Bomber Command Centre website on the loss of F/L Langford as well as a list of the other Allied personnel executed.
No.49 Squadron Association website for information on F/L Lowe.
Harold Douglas John Fitzsimons
Alan Campbell Williamson
On 28 July, 1942, pilot Sgt Alan Campbell Williamson brought Wellington III Z1605/'KO-R' of No.115 Squadron into the air for a bombing mission to Hamburg.
Oblt Günther Köberich of the Stab II./NJG 3 claimed a Wellington, 2 kilometres to the Northwest of Hohn at a height of 3000 metres at 01.32 hrs. About a quarter of an hour earlier, at 0016 hrs he claimed the destruction of 16 OTU Wellington R1450.
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.165.
Harold Douglas John Fitzsimons - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Alan Campbell Williamson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.165.
Harold Douglas John Fitzsimons - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Alan Campbell Williamson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.56
Hector John Wakeman
No.57 Squadron Wellington III X3371 'DX-G' departed her base at RAF Feltwell at 20.40 hrs, on the 18th August, 1942, for a bombing mission to Flensburg. The aircraft is presumed missing over the sea. Of the crew of X3371, air gunner Hector John Wakeman, RNZAF, rests here at the Kiel War Cemetery. Two other crew members, pilot P/O Robert Perrin McLaren, RCAF, and air gunner Sgt John Charles Williams, RNZAF, rest in Öckerö Churchyard, on the island of Öckerö, west of Gothenburg, Sweden. Sgt William Edwin Collins, RAFVR, and pilot P/O Kivell Harold William Alderton, RNZAF, have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial on Panels 80 and 115 respectively.
Note.
According to information on the AircrewRemembered website, X3371 took-off at 20.45 hrs. It was the first RAF operation using Pathfinders. Wind was much stronger than forecasted causing the aircraft to drift north of the target area.
According to information on the AircrewRemembered website, X3371 took-off at 20.45 hrs. It was the first RAF operation using Pathfinders. Wind was much stronger than forecasted causing the aircraft to drift north of the target area.
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.186.
Hector John Wakeman - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
John Charles Williams - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Kivell Harold William Alderton - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.186.
Hector John Wakeman - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
John Charles Williams - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Kivell Harold William Alderton - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
X3371 - RAF Commands website
X3371 -AircrewRemembered website
Alexander George Brown
Douglas Newman
On 14 September, 1942, at 17.35 hrs, P/O Murray, Sgt Brandon, Sgt Newman and Sgt Brown, all RNZAF, in aircraft 'K' , Hampden TB.1 AD795, were ordered on a U-Boat search to the North of the Shetlands. Before midnight several plots were received, which showed what was believed to be aircraft 'K' off the Scots coast and at 02.17 hrs on the 15th September, the aircraft signalled "short of petrol, may have to ditch". The aircraft was plotted as being some 60 miles East of Rattray Head. At 02.20 hrs: "will land in sea" was signalled and from 02.22 to 02.27 hrs, SOS signals were sent out. Nothing more was heard or seen of the aircraft and crew. (489 Squadron ORB in AIR27/1938/9).
Alexander George Brown and Douglas Newman found their last resting place here at the Nordfriedhof. Their fellow crew members, Sgt Charles Henry Brandon, RNZAF, and F/O Thomas Donald Gordon Murray, RNZAF, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
Alexander George Brown - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Douglas Newman - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Robert John Gould
Part of a force of 28 Halifax aircraft tasked to attack the city of Flensburg, W1055 'DY-F' of No.102 Squadron departed RAF Pocklington at 00.16 hrs on 24 September, 1942. In the target area, the Halifax of P/O Bassom was picked up by searchlights and soon after hit by Flak. The aircraft crashed near the U-boat wharf in Flensburg-Förde, at 04.01 hrs. There were no survivors. Sgt John Bennett and Sgt Sydney Cooper have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Their fellow crew members all rest here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew of Halifax W1055 consisted of:
P/O Richard Charles Edgar Bassom, RAFVR
Sgt John Bennett, RAF
Sgt Sydney Cooper, RAFVR
Sgt Robert John Gould, RNZAF
F/Sgt William Douglas Reynolds, RCAF
Sgt Arthur Graham Sherrard-Smith, RAFVR
Sgt Charles Stainton, RAFVR
P/O Richard Charles Edgar Bassom, RAFVR
Sgt John Bennett, RAF
Sgt Sydney Cooper, RAFVR
Sgt Robert John Gould, RNZAF
F/Sgt William Douglas Reynolds, RCAF
Sgt Arthur Graham Sherrard-Smith, RAFVR
Sgt Charles Stainton, RAFVR
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.226
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.99
Robert John Gould - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
W1055 RAF Command website
W1055 - AircrewRemembered website
Leo George Mee
At 00.15 hrs in the early morning of 24 September, 1942, Halifax II DT517 'DY-G' of No.102 Squadron, RAF, took-off from RAF Pocklington. The machine, captained by F/O Lee, was part of a force of 28 Halifaxes tasked to bomb the city of Flensburg. On approach to the target, the Halifax was coned by searchlights and hit by Flak. DT517 crashed near the Flensburg railway station at 04.05 hrs. There were no survivors. The complete crew found their last resting place at the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew of DT517 consisted of:
F/O Leo George Mee, RNZAF
Sgt Douglas Jack Wood, RAFVR
Sgt John Charles Coulthard, RAF
Sgt William Johnstone, RAF
F/Sgt William Harry Davidson, RAFVR
Sgt Leonard Jackson, RAFVR
F/Sgt Frederick Aleck Youmans, RCAF
F/O Leo George Mee, RNZAF
Sgt Douglas Jack Wood, RAFVR
Sgt John Charles Coulthard, RAF
Sgt William Johnstone, RAF
F/Sgt William Harry Davidson, RAFVR
Sgt Leonard Jackson, RAFVR
F/Sgt Frederick Aleck Youmans, RCAF
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.226
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.99
Leo George Mee - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
DT517 RAF Command website
DT517 Aviation Safety Network website
Pogmoor - Barnsley War Memorial website
John Hope Moller
Halifax II W7852 'ZA-K' of No.10 Squadron had left RAF Melbourne at 18.02 hrs on 1 October, 1942 for a bombing mission to Flensburg, Germany. In the target area, the aircraft was hit by Flak from Marine Flak Abteilungen 211 an 221 and came down near the torpedo experimental station in Eckernförde, at 22.56 hrs. Of the crew only St A.F. McArthur, RCAF, and Sgt E. L. Hughes survived. The other crew members rest here at the Kiel War Cemetery.
W7852's crew:
F/Sgt John Hope Moller, RNZAF
Sgt Thomas Edward Brett, RAF
F/Sgt Thomas McLennon Miller, RCAF
F/Sgt Cyril Haig McPherson, RCAF
F/Sgt Clarence Eugene Pickard, RCAF
Sgt Angus Grant McArthur, RCAF
Sgt E. L. Hughes, RAF ?
F/Sgt John Hope Moller, RNZAF
Sgt Thomas Edward Brett, RAF
F/Sgt Thomas McLennon Miller, RCAF
F/Sgt Cyril Haig McPherson, RCAF
F/Sgt Clarence Eugene Pickard, RCAF
Sgt Angus Grant McArthur, RCAF
Sgt E. L. Hughes, RAF ?
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.229
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.101
John Hope Moller - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
W7852 RAF Commands website
Thomas William Peacock
On 1 October, 1942, Halifax II W7812 'MP-B' of No.76 Squadron left RAF Linton-on-Ouse for a bombing mission to Flensburg, Germany. In the target area, the aircraft was hit by Flak and came down on the Mühle Sankt Pauly (also known locally as the Backensmühle) in the Südstadt of Flensburg. There were no survivors.
The crew of this Halifax consisted of:
P/O Merle William Atkinson, RCAF
Sgt Harry Stansfield Greenwood, RAF
Sgt Eric Topping, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas William Peacock, RNZAF
Sgt Peter Dennis Skerman, RAFVR
Sgt Peter van Lelyveld, RAFVR
Sgt Leslie Harold Lavis, RAFVR
Initially buried at the Friedhof Friedenshügel, they were later laid to rest in the Kiel War Cemetery.
P/O Merle William Atkinson, RCAF
Sgt Harry Stansfield Greenwood, RAF
Sgt Eric Topping, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas William Peacock, RNZAF
Sgt Peter Dennis Skerman, RAFVR
Sgt Peter van Lelyveld, RAFVR
Sgt Leslie Harold Lavis, RAFVR
Initially buried at the Friedhof Friedenshügel, they were later laid to rest in the Kiel War Cemetery.
Sources:
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.230
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.100-101
Thomas William Peacock - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
W7812 RAF Commands website
Ellison George Firth
Lewis Harry Parkinson
Ventry Watters
On 13 October, 1942, Wellington III X3954 of No.75 Squadron took-off from RAF Mildenhall for an air operation to the Kiel area, where the aircraft was coned by searchlights of 1. an 3./Flakscheinwerfer Abteilung 119, 4./Flakscheinwerfer Abteilung 368 as well as Marine Flak and subsequently hit by heavy Flak of Flak Abteilung 613 and Reserve Flak Abteilung 225. The Wellington came down near Darenwurth, between Helse and Marne, Schleswig-Holstein at 23.10 hrs.
The crew, consisting of Sgt Ventry Watters, RNZAF, Sgt Lewis Harry Parkinson, RNZAF, Sgt Albert Cyril Orr, RAFVR, Sgt Ellison George Firth, RNZAF and Sgt Henry Edward Goldsack, RAFVR, perished and rest here in the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew, consisting of Sgt Ventry Watters, RNZAF, Sgt Lewis Harry Parkinson, RNZAF, Sgt Albert Cyril Orr, RAFVR, Sgt Ellison George Firth, RNZAF and Sgt Henry Edward Goldsack, RAFVR, perished and rest here in the Kiel War Cemetery.
Sources:
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/1938/9 and AIR27/1938/10, The National Archives, Kew.
ORB 75 Squadron in AIR27/1938/9 and AIR27/1938/10, The National Archives, Kew.
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, The Early Years, Part 3, p.105
BCL, Volume III, 1942, p.238
X3954 - Aviation Safety Network website
Ellison George Firth - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Lewis Harry Parkinson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Ventry Watters - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
Bryan Frank Robert Hotson
No.214 Squadron, RAF, Stirling I R9145 'BU-K', left her base at RAF Chedburgh at 18.45 hrs on 1 March, 1943. The squadron had been detailed to paricipate in an attack on Berlin. The aircraft was coned by searchlights hit by Flak whereupon the crew abandoned the stricken aircraft at 21.44 hrs. The Stirling came down on the southbank of the River Elbe near Königreich, 6 kilometres to the Northnorth-east of Buxtehude. All but navigator F/O Hotson parachuted to safety, only to be taken Prisoner of War. It is thought F/O was killed by a shell splinter as he descended on his parachute. He is buried here at Kiel.
Crew of Stirling R9145 'BU-K' consisted of :
Sgt Neville George Etherden, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
F/O Bryan Frank Robert Hotson, RNZAF
Sgt James George Jack, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
F/S James Maurice Lyall, RCAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt James Eric Powell, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt Denis Butler Scoble, RNZAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt Raymond Herbert Thom, RNZAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt Neville George Etherden, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
F/O Bryan Frank Robert Hotson, RNZAF
Sgt James George Jack, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
F/S James Maurice Lyall, RCAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt James Eric Powell, RAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt Denis Butler Scoble, RNZAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sgt Raymond Herbert Thom, RNZAF, PoW 1 March 1943
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, 1943, Part 1, p.35
BCL, Volume IV, 1943, p.56
Bryan Frank Robert Hotson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
No.214 Squadron website on the crew of R9145
R9145 - RAF Commands website
R9145 - Aviation Safety Network website
Stirling File, AirBritain, p.37
John Gordon Wilson
On 24 July, 1943, No.158 Squadron Halifax II HR941 'NP-A' had been detailed on a bombing mission to Hamburg. The aircraft had left her base at RAF Lissett. Over northern Germany the aircraft was intercepted by a nightfighter and shot down. There were no survivors. The airmen found their resting place at the Kiel War Cemetery.
The crew of Halifax HR941 consisted of:
Sgt Warwick Hall Bolam, RAFVR
Sgt Eric John Howitt, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Gordon Wilson, RNZAF
Sgt Frank charles Richard Knight, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Harry Grinstead Francis, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Aldridge, RCAF
Sgt Peter Michael Bernard Moody, RAFVR
Sgt Warwick Hall Bolam, RAFVR
Sgt Eric John Howitt, RAFVR
F/Sgt John Gordon Wilson, RNZAF
Sgt Frank charles Richard Knight, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Harry Grinstead Francis, RAFVR
Sgt Thomas Aldridge, RCAF
Sgt Peter Michael Bernard Moody, RAFVR
Note.
W.R. Chorley (in BCL, Voume IV, p239) attributes the loss of HR941 to Leutnant Kurt Böttinger of 6./NJG 3, whereas T.Boiten (in Nachtjagd Combat Archive, 1943, Part 2, p.31-34) names Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Ziegler of 5./NJG 3 as the attacker. Ziegler intercepted a Halifax near Füsing, 7 kilometres East of Schleswig at a height of 6.500 metres. He was probably under control of the Pelikan GCI station. Ziegler and his two crew members were forced to bale out after their Dornier Do 217N, Werknummer 1424, had been damaged by (return) fire. Ziegler and Uffz Franz Novak did not survive. The other, unnamed, crew member came down unhurt. The position at the time of the Dornier's loss has been given as: 'Dammholm/Holstein, über See.' (in Balss, p.111).
Luftwaffe Nightfighter Claims (on p.96) states: Ofw Wilhelm Ziegler: 1 Halifax 7 km E of Schleswig, 01.27 hrs, 6500m.
W.R. Chorley (in BCL, Voume IV, p239) attributes the loss of HR941 to Leutnant Kurt Böttinger of 6./NJG 3, whereas T.Boiten (in Nachtjagd Combat Archive, 1943, Part 2, p.31-34) names Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Ziegler of 5./NJG 3 as the attacker. Ziegler intercepted a Halifax near Füsing, 7 kilometres East of Schleswig at a height of 6.500 metres. He was probably under control of the Pelikan GCI station. Ziegler and his two crew members were forced to bale out after their Dornier Do 217N, Werknummer 1424, had been damaged by (return) fire. Ziegler and Uffz Franz Novak did not survive. The other, unnamed, crew member came down unhurt. The position at the time of the Dornier's loss has been given as: 'Dammholm/Holstein, über See.' (in Balss, p.111).
Luftwaffe Nightfighter Claims (on p.96) states: Ofw Wilhelm Ziegler: 1 Halifax 7 km E of Schleswig, 01.27 hrs, 6500m.
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive, 1943, Part 2, p.31-34
BCL, Volume IV, 1943, p.239
Deutsche Nachtjagd, Personalverluste in Ausbildung und Ensatz - fliegendes Personal, M.Balss, p.111
Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939-1945, p.96
John Gordon Wilson - Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum
HR941 - RAF Commands website
HR941 - Aviation Safety Network website
- Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum