Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Dear all,

A couple of photos of a Wellington shot down on Borkum Island plus photos of the funeral of the Wellington crew on Borkum were recently sold on Ebay. I have trouble identifying this Wimpey and the crew, who can help?

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello, Theo
Interesting. To me, the photo of the burial suggests it was after an early fighter v bomber action. During the Battle of Heligoland Bight, 18 December 1939, many Wellingtons were shot down. One of those was N2936 which crash landed on the island of Borkum. Two of the crew were killed. Other aircraft also crashed into the sea, but only a very few bodies were recovered. Could that explain why three bodies were buried, as part of a joint burial service.. Just a thought.
This info is from Chorley’s BCL, 1939/40
Atb
Andy

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello Andy -thanks for sharing these interesting thoughts re the photos of the Wimpey on Borkum. On one of the photos one can clearly see that this Wellington had twin machine guns in the nose turret (see blow up from the original photo); did the 37 Squadron Wellingtons in December 1939 have twin machine guns in their nose turrets?

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Theo,

Yes, all of 37 Squadron's Wellingtons on the 18 December 1939 mission were Mark IAs, with twin .303s in the Frazer Nash turret in the nose.

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Well done SteveR - beat me to it!!
Andy

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Excellent -thanks for that!

The only possible other candidate is the following:

6-7 June 1942

Oblt. Rudolf Schoenert: 17 4./NJG2 (det. 4./NJG3) Wellington Borkum (Jaguar): 4.900 m. 02.27 301 Sqn Wellington R1390

I believe though that R1390 crashed in the sea near Borkum, perhaps others can confirm this. (One of the Polish crew survived, F/Lt. M. Kowalowka; is there a survivors account by this man?).

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello ,
Kowalówka Mieczysław
P-1603 / 783501
19.09.1917
Osielec Sucha Besk. Poland
Leicester, U.K
Stalag Luft 3/551

Greets
Alain57

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Looking at those thumbnail photos, it appears that all the wreckage was contained on land rather than having been dragged from the sea to a beach-site.....
Andy

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Good evening Andy !

Your thoughts are right. Sgt. T. W. Holley and Cpl. F. J. Taylor (Wellington N2936) were initially buried at the Lutheran cemetary of Borkum at row 1, graves # 317 and 318.

A third victim of that day, Sgt. A. J. Tilley (Wellington N2935) was buried at the same cemetary at row 1, grave # 320.

So it must be strongly assumed, that these three airmen's funeral is seen on the photo and the crash-landed wellinton is N2936.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

So this chap could be one of the survivors-Ruse, May or Jones?

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello Horst,

Thanks a lot for these additional details. So yes, we can now safely assume that the photos are of N2936 and the burial of the three airmen that you list.

Cheers, Theo

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello again, Horst
Thank you for your input - pleased that “ploughing” through BCL has worked out well!!
Regards
Andy
PS: just Googled “Ruse 37 Squadron”. On the Aircrew Remembered site there is an entry for N2936, and that that photo, courtesy of Chris G, was originally published in Germany. The (German) text states that the person in that photo was Sgt Herbert Ruse, the pilot.....

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Plus, there is a distinct look about the wreckage which makes me think the pilot tried a crash-landing, thus explaining the survivors.

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Hello,

A look at the following publication should resolve a few of the issues raised here:

The Battle of Heligoland Bight 1939 The Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe's Baptism of Fire.
Holmes,Robin.
London:Grub Street,2009.

See: photo section between pp.96-7. Photo of wreck, burials (4)*, Ruse etc.

* Sgt Holley, Sgt Tilley, Cpl Taylor & 539328 AC1 (Air Gnr.) George Warne GEDDES RAF - 37 Sqn. Wellington IA N2889.

Col.

Re: Identity of Wellington shot down on Borkum Island?
 

Thanks Col.
That book is an excellent account of “The Battle of Heligoland Bight”. I am not able to refer to our copy atm as the Library is not accessible because of building work. I am aware of photos in the book, but couldn’t remember if the sequence of stills from Ruse’s forced landing was in there...