1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

Dear all,

seeking information on:
Ventura II, AJ220, 21 sqdr, F/Lt. D.O.Brown, crashed 1942-Nov-06,14.31h. at Spijkenisse in the Netherlands.

I´m esspecially interested in the mission and information on the crew. It seems 21 Sqdn ventura´s were attacking multiple targets in the Netherlands. However i have not been able to find any information about the missions that day.

3 21 Sqdn Ventura´s were lost that day over the Netherlands.

AE784, Ventura I, Target Maasluis

AE848, Ventura II, Target Den Helder
Presumed lost off the Dutch coasts

AJ220, Ventura II, Target Velsen
F/O D O Brown POW,
F/S B B Shipton KIA (buried in the New Eastern Cemetery at Amsterdam)
F/S R G Rowe KIA (buried in Crooswijk General Cemetery at Rotterdam),
F/S D J Reynolds POW.

CWGC informtion reveals that F/S Shipton died several days after the attack and the crash. Why is he buried in Amsterdam while the other crew member is buried at Rotterdam near the crash site?

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

According to The Bomber Command War Diaries by Middlebrook and Everitt, 10 Venturas in fours and twos carried out low-level raids to Holland. 3 aircraft lost. These raids might have been in support of the 14 Wellingtons and 5 Lancasters on cloud-cover raids to Essen, Osnabruck and Wilhelshaven and 12 Bostons who bombed an airfield near Caen, France.

I know it does not offer much...

Stephen

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

Hmmmm, 2 Group R.A.F. by Bowyer does not offer much either.

Four Venturas of 21 Squadron set out on the 6th. Again it was misty and this time they wrongly pinpointed their position at the Dutch coast. They had intended to attack shipping at Massluis but the leader, W/C Werfield, settled for a ship in Rotterdam. One bombed barges at Massluis, one abandoned the mission and YH-X disappeared. Six others were despatched in pairs to Roosendaal, Ijmuiden and Den Helder. Only F/O Hicks bombed, again due to bad visibility. YH-V and L both failed to return, probably flak victims. Pages 261 and 262

Stephen

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

F/Sgt Shipton probably died of his injuries in an Amsterdam hospital and was buried nearby.
Hope that helps.

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

For AJ220 I've as target 'Petroleumhavens' Maassluis - Rotterdam. Crashed 14.31h near Hoogvliet 2 km S of Spijkenisse. ROWE killed on board by flak shell; SHIPTON died in the Wilhelmina-ziekenhuis at Amsterdam.
Gegroet,
Henk.

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

found something in the book from Hans Onderwater "en toen was het stil"

the plane was hit by flak , and sgt Rowe was hit by snapel and died during the bombrun
the right wing was on fire
the pilot tried to reach the sea
suddenly the plane explodedut is very close to the ground
Reynolds and Shipton were trown out of the plane and brown felt on the ground between the wrekage

all 3 men were wounded and brought from Hoogvliet to rotterdam
an day later Shipton was brought in an ambulance to te luftwaffe hospital in amsterdam were he died an few day's later

Re: 1942-Nov-06,14.31h., ventura II,AJ220,21 sqdr,F/Lt. D.O.Brown
 

Thanks to you all for your contributions. Much appreciated.