Re: Need ID for 115 SQ Wellington, KOoP, probably down in German territory 1939-40.
Hello,
31 Oct-1 Nov 1941
No.115 sqn
Wellington IC X9873 KO-P
Op: Bremen
Took off 1750 Marham. Attacked by a night-fighter (Ofw Paul Gildner, 4./NJG1) and crash-landed on the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog, from where the crew were taken into captivity. W/O Snowden was a very senior NCO whose service number suggests a career starting in the early twenties.
W/O J W B Snowden pow
Sgt N E Woolley RCAF pow
Sgt A E Robinson pow
Sgt P V Brazier RCAF pow
Sgt A W Clarke RCAF pow
F/S P J C Darvill pow
See: BCL2/170
BCL Amendments & Additions Vol.2, 1941.
1941/p.170 115/X9873 - Crashed 2105.
Another photograph of KO-P can be seen here:
Bombing Colours:RAF Bombers, their Markings and Operations 1937-1973.
Bowyer,Michael J F
Cambridge:P.S.L.,1973
p.110
The photograph (via Gerrit J Zwanenburg), has the following caption:
Wellington IC KO-P made an emergency landing at Schiermonikoog at 21.05 hrs on October 31 1941, after being attacked by German fighters. Codes and roundels appear standard sited aft of the triangular window. All side windows have been completely overpainted. On the starboard side of the nose appears the 'Saint' carrying a bomb. Such artistry was not all that common at any time on RAF bombers, although some publications might tend to give a contrary impression in this respect.
Doubtlessly, other shots of KO-P exist, including; Wellington at War/Bowyer,Chaz, Ian Allan,1982. p.76 (bottom).
Col.
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