Battle loss / 88.Sqdn missions 23.05.40

[Heuser]

Gentlemen,

on 23.05.1940, 88.Sqdn lost Battle I P2356 (Wickham/Hibbert/Whelan, all KIA) in the area of, Springen 20 km NW of Wiesbaden, Germany.

I received the information, that this a/c was shot down by Flak during a raid to Bingen, Germany.

Unfortunately, I can't find anything about a raid upon this town, not in "Bomber Command War Diaries" nor in the German "Luftlagemeldungen " or in any local record or book available.

Just a Recce-misson? Is there anything known about the activities of 88.Sqdn on this date?

Thanks in advance

Heuser

[Chris Goss]

Failed to return from a night operation and crashed near Durnbach. 88 Sqn was based at Les Grands Chapelles

[Heuser]

Thank you very much for your reply and the additional information about a night operation, wich was unknown to me.

But the crashplace should have been Springen - according to a british burial list, P/O Wickham died in or near Spingen and was initially buried upon the local cemetary.

Best regards

Heuser

[Iain Torrance]

P2356 - P/O Albert (‘Bert’) Edgar Wickham (36200) KIA, Sgt Edward.Hibbert (564863) KIA, AC2 Matthew.Whelan (630351) KIA, all are now buried at Durnbach, graves having been moved after the War..

Target was Bingen-on-Rhine, aircraft came down near Bingen after a mid-air explosion and was probably hit by AA.

Unknown number of planes carried out the operation that night, similar operation on 24 May - all planes returned.