serial nr. of 138 Sqn Wellington 17-18.12.42, lost on flight from Cairo to London?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Who can provide the serial number of a 138 Squadron Wellington that was reportedly shot down by a night fighter on 17-18 December 1942 on its flight from Cairo to London via Malta.

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[Bas Maathuis]

Hi Theo,

Could this be a Halifax i.s.o. Wellington..

Underneath the data Henk Welting collected:

DT542, Halifax II, 138 sqn, NF-Q, 17-12-1942
Luqa/Malta Ferryvlucht Cairo - Malta - UK
Motorstoring - crashte voorbij de rolbaan bij Zejtun/La Valetta (tussen Il-Bajjada en Ta’Sen Girgor) - 02.30u
F/O(P) DOBROMIRSKI, Krzysztov L.- P.0100 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini Naval Cem.
F/O(CP) PANKIEWICZ, Stanlislaw - P.0858 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini
Sgt(Fe) WATT, Alexander C. - 571759 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
F/O(Obs) IDZIKOWSKI, Zbigniew A.- P.0742 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini [1]
F/Sgt(WOp) KLENIEWSKI, Alfred E.- P.780771 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini
Sgt(WOp) WYSOCKI, Roman - P.780214 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini
F/Sgt(Ag) ZIELINSKI, Oskar F.- P.781151 - PAF - Malta/Capuccini
Sgt(Ag) SPIBEY, Dennis - 535526 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
S/Ldr(P/Pass.) WEDGWOOD, Jefferson H. - DFC - 37645 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini (ex. 92 sqn)
Maj(Pass.) Lord APSLEY, Allen A.B. - DSO - MC - TD - 12995 - 1st Royal Gloucestershire Hussars R.A.C. - Malta/Capuccini
Maj(Pass.) MILLAR, Arthur D.C. - (attached Indian Army) - Malta/Capuccini
F/Lt(Obs/Pass.) EARLE, Peter - 44315 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini (ex. 462 sqn)
F/Lt(Ag/Pass.) VAUGHAN, Leonard A. - DSO - DFC - 78666 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini (ex. 40 sqn)
Cpl(Pass.) HOUNSLOW, Douglas S. - 1165159 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
Ac1(Pass.) KELLY, Stanley E. - 1493201 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
Lac(Pass.) BROWNE, Cyril D. - 1069726 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
Lac(Pass,) CLEGG, Richard - 1233498 - RAF - Malta/Capuccini
AM3-277+FP-300/301+FS1-208+
[1] Overleefde op 25-6-1941 een ongeval met Wellington - W 5723.

Regards, Bas

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Bas,

Thanks for the info, but I believe that the Halifax loss cannot be linked to either of two Wellington claims that were submitted in 17-18.12.43, the claims being as follows:

Oblt. Albert Schulz: 9 5./NJG2 Wellington SE Sulayman (0744, prob. Venus): 2.000 m. 20.52
Oblt. Albert Schulz: 10 5./NJG2 Wellington nr. Tunis (0719, prob. Venus): 2.000 m. 21.25


One of these claims concerns the loss of a 104 Squadron Wellington detailed to attack the docks at Tunis and La Goulette, and which was reportedly shot down by a Ju88; I'm looking for the identity of the second Wellington claimed shot down on this night.

Cheers, Theo

[Frank Olynyk]

Theo,
A History of the Mediterranean Air War, volume 2, on page 689, notes this combat. Wellington II Z8469/F was shot down by a Ju 88 with F/O C W M Dallas as POW, and the remaining crew of five KIA. A further Wellington II is noted as damaged by a Ju 88. Both Wellingtons were from 104 Squadron. Chris did not identify the damaged Wellington. You will have to check the 104 Sqn ORB to see if the information is there. Also any Appendix volume for this period.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for providing these details! Cheers, Theo

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Theo,

From the 104 Squadron ORB (AIR 27/821) the second Wellington was 'A', piloted by Sgt. R.T. Cottrell RNZAF. It returned with damage to the tail unit and holes in the fuselage fabric. The wireless operator was wounded in the leg. Unfortunately no full crew list is given, nor is the aircraft serial number. The Appendices (AIR 27/824) have nothing for this period of operations.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks Martin for providing the additional details; does the Squadron ORB give a time and location of the Ju88 attack?

Cheers, Theo

[Martin Gleeson]

Theo,

No specific details of the night-fighter attacks are given. Aircraft 'F' (F/O Dallas) took off from Luqa in Malta at 1830 hours, no target given. Aircraft 'A' (Sgt. Cottrell) took off at 1820 hours and returned at 2200 hours. These times are probably a British system. The target for 'A' was the fuel depot at La Goulette.
104 Squadron sent 7 Wellingtons to Tunis and La Goulette early that night, but three of these aircraft and crews returned to the same targets later that night for a second sortie each (2355-0345).

Regards,

Martin.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

F R Chappell, the IO of No.104 Sqn at the time, made the following observations:

17th December 1942: A Bad Night.

"I was on duty at night and it was a bad night indeed. Flight Lieutenant Charles Dallas and crew (Pilot Officer Silver,Flying Officer Coulter, Sergeant Lines, Sergeant Booth, Sergeant Stanley)* in our "F for Freddie" are missing. They are one of our best crews and are really good chaps, all of them. Three aircraft were sent out to search from Malta but no dinghy was sighted. There were night fighters on the prowl and "A for Apple" (Sergeant Webb) was shot up and his wireless operator wounded. "R for Robert" (Tony Crockford) was also attacked by a fighter and came back dripping petrol from two big holes in the wing. His gunner was wounded and the hydraulics and the turret were unservicable. I went out to the dispersal area with Tony to see the damage."

See:
Wellington Wings:An RAF Intelligence Officer in the Western Desert.
Chappell,F.R.
London:William Kimber,1980.
p.123

* Chappell omits Sgt C H Pooley (+), from the crew listing.

Col.

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks Col for adding these interesting details,

cheers, Theo