Plt Off Wooldridge Hampden v He111s 5/6 September 1940

[BrianC]

Hi

Has anyone details of Plt Off John Wooldridge's adventures on the night of 5/6 September 1940, when returning from a raid on Hannover in his Hampden of 144 Squadron (?). He observed an aerodrome with its landing lights on and then saw three He111s with their navigation lights on, waiting to land.

He and his gunners fired at one and saw it crash and burst into flames. All lights were extinguished, but one then switched on again - and the Heinkel was shot at by AA fire.

The Hampden then overflew Nordenay airfield, which was also showing lights, and released two bombs, one of which exploded near a hangar and a He111, which the crew was believed destroyed.
.
These details extracted from David Master's "So Few".

Can these actions and claims be verified? John Wooldridge had received DFM, and the DFC (presumably for this flight)

Possibly Gilze-Rijen, home of II./KG26?


Stay safe
Brian