Photo of destroyed Wellington, Greece

[Alex Smart]

Hello Themis,
It's been a while since you posted your request.
As there has been nil replies to date I give you the following which may be of help.

"Air War for Yugoslavia,Greece and Crete 1940-41" by Shores,Cull & Malizia.
page 367.

Photo caption reads: " The wreckage of Wellington L7866 "R" of 37 Squadron which crash-landed at Heraklion during the night of 23/24 May, 1941. Sgt W R Faulkner and his crew later became prisoners".

Photo is of a burnt out Wellington. text has "belly-landed safely in the dark".
So I assume the crew set her on fire, front end destroyed.

From "RAF Bomber Losses in the Middle East & Mediterranean" by Gunby & Temple page62.
slightly different story.
"Took off 2300, Shallufa to bomb Maleme aerodrome, which had been captured by German forces.High fuel consumption forced the crew to turn back to Crete and land at Heraklion, which was still in RAF hands. Shortly after, while refueling, L7866 was destroyed by strafing Bf110's. The crew, unable to be evacuated from Crete later became POW's.
Crew were:
Sgt. W.R. Faulkner
Sgt. W.W. Oakley
Sgt. H. Wheelan
Sgt. E.N. Webb
Sgt. S. Dawson
Sgt. H.G.W. Watkins RNZAF.

All the best
Alex