Looking for Photos & Eye-Witness accounts of wipe out of Fairey Battle Recon Formation over Western Front on 30.09.39

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In the late afternoon of 30 Sept. 1939, six Battle bombers from no.150 Sqn/AASF had taken off from Ecury sur Coole under lead of S/L MacDonald to fly high-altitude photo reconnaissance mission over the area of Saarbrücken-Merzig. During the approach flight one crew experienced engine failure and turned back to base. Five remaining crews continued the mission and they were picked up by 7./Lg.Nachr.Rgt.12. The raid was reported to I./JG53. Two four-element sections from 2./JG53 were scrambled and about 12.00 hrs the English formation was sighted on an altitude of 7000 m W of Saarbrücken. Of the five remaining Battles four were shot down and one crash-landed back at base and burned out. S/L Macdonald nursed back his crippled Battle K9283 to the own territory and then he crash-landed. The aircraft caught fire and was burned out.The crew was wounded. The other Battles were: K9387 with crew of F/O Corelli, N2028 with crew of P/O Poulton, N2093 with crew of F/L Hyde-Parker and K9484 with crew of P/O Saunders.

I am not aware of any photos of these Batttle crashes, and am seeking same. I suspect some of these may have been documented by offerings on eBay over the years, but I'm not coded anything from that source that would allow me to hook them to these losses. I'm also seeking any published accounts from any British survivors from these a/c.

Who can help?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[Martin Gleeson]

Larry,

I have not seen any photos either of these wrecks. In the 150 Squadron Appendices there is statement from one of the surviving observers, Sgt. Bates. I will forward it to you later today.

One somewhat puzzling point are the individual code letters for the five Battles. I cannot find any trace of them in the ORB, Appendices, etc. Could anyone please help with these ?

Regards,

Martin.

[Larry Hickey]

Martin,

Received your two documents--excellent debriefing accounts from some of the survivors of this mission. This was part of what I was hoping to find. Unfortunately, I have no info on the a/c codes. I'm still hoping to locate some photos of these crashes. I'd think that the burned out wreck of S/L MacDonald's a/c would certainly have been well-photographed back at base. Must be some shots out there somewhere.

Hoping for further info/photos.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[paulmcmillan]

Martin

Was "Sgt Bates" - Actually Sgt T A Bates who may be Thomas Arthur Bates #580419 killed 21/11/1941 as Flight Sgt

I believe he was in N2028 with AC1 H E A Rose who I cannot identify

Larry as far as eye witness accounts "AC1 D E Jones in N2093" who may be "Dewi Edmund Jones #987879" - Though I have my doubts was interviewed by a journalist about the action while he was in hospital, recovering from burns; the article appeared in the Daily Sketch of the 7th of October 1939 and also appeared in Flight:


Flight OCTOBER 12, 1939
An "Eye-witness" reports, in rather sensational language, a story which he got from an R.A.F. air gunner in hospital. We doubt if the airman really said " diving up ": " We were a handful of British 'planes out on a reconnaissance flight over the Siegfried Line. The Germans spotted us almost at once, and their A.A. batteries opened fire, but we went up well above 20,000ft. and continued our work. We were three in the 'plane, the pilot, the observer and myself as gunner. It was a wonderfully clear day and we could see for miles. There were no clouds anywhere and all Germany stretched beneath us. Suddenly we saw enemy 'planes swirl up towards us from far down below. They were Messerschmitts—three formations of six each. We were outnumbered by more than three to one, but we prepared to give battle. The enemy began with their favourite tactics of diving up at us from underneath, machine-gunning as they came Then one of the 'planes attached itself to the tail of my machine and a terrific duel began. I could hear the bullets ripping through the fabric beside me. I looked round and saw the observer in a crumpled heap in his seat. He had been shot through the head. The enemy were using incendiary bullets, and suddenly I realised that it was only a question of seconds before the flames reached me. Then, just as my clothing began to smoulder, the 'plane behind us swooped up and offered me a lovely target. I gave him all I had got, and as the flames blazed up into my face I just had time to see him go into a spin and disappear down beneath me.
If I hadn't been on fire I could have easily shot down two more. It was real bad luck. But my pals accounted for three besides the one I hit.
'' Half unconscious I started to struggle out of my cockpit. I must have pulled the string of my parachute, for I suddenly saw it open and felt myself dragged out of
the plane. I got a nasty blow on the leg from the tail of the machine and then for a moment I suppose I fainted. Next I remember floating down while the battle
continued above me. I knew it was Germany below me, and I began to calculate whether there was any hope of the wind carrying me over to the French lines. It
seemed very doubtful. I saw a German aerodrome below me, but I couldn't identify it. Then, when I had got quite low, I heard firing, and realised that bullets were whistling near me. I was above the German lines and they were shooting at me. It was a terrible situation, but I saw that there was just a hope that I might get right past the German lines before I landed. They went on firing at me almost until I was on the ground. I released my parachute and started to crawl desperately to a little thicket in the hope of hiding there. There was a wood on one side and flat country on the other where the Germans had their lines. I saw the Germans leave their trenches and come running towards me. I thought I was done for. Then suddenly I saw that men were running from the wood as well. I recognised them as French Algerian soldiers. Both sides were racing for me. Most of the French began to fire at the advancing Germans, but one man came running straight towards me as hard as he could go. He picked me up, slung me over his shoulders, and staggered with me into the woods. I was safe but it was a very near thing. The pilot of my plane did not have to jump out until a little later and he came down in French territory safely, though very badly burned. The observer must have died at once. He was shot right through the head."

Finally can anyone confirm Sergeant G J Springett #561387 only survivor of K9484 baled out to become POW?

Newspaper reports of the action state '8 Parachutes' seen - But I cannot only ID 7

P/O Michael Arnold Poulton
AC1 H E A Rose
Sgt T A Bates
Flt/Lt Anthony Edington Hyde-Parker
AC1 D E Jones
Sgt L B Webber
Sgt G J Springett

[paulmcmillan]

Sgt Leslie B Webber

Eye Witness Account

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 96, 5 December 1939, Page 2


PLANE ABLAZE
OBSERVER'S THRILLING ESCAPE FIGHT WITH GERMAN MACHINES (From The Guardian's London Correspondent) LONDON, November 11. A thrilling story of an escape from a blazing aeroplane flying five miles up was told this week by Sergeant-Observer Leslie Webber, who came home on leave to marry Miss Phyllis Popperwell, of Devonport. We were on a reconnaissance flight over an important point in the German lines," he said. Our plane, in which there was a pilot, gunner and myiself, was flying at 28 000 ft when we encountered Messerchmitt fighters. There was intense firing, but although outnumbered we managed to shoot down several of their machines. "My job was to take photographs and, acting to orders I continued my work as the fight went on. Then, to my horror, I felt the plane lurch as though out of control. I leaned out and realised that the worst had happened. Both the pilot and the gunner had been shot, and the machine was on fire. I tried to get to the pilot, it was impossible. Suddenly the machine fell into a dive. "There was only one thing I could do—to risk disconnecting my oxygen apparatus and jump for it. I worked my way to the rear and disconnecting my oxygen mask, jumped out. It was my first jump. "As I fell a German fighter dived towards me. I knew I was supposed to pull the rip cord at 7,000 ft. but with the plane still circling round me I was afraid that I might be shot down. By my reckoning I had dropped about 5,000 ft when I eventually pulled the ring. Fortunately there was a good wind and it carried me over the French lines. After drifting for about seven miles I landed in a field. As I did so, my parachute began to spill wind. I hit the ground hard, was knocked unconscious. When I came round, a group of French Army officers surrounded me. They thought I was a German airman, and each had his revolver drawn. Although dazed I managed to shout 'Anglais.' They examined my uniform under my flying kit and satisfied that I was not an enemy, began to shower congratulations on me,"

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Paul,

From the 150 Squadron Appendices (Air 27 / 1015) listing the crew of N2028 and their details;

Sgt. (Obs.) T.A. Bates 580419

Air 78-11, Part 1 confirms his name as Thomas Arthur. His service number on his card is somewhat faint but can just be made out as 580419.

AC.2 (WOp/AG) H.E.A. Rose 543870

Air 78-137, Part 1 gives his name as Henry Ernest Albert.

An eye-witness statement on the 30 September 1939 air engagement from Sgt. Bates makes it clear both he and Rose parachuted from their burning Fairey Battle. Confirmation that Rose parachuted also appears to have come earlier from a second unstated source.

Hope this helps,

Martin.

[paulmcmillan]

Martin

Great ! Last one identified! BTW if you google "Dewi Edmund jones " you can find. Photo of him on ancestry.various News reports of the incident vary in detail but confirm he was a Welshman ! He was killed later in the war

[Larry Hickey]

Paul,

Do any of the "news reports" add any detail to what we already know?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[paulmcmillan]

Larry

Jones story is basically the same on all accounts (though he is never identified) it is just some say a bit different than others

such as he is identified as Welsh in one or so but not all

Paul

[hanshauprich]

There is an picture from the funeral from Saunders & Springett at Dudweiler.
Photo was sent via Red Cross Swiss to their familiy.