Two unidentified Wellington losses 30-31 May 1942 Köln raid

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

For the research of the NJWD 2nd edition, I am looking for information on the identities of two Wellingtons that were lost on the 30-31 May 1942 Köln (Cologne) Raid; I have the following two German Nachtjagd & Flak claims for these aircraft, who can help filling in the identities of these two Wellingtons?:

Oblt. Hermann Reese: 4 2./NJG1 Wellington NW Süchteln: 3.500 m. 01.56 Note: also claimed by Flak of 1. & 3./541 and 3./250 (Wellington nr. Süchteln 01.55 hrs)

Oblt. Walter Barte: 3 4./NJG1 Wellington Wijchmaal 30 km N. Hasselt (6A): 3.400 m 01.57

Any info much appreciated!

Cheers, Theo

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Theo,

Barte's Wellington could be Z1614 of 115 Sqdn.RAF which crashed near Wijchmaal, according to the booklet 'België in oorlog 4. RAF bommenwerpers boven België 1940-1942' of Cynrik De Decker / Jean-Louis Roba.

Will look for Reese's victim in due course, best regards,

Marcel

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Marcel,

Cheers and thanks a lot for the pointer -I've just found the following enty on www.luchtvaarterfgoed.be re. the loss of Z1614, which does confirm the crash location as Wijchmaal & the claimant as Barte:

In Wijchmaal aan de kerk hangt een gedenkplaat voor de bemanning van de Wellington Z1614 KO-R die er viel op 31 mei 1942. De vijfkoppige bemanning van het 115 Sqn kwam om het leven toen hun toestel door een Duitse nachtjager werd neergehaald : Sgt Edward Emrys (piloot-gezagvoerder,) Sgt William Francis Cramptom (navigator,) Sgt Malcolm Boyle (radio-operator,) Sgt William Arnott McLloyd (neusschutter) en Sgt Hubert Sproston (staartschutter.) De Me 110 werd bemand door Oblt Barte en Uffz Pieper. Nadat de Wellington geraakt was vatte hij vuur en hij kwam neer tussen de boerderijen Ulenaers en Hermans. De verminkte stoffelijke resten van de bemanning werden in drie lijkkisten gelegd, ze werden door het Luftwaffe Bergbattalion in Sint-Truiden begraven als “Unbekante Englische Flieger”. Na de oorlog werden overgebracht naar Heverlee, nog steeds als onbekende vliegers. Pas in 1990 kwam men te weten dat het de vijf bemanningsleden betrof die in Wijchmaal om het leven kwamen.

De gedenksteen was een postuum eerbetoon van de Heemkundige Kring van Wijchmaal. Auteur Martin Peeters beschreef in zijn boek “Wijchmaal in oorlogstijd 1939-1945” de crash van de Wellington.

Re. the victim of Reese, I have five possible candidates:

-12 Sqn Wellington Z8643 (whilst flying over the Dutch coast, developed starboard engine trouble, continued to target, engine burst into flames causing it to crash near Düsseldorf).
-12 Sqn Wellington Z8376, crashed area Düsseldorf.
-22 OTU Wellington R1714.
-103 Sqn Wellington DV452.
-142 Sqn Wellington Z1208.

All other Wellington losses on 30-31 May 42 have been identified and matched to NJ & Flak claims.

Cheers, Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
I have the following as lost/Germany, 30/31-5-1942.

Wellington Ic - R1235 - 22 OTU - 5 crew KIA.Shot down by Night fighter, crashed at Kalenberg, 4km NE of Kall.
Wellington Ic - R1714 - 22 OTU - 4 crew KIA, 1 POW.
Wellington II - W5392 - 158 Sqn - 5 crew KIA, crashed at Meiderich.
Wellington Ic - Z1113 - 109 Sqn - 3 crew KIA, 3 POW.Special Duties.
Wellington IV - Z1208 - 142 Sqn - 5 crew KIA.
Wellington II - Z8376 - 12 Sqn - 5 crew KIA, Crashed near Dússeldorf.
Wellington II - Z8643 - 12 Sqn 1 crew Killed, 4 POW.
Wellington Ic - DV452 - 103 Sqn - 6 crew KIA.
and
Lost without trace
Wellington III - X3670 - 101 Sqn - 5 crew KIA.
Wellington III - Z1614 - 115 Sqn - 5 crew KIA.Believed Shot down by Night fighter near Wijchmal, Netherlands.[ see post 3 above re commemoration plaque in local Church].
Wellington Ic - DV701 - 22 OTU - 5 crew KIA. Shot down at Zons, South of the Rhine.

refs: BCL vol 3; 7 and Air Brit RAF serials series.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Theo,

Rather than your 5 'suspects' I had only 2 for Reese's claim, simply because the I./NJG 1 chronic which you have too, gives 'near Süchteln' as location. A Gefechtsbericht of the 2./NJG 1 for that night specifies this location 'NW boundary of the city of Süchteln' (victory obtained with the help of sector 5A). Therefore, the area's Düsseldorf and Neuss are too far away.

The two remaining suspects are
Z1208 of 142 Sqdn.RAF
R1714 of 22 OTU RAF

Of course the Ludwig Hügen buch has missed this crash, so I will try to find more info in Süchteln.

All the best, Marcel

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Marcel and Alex,

Many thanks for these additional details, very helpful indeed! And Marcel; it would be great if municipality records of Süchteln that you may have access to will reveal the identity of the Wellington crash on the NW edges of Süchteln!

Cheers, Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Theo,
Have looked again at BCL vol 3 (1942) and vol 7 (OTU's 1940/47).

The following Wellingtons may be of interest.
Wellington Ic - R1065 - 11 OTU - 5 crew POW. (vol 7 gives bomb load).Crash place ?
Wellington Ic - W5586 - 15 OTU - 1 crew KIA (vol 7 1 crew Evd), 4 crew POW.Crash place ?
Wellington Ic - L7802 - 25 OTU - 6 crew POW. a/c abandoned following fire in stbd motor.( vol 7 gives crash place as Elsloo,(Limburg) 5km SW of Geleen, Holland.
Wellington III - Z1612 - 101 Sqn - 5 crew POW. evaded night fighter engines failed, crew baled. Crash place ?

Maybe the BCL website has more details ?
Good hunting,
Alex

Hi. I am trying to find out more information regarding my granddad in the RAF but being a novice at this i was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? After searching his flight info i noticed on your blog the crash on the 30th may 1942 and saw his name which is Frederick George Greensides. If you have any information or if you would like some please feel free to contact me.

Thanks
Joe

[Eric Whittle]

Originally Posted by smeghead

Hi. I am trying to find out more information regarding my granddad in the RAF but being a novice at this i was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? After searching his flight info i noticed on your blog the crash on the 30th may 1942 and saw his name which is Frederick George Greensides. If you have any information or if you would like some please feel free to contact me.

Thanks
Joe

Hi Joe,
Are you still looking for info about your grandfather? I believe my father Bert Whittle was on the same aircraft (he's still going strong at age 96 years!). You can email me at woolly.bear@bigpond.com if you like.
Regards.
Eric