Tempest Loss 222 Sqn 29/04/1945 Puzzle?

[smokie]

Hello All,

I am researching a W/O Leslie Gordon Rowe of 222 Sqn who according to the CWGC Records show that he was KIA on 29/04/1945 & is buried at Kiel War Cemetery.
Just been looking at the Tempest losses for this date but according to "The Typhoon & Tempest Story" by C.Thomas & C.Shores it only shows one loss - That of a 3 Squadron Tempest (NV663 JF-S) flown by a W/O A.Crowe?

Is this a Typo error on someones part? i.e CWGC or the Book as none of the Details, Squadron/Names or otherwise just does not tally up?

Does some knowledgeable Person have any other details on this action which would shed some light on this Puzzle?

Many Thanks - Keith.

[Chris Thomas]

Keith
I've just had a look through 222's ORB for April 1945 but could find no record of W/O Rowe. There is a list of aircrew casualties at the end of the month which lists 4 pilots killed or missing but no mention of Rowe. Perhaps he was non-aircrew? Or CWG have the date or unit wrong (not unknown)?
CT

[SMF144]

Smokie,

I have W/O Crowe of No. 3 Squadron as being a casualty of battle probably due to flak, having landed safe but N.Y.R.

"Armed recces found rather less movement than previously, especially by rail. Apart from the locos....No. 3 Squadron destroyed two lots of ammunition wagons south-east of Ludwigslust, one explosion going up to 2000 ft. MT were scattered over a wide area. The majority were collected by Nos. 3 and 56 Squadron."

"Eight Tempests of Nos 3 and 122 - sweep Schwerin. W/O Crowe force landed safely at T.0045. (Probably due to flak.)"

Stephen

[smokie]

Many Thanks Chris (If you are the C.Thomas of Typhoon & Tempest Story Book fame - A Very Big Thankyou - Your Book is one of my all-time favourites ) & Stephen for your posts - It does definitely seem that the CWGC has got it wrong this time with the Squadron & most probabaly the Date also?

I have checked the Bomber Command Diaries & it seems that on 29/04/1945 Operation "Manna" commenced with Food Drops - No mention of any losses.

Also no other losses mentioned via the CWGC on this date in the Kiel Area.

For now it seems we have a W/O Pilot called Leslie Gordon Rowe with no details of any attached Squadron & perhaps with a wrong date also?

Life is never easy!

Best Regards - Keith.

[Steve Brew]

How about Sgt Plt L. G. Rowe of 222 Squadron, who was shot down in Spit Vb, BL619, and captured on 30 April 1942 during Circus 147?

This site: http://www.ancientfaces.com/person/l...rowe/164819838 suggests they're one in the same person. Did he die in captivity or on a forced march, for example?

Regards
Steve

[smokie]

Many Thanks for the update Steve for a second I thought that my ID had been compomised as it has been a while since this was posted.
Your information now seems to make an even Bigger Mystery!
Shame that the Images do not show W/O Crowe or Sgt.Rowe as it could clear a lot of this confusion up at a stroke - Still Life is never easy!
Best Regards - Keith.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Spitfire BL619 Vb 222 Sqdn "ZD-S" - Missing on sweep to Abbeville 30-4-1942.
Pilot Sgt. L.G. Rowe, Missing.
From RAF Commands POW lists
W/O. L. G.Rowe - Camp 357 - POW number 272.
So either he died in Camp or after an escape ?
Buried or memorialized in Kiel War Cemetery.
Date of Death given as 29-4-1945.
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Spitfire Vb BL619 was a presentation aircraft:

STIRLING ROCK.

Presented by the Stirling Spitfire Fund, Scotland, with a donation of 5,000 pound. Mk.Vb BL619 was taken on charge at No.38 MU, Llandow on 9 January 1943 [sic], and joined No.222 (Natal) Sqn on 28 February, coded ZD-S, for sweeps and bomber escort duties from North Weald. On 30 April, during Circus 147, a sweep to Abbeville, the aircraft was damaged by Bf 109s of JG 26 and belly-landed in a field near Abbeville. Sgt Leslie Gordon Rowe 1198670 aged 32 from Upminster, Essex, was taken prisoner, but subsequently died in the German Red Cross Hospital at Ratzeburg on 29 April 1945 and was buried in Section 5, Row D, Grave 3, Kiel War Cemetery.

See:Gifts of War/Boot & Sturtivant. p.300

A Photo of BL619 "STIRLING ROCK", appeared in the 1st English edition of Gunther Bloemertz's, Heaven Next Stop (between pp.64-5), back in 1953!

Col.

[smokie]

Smashing! - Many Thanks for all of the Information everybody - Makes it all make sense now

[iar80iar80]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Luftwaff...UAAOSwJb9Wrlr0