Wellington X3965 - 29/30 March 1943

[TigerTimon]

Hello,

This Wellington of 166 Squadron failed to return due a night fighter flown by Feldwebel Heinz Vinke, according to the Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 (Theo Boiten).

What makes it that this claim concerns X3965 and not Wellington HE548 of 196 Squadron?

Both aircraft have their crew members commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Kind regards,
Timon

[MW Giles]

It could be either.

They took off within a minute of each other, their bases are only 20 miles apart and they were both aiming for Egmond as the first turning point. Therefore they both would have reached the coast within minutes of each other

Martin

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks for pointing this out Timon and Martin -I believe you're right Martin, in this case it could be either of these two Wellingtons that fell foul of Vinke. I have amended the entry in the NCA manuscript.

Cheers, Theo