BCL Vol. 4, page 301 : JD413

[G. Warrener]

Hello

F/L J L Wilson RAAF

The wreckage and remains of the pilot were found last week in Datteln, Germany.

http://www.waz.de/waz/waz.onlinesuche.ergebnis.volltext.php?zulieferer=w az&redaktion=redaktion&dateiname=dateiname&kennung =on1wazLOKStaDatteln38539&catchline=catchline&kate gorie=kategorie&rubrik=Stadt&region=Datteln&bildid =496123&searchstring=Wilson&dbserver=1&dbosserver= 1&other=

The pilot will now be buried at the Reichswald CWG

Graham

[G. Warrener]

sorry but it does get to the newspaper WAZ

when you get as far as the WAZ portal, do a search for Wilson in the (Suche) field

The 3rd result is the crash story

Graham

[Henk Welting]

Wreckage and remains of pilot found last week (1st week of July 2005) in Datteln !
F/Lt John L. WILSON - RAAF 412788 - lies buried Plot 18 Row A Grave 16 in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Please explain.
Regards,
Henk.

[G. Warrener]

nu erst een bavaria?... I cannot explain!

I know the plot, it is only a few kilometres from my home - I have written to the 'discoverer' of Datteln. At this time it would seem premature to suggest anything.... but maybe the original internment was not "complete"?

Graham

[G. Warrener]

Originally Posted by Henk Welting

Wreckage and remains of pilot found last week (1st week of July 2005) in Datteln !
F/Lt John L. WILSON - RAAF 412788 - lies buried Plot 18 Row A Grave 16 in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Please explain.
Regards,
Henk.

Hello

During the 1st week of July, wreckage of this Halifax was discovered at the junction of Wiessenstrasse and Südring in Datteln. A sports centre is being constructed on this site. Human remains were discovered, which were identified as being from J. L. Wilson. These remains are now in the possesion of the Australian Embassy in Germany, the Embassy decides if & when burial in the existing grave at the Reichswald shall be made.

Local air-war historian Andreas Wachtel has contacted the last survivor of the crew, James Hopkins, aged 84 and residing in Birmingham UK.

Mr Hopkins desribes the mission as follows.

The aircraft was only a month old. During the outward flight, one of the motors caught fire. The hydraulic systems also failed, forcing manual operation of many functions. The extra efforts necessary were unpleasant as the sweat then froze! The pilot was permanently using the rudders to effect any effective control over the aircraft. Nonetheless Berlin was reached, and bombed, after which the return flight to England was commenced. This should have taken the aeroplane nearer to Cologne, but it strayed off track, loss height and was caught by the flak over Datteln. Hopkins recalls that prior to the mission the undercarriage had been fully overhauled, but subsequent re-calibration of the compass was possibly not executed – which would explain why the aircraft was on a heading too far north.

After being hit by flak, the pilot ordered the crew to jump, but remained at his post so that they could do so – thus sacrificing himself.

Graham

ps

At time of writing a large pink lily droops over J. L. Wilson's headstone.

[herkmanherkman]

I am an aviation historical researcher from Australia, who belongs to a team at

www.adf-serials.com

We work in a total voluntry capacity.

My dear ladies step father was killed in the crash, and the finding of his remains has been a relief to all the family.

Some questions are there any photos available on this matter
Running from the complete aircraft, grave headstone and the funeral service.

I note with interest the statement by Graham, that at one stage a pink lily was on the headstone.

We have in Australia found long lost relatives, from flowers traced from war graves.

Any one any thoughts

My email is

herkman@bigpond.com

Thanks

Col Tigwell