loss 142 Sqn Wellington DF550, 16-17.9.1942

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

During the 16-17 September 1942 Essen raid, 142 Squadron Wellington DF550 was badly shot about by a night fighter and abandoned near St. Omer, the crewless aircraft belly-landing some 10 km NW of Lumbres. Who can supply me with any details about the encounter with the German night fighter, especially on the place & time of the combat. All five crew members of DF550 survived, three successfuly evading capture.

Thanks for any info,

Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Theo,
BCL vol 3 page 220 gives names of crew as -
S/L. D. B. BARNARD - EVD
P/O. R. E. GLENSOR RNZAF - EVD.
Sgt. A. E. BUCKELL - POW.
Sgt. R. FORSTER - EVD.
Sgt. H. M. JAMES - POW.

Recognized as the first Wellington III lost with 142 Sqn.
Operation - Essen.
T/O 2044 hrs Grimsby.
Badly shot about by a Night Fighter was abandoned at 3,000 feet in the area of St-Omer ( Pas-de-Calais), France.

From the Tony Woods file.

Day Phase 16 September 42
13/KG 40
Hptm Georg Each - 1 claim
Ltn Dieter Meister - shared.
Uffz Hans Harms - shared.
Uffz Werner Steurich - shared.

Night Phase 16-17 Sept 42
8/NJG 1 - two Wellington claims.
Oblt Herbert Lutje
8/NJG 2 - two Wellington claims.
Ofw Heinz Struning
Hptm Horst Patuschka
1/NJG 2 - one Wellington claim.
Only Albert Schulz
6./NJG 2 - one Wellington claim.
Ltn Gardienski
4/NJG 1 - two Wellington claims.
Oblt Walter Barte
Stab 1/NJG 1 - one claim.
Hptm Werner Streib.

Alex

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks for the info Alex but I'm already familiar with this; I'm particularly looking for info from the ex PoW questionaries and/or Evasion reports of the crew about the time/place of the combat with the Nachtjäger.

Cheers, Theo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Theo,
The NA ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk ),
will most likely have the reports
You may also find details of both POWs and evaders in this website -

http://www.conscript-heroes.com/escapelines/index.htm

Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Theo,

Don't waste your time on checking the Conscript Heroes site. The only thing there of any substance (other than the escape/evasion/POW document references at the TNA), is this:

http://www.conscript-heroes.com/Art0...-Back-960.html

And the above tells you nothing of the combat, or times.

You could try contacting MARG, who specialize in No.142 Sqn losses:

http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.u...sqn_losses.htm

They might, repeat "might", have additional information on the loss of DF550.

Col.

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks Alex and Col -I've sent a message to MARG, hope they'll reply!

Cheers, Theo