Who or what shot down W/Cdr Fletcher

[Stephen Smith]

Hoping someone can help with the loss of the above wing commander who failed to return from an operation to Hanover on Monday 4th August 1941 with No.218(B) Squadron. I am keen to establish the cause of loss of W/Cdr Fletcher & crew and a crash location if known. There is nothing in W.R Chorley's 1941 volumn.

Was there any fighter claims that night or encounters that could be matched.?

TIA

Steve

[Chris Goss]

There were 2 night fighter claims that night but looking at the time it took off from Marham and where they are buried, the only possibility is the claim by Lt Rudolf Schoenert of 4/NJG 1 SW of Stavoren (?) but his claim of 0014 hrs doesn't compute

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Stephen and Chris,

I think W/Cdr Fletcher's Wellington fell victim to Flak. As Chris already pointed out, both nightfighter claims concerned other Wellingtons, Fw Siegfried Ney's victim being X9745 of 57 Squadron and Lt Rudolf Schoenert's claim concerned X9760 of 75 Squadron, which managed to limp home with a shot up hydraullic system and burned wing!

Regards,
Hans Nauta

[Stephen Smith]

Hans & Chris,

Thank you both for your replies, after considerable searching through my files last night I finally found the PoW Questionnaire and E & E Report for the Observer of W/Cdr Fletchers crew, Glaswegian F/Sgt Alexander.

Alexander reported the Wellington being hit by heavy flak and crashing 9kms south of Bremen. What is interesting is that Alexander managed to stow-away on a Swedish ship that sailed from Lubeck on August 13th only to be betrayed by the captain 9 hours into the voyage, he spent the rest of the war in various PoW camps. In 1945 he was awarded the O.B.E for his numerous escaping attempts while a prisoner.

My next question, can 9 kms south of Bremen be narrowed down?

[Delmenhorst]

Hi Stephen

I would say that this might be your plane:

4. August 1941 bei Moordeich
Uhrzeit: 01.03 Uhr
Flugzeugmuster: Vickers Wellington
Eingereicht an: 10.9.1941
Eingereicht für: 1./2./3./222 und 3./301 (Lv.K. 8)
Anerkannt am: 29.2.1942
Anerkannt durch: R.d.L. u. Ob.dL. LP Az.29 Nr. 83447/42 (5, VII)
Anerkannt für: 1.-3./222 und 3./231

And to answer your next question - Moordeich is near Stuhr between Delmenhorst and Bremen (a bit southwest of Bremen). There is an other Moordeich, but that is close to Cuxhaven.

Carsten

[Stephen Smith]

Hi Carsten,

No my next question would be what's it mean, I get most of it however I am struggling with some.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my request, its very much appreciated.

Kind regards

Steve

[Delmenhorst]

Sorry, I forgot you are british (?)

4. August 1941 near Moordeich
01.03 o'clock
Aircraft type: Vickers Wellington
Turned in for approval: 10.9.1941
Turned in for the following units: 1./2./3./222 und 3./301 (Lv.K. 8)
Approved: 29.2.1942
Approved by: R.d.L. u. Ob.dL. LP Az.29 Nr. 83447/42 (5, VII)
Approved for: 1.-3./222 und 3./231

schwere Flak-Abteilung 222 (o)

Formed 26.8.39 in Berlin from parts of II./Flak-Regiment 22 with 5 Batterien (1. - 4. schwere, 5. leichte). Until 7.42 known as Res.Flak-Abt. 222.
5./Res.222 became 5./223 in 1941, and was reformed.

Service:

• 1939 in Luftgau III
• 10.41 in Bremen
• 6.42/9.42 in Bremen

[Stephen Smith]

British.......... My God man I'm ENGLISH. !!

Thank for the translation

Steve