|
Home
Allied:
1939-1940 Updated
13/1-08
1941 Updated
18/12-07
1942 Updated 29/3-08
1943 Updated 5/5-08
1944 Updated 5/5-08
1945 Updated 29/3-08
German:
1939 Updated
3/8-05
1940 Updated 16/3-08
1941 Updated
18/12-07
1942 Updated 10/3-07
1943 Updated
20/5-06
1944 Updated
28/4-08
1945 March New
Sources
Contact
Links
Search this
site by entering search words:
|
Halifax II W1226 crashed near Sønderborg 19/8-1942.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 35 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded TL-J.
T/O 20:43 Graveley. OP: Flensburg.
On its way to the target W1226 was attacked by a night fighter from 5./ NJG 3
piloted by Feldwebel Herbert Altner. A fire started at the rear end of the
fuselage and at 00:08 it crashed to the ground in a field belonging to
“Ladegården” farm near Sønderborg.
The wreckage being inspected by Danish police
The crew managed to get out of the aircraft
and landed in their parachutes. Pilot Sgt John Smith landed in the court of Jernbanegade no. 47 and damaged his right hand foot when landing. He was brought
to the police station by a rather officious Dane of German origin whom had seen
Smith descending in parachute. The police told the Dane to get out of there, and
called for a Doctor to attend to Smiths foot. The doctor had Smith transferred
to the hospital, where at 01:30 it was clear that the damage was not serious,
and at 13:00 hours he was discharged after treatment and brought back to the
police station.
Shortly after Smith had arrived at the hospital a German officer from the
Luftwaffe airfield in Flensburg turned up to do a short interrogation. The
officer the left, and when he returned later in the morning it was found the
Smith had received quite a few flower s from Danes. The officer complained
strongly about this and told the Danish police constable on guard to make sure
that it was stopped.
At 07:00 hours Flt.Engr. Sgt William Basil Cooper was seen in the village of
Dynt on Broagerland by a Danish police constable and brought to the police
station in Sønderborg.
At 08:00 Air Gnr. Sgt Arthur John Owen Leo RAAF was brought to the police
station. He had landed in Flensburg fjord and hade been in the water for approx.
4 hours before he had reached land at Gammelgab beach on Broagerland.
At 10:45 hours Air Observer Sgt Cyril Samwel Crutchley was brought in. He had
landed 3-4 kilometres west of Sønderborg. After having slept in a cornfield he
was trying to find a police station. He inquired at Lorenzen`s grocery store in
Sundgade and Lorenzen followed him to the police station.
At 13:30 Smith, Cooper, Leo and Crutchley were picked up by a Luftwaffe commando
from Flughafenbereicht Flensburg and taken to Flensburg airfield.
Humphreys and Brassey
At 22:00 Wop Sgt George A. Brassey knocked on the door at a holiday camp at Dynt
beach. He had landed at Broagerland, had hidden his parachute and had then laid
down to sleep until darkness. He was picked up by the police as was Air Gnr. Sgt
Ralph G. Humphreys RNZAF who had showed up at Gammelgab. He too had slept all
day. They spent the night at the police station and were on the next day at
19:00 hours picked up by Luftwaffe soldiers from Flensburg.
Humphreys and Brassey with Danish police
On Friday 28/8 at 11:00 Air Gnr. Sgt Ronald Francis Wall was arrested by Danish
police at Markvejen road north east of Haderslev. In the morning he had been
observed at Solbakken road when he had asked for food. And a police patrol had
been sent out to find him. He was in a very poor state and was given food and a
warm bath at the police station. He refused to tell where he had been, but it is
for sure that on Wednesday 24/8 at 08:00 had asked for food in a house in
Ullerup. He had then been shaking badly, probably due to being cold. He was
given food and had his trousers repaired, and had then left the house in the
direction of Vester Sottrup. He was handed over to the Wehrmacht and like his
comrades ended up in prisoner of war camps.
They were all sent to Stalag VIII/344 Lamsdorf.
On 20/8-1944 Sgt Leo was killed by an air attack when being on a working party.
He now rests in Crackow Rakowicki Cemetery in Poland.
Sources: AS 69-81 / 70-116 / 66-137, LBUK, UA, BCL, OLCB, T501, RL 19/454.
Back to 1942
Top of page
|
