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Stirling III BF515 shot down by Taagerup on 29/4 1943.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 218 Sqn Bomber Command and was coded HA-N..
T/O 20:55 Downham Market. OP: Gardening Sweet Pea (Fehmarn Belt).
Over Sjælland BF515 was attacked by a German night fighter piloted by
Unteroffizier Berg from 7./NJG 3 with Unteroffizier Krebs as Bordfunker (Wop).
The night fighter was controlled by ”Seehund” radar station.
At 00:56 hours
BF515 exploded in the air and fell into a moor by Taagerup. All onboard
perished.
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Air Gnr. Sgt John A. Bolton
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Bomb Aimer F/O Thomas C. Wheelhouse
The dead bodies of Air Gnr. Sgt John A. Bolton and Bomb Aimer F/O Thomas C.
Wheelhouse were found by the crash site the same day and were laid to rest in
København Bispebjerg Cemetery on May 7.
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Crash site
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Sad remains
(Korsør lokalarkiv via Ib Lødsen)
A wing
(Korsør lokalarkiv via Ib Lødsen)
An engine
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
(Korsør lokalarkiv via Ib Lødsen)
The German salvage crew
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
The sad remains of the aircraft is taken away by the Germans
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
The remains loaded on train
After the war, the crash site was excavated and the remains of the rest of the
crew were found.
Pilot Fl/L Gordon F. Berridge, Flt. Engr. Sgt Kenneth F. Erné,
Air Gnr. Sgt Arthur A. Fitzpatrick, W/Op-Air Gnr. F/O Cyril V. Parsloe and
Navigator P/O James M. Traynor were buried in Reerslev cemetery in a single
coffin on April 4 1946.
The coffin was carried to the grave by six former resistance fighters, followed
by the Rev. P. F. T. Logstrup and six officers from RAF and 12 police officers from
Slagelse.
After the funeral a guard of honour from the garrison in Slagelse fired a
salute.
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
The excavation starts after the war
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
A memorial was placed at the crash site
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Pilot Fl/L Gordon F. Berridge
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Flt. Engr. Sgt Kenneth F. Erné
(Steve Smith)
Telegram to the Erne family from 218 squadron.
(Steve Smith)
Letter to the Erne family from 218 squadron.
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Air Gnr. Sgt Arthur A. Fitzpatrick
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
Navigator P/O James M. Traynor
(Steve Smith)
Navigator P/O James M. Traynor standing first right.
(Jørgen Mogensen via John Larsen)
W/Op-Air Gnr. F/O Cyril V. Parsloe
The graves at Reerslev cemetery
A memorial has been erected on the crash site.
Sources: LBUK, CWGC, FAF, RL 19/455.
Minelaying on the night of 28/29 April 1943
Lancaster I W4898 crashed in the
southern part of Kattegat
29/4-1943
Stirling III BK807 crashed in Langelands Belt on
29/4 1943
Wellington X HE395 crashed at Over Jersdal on 29/4
1943
Stirling I BF447 shot down near Vrønding on 29/4
1943
Stirling III BF467 crashed in Langelands Belt near
Kappel on 29/4 1943
Stirling III BF515 shot down by Taagerup on 29/4
1943
Wellington X HE170 tried to crash land near
Bjerndrup 29/4 1943
Wellington X HZ278 crashed Esbjerg on 29/4 1943
Lancaster I W4945 crashed 29/4 1943 at Remmerstrand
Stirling I EF356 shot down near Aadum on 29/4 1943
Lancaster III ED733 crashed at Jordrup on 29/4-1943
Stirling I serial number R9290 crashed in the
Langelandsbælt near Vesternæs of Lolland 29/4 1943
Back to 1943
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