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Wellington X HE170 tried to crash land near Bjerndrup 29/4 1943.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 196 Sqn Bomber Command and was coded ZO-?
T/o 20:51 Leconsfield. OP: Gardening Forget-me-not (Kiel bay)
On the return trip HE170 was attacked by a German Bf 110 night fighter while
flying over the southern part of Jylland.
The pilot of the night fighter was Leutnant Mees of 6./NJG 3 who with his
Bordfunker Unteroffizier Ostheimer were lead to the target by radar station
“Amiese” located at Barsmark om Løjtland.
A fire started in the Wellington and Pilot Sgt Frederick C. Swain tried at 00:57
hours to do a belly landing near Bjerndrup northeast of Løgumkloster. The
aircraft had skidded approx. 500 metres when it hit a drainage canal.
The Wellington turned over on its back and a fierce fire started.
At 01:15 Air Gnr. Sgt Edwin D. Curling and Navigator Sgt Albert Wheatley were
found 10 metres east of the canal, both severely injuried and were taken to
Tønder hospital. They both died on the very same day. Wheatley at 13:15 hours
and Curling at 13:18 hours.
At 07:00 hours Bomb Aimer Sgt Edward G. Quick was found dead in the canal
underneath a engine and was brought to the Tønder hospital.
In the morning one body was found standing on its head in the canal and one was
found floating in the water. They were W/Op-Air Gnr. Sgt George R. Burgess and
Pilot Sgt Frederick C. Swain.
The whole crew were laid to rest in Aabenraa cemetery on 7/5-1945
It should be noted that the night fighter pilot Leutnant Mees have mixed the
time for his two claims on this night in his report.
A memorial stone was set on the crash
site 29/4 2003
Sourcse : LBUK, CWGC, BCL, RL 19/455+456, BA, JJ, Report Tønder police, Løgumkloster parish archive.
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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