World War 2 Talk - View Single Post - Jim Brough, RIP

adrian roberts · 24-06-2007, 02:29 AM

Kyt
Thanks for these links; I knew I had "Lost Bombers" in My Favourites so should have checked it.

This threw up a few questions.

Firstly, the unanswerable one, about how fifteen men [25 including the Wellington crews] were killed on their first operation, becoming the first British Empire fatalities of a long war, whereas Jim Brough survived this raid, survived probably the most high-risk aerial warfare ever - Blenheims 1939-41 - and lived to be 90?

Also:

- The Pilot of N6189 was P/O Lightoller. I think he must have been the son of Charles Lightoller, the senior surviving officer of Titanic - his CWGC ref shows his father as Cdr Charles Lightoller RNR. Do you know this for certain?

- Why would F/O Emden's aircraft be carrying four crew? Not much space in a Blenheim, and in a small aircraft weight would be critical as well.

- A Whitley was lost on 4/9/39, with the crew POW: it was apparently on a "Nickel" operation - what did this mean? Leaflet dropping?

- I remember reading that two of the gunners on a Wellington lost on the first day of the war were members of the British Union of Fascists. If this is true, do you know which of the men listed they were?

Adrian

24-06-2007, 02:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
adrian roberts Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Kent, England Posts: 758	Kyt Thanks for these links; I knew I had "Lost Bombers" in My Favourites so should have checked it. This threw up a few questions. Firstly, the unanswerable one, about how fifteen men [25 including the Wellington crews] were killed on their first operation, becoming the first British Empire fatalities of a long war, whereas Jim Brough survived this raid, survived probably the most high-risk aerial warfare ever - Blenheims 1939-41 - and lived to be 90? Also: - The Pilot of N6189 was P/O Lightoller. I think he must have been the son of Charles Lightoller, the senior surviving officer of Titanic - his CWGC ref shows his father as Cdr Charles Lightoller RNR. Do you know this for certain? - Why would F/O Emden's aircraft be carrying four crew? Not much space in a Blenheim, and in a small aircraft weight would be critical as well. - A Whitley was lost on 4/9/39, with the crew POW: it was apparently on a "Nickel" operation - what did this mean? Leaflet dropping? - I remember reading that two of the gunners on a Wellington lost on the first day of the war were members of the British Union of Fascists. If this is true, do you know which of the men listed they were? Adrian __________________ for heathen heart that puts its trust in reeking tube and iron shard all valiant dust that builds on dust and guarding, calls not thee to guard thy mercy on thy people, Lord (Kipling)