51 Sqn 27/10/39

Owen · 14-10-2007, 11:59 AM

Just been reading here,
HyperWar: The War in France and Flanders 1939–1940 [Chapter II]

Quote:

A raid on the night of the 27th October involved four aircraft of No. 51 Squadron. The first dropped leaflets over Frankfurt, the second over Munich, the third over Stuttgart and the fourth also over Munich....

...No. 4. The air-speed indicator froze-up … snow lay on the floor of the front turret and ice covered the cabin windows … the centre turret froze and remained immovable. A cylinder blew off and one engine failed … Finally the Captain gave the crew orders to jump and followed them. He did not realize that the intercommunication had failed and that the tail gunner had not received the order and was still on board when the plane hit the ground. The gunner escaped through the tail door as the aircraft blazed up. Convinced that his companions were in the fire he searched the debris vainly and then walked to a village—where he found them in a café.

Anyone know anymore about the crew and what happened to them later in the war?

I see 51 Sqn was flying Whitleys.

Peter Clare · 14-10-2007, 12:12 PM

27 October 1939

51 Squadron

Whitley III K8984 MH/N

Crew.
Sgt. TW. Bowles.
Sgt. AA. Emery.
Sgt. EJ. Barber.
AC1. R. Jackson.
Sgt. A. Griffin. inj

The aircraft had taken off from Villeneuve-les-Vertus at 1805 hrs.

Of the four 51 Squadron Whitleys involved in this op, three were lost.

Owen · 14-10-2007, 12:22 PM

Peter,
Thanks for that.
13 minutes to get an answer.
Great one.

Owen · 14-10-2007, 12:23 PM

Bowles was killed in 1941.
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Emery in '43.
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Not sure on the other 3.

14-10-2007, 12:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Peter Clare Legendary Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Neverland Posts: 5,648	27 October 1939 51 Squadron Whitley III K8984 MH/N Crew. Sgt. TW. Bowles. Sgt. AA. Emery. Sgt. EJ. Barber. AC1. R. Jackson. Sgt. A. Griffin. inj The aircraft had taken off from Villeneuve-les-Vertus at 1805 hrs. Of the four 51 Squadron Whitleys involved in this op, three were lost. __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by Last edited by Peter Clare; 14-10-2007 at 12:19 PM.

14-10-2007, 12:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,462	Bowles was killed in 1941. CWGC :: Casualty Details Emery in '43. CWGC :: Casualty Details Not sure on the other 3. Last edited by Owen; 14-10-2007 at 12:26 PM.

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14-10-2007, 12:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,462	Peter, Thanks for that. 13 minutes to get an answer. Great one.

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