Hello to all. I am privelaged to be making a documentary about the amazing story of Flt Sgt E Worsdale who after being shot down returning from Milan and escaping a crashlanding and subsequent burning Wellington on 24/10/1942, escaped and evaded capture right across northern france. Along with the only other surviving crew member they proceeded to WALK to eventual freedom in Switzerland. This amazing gentleman then stayed working as a radio operator in the British legation, Geneva. Doing vital SOE communications and handling numerous SOE ops. Help I would be grateful if I could source/confirm the correct the names of Eddies fellow crew members and as much records for the downed machine itself. Especially those of the 2 crew members who died in the crash landing. Pilot was Howard Hugil Nav was Johny Pete (Bomb aimer Jim Barnes parachuted before crash landing) Eddies (Edwin) story is an amazing one and I really look forward to sharing it with everyone.
The following is taken from RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.3 - W R. Chorley 24-25 October 1942 75 Squadron Wellington III Z1652 AA_ Op. Milan Took off from Mildenhall and crashed at Ville-sur-Retourne (Ardennes) on the south bank of the river Retourne some 13 km south south east of Rethel. france Crew Sgt. H J. Hugill RNZAF + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E J. Pete + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E. Worsdale RNZAF evaded Sgt. J G. Barnes RNZAF pow Sgt. L. Newbold evaded
The Milan raid of 24/25 October 1942 71 aircraft of 1 and 3 Groups and the Pathfinders - 25 Halifaxes, 23 Stirlings, 23 Wellingtons - continued the attack on Milan. 4 Wellingtons and 2 Stirlings were lost, 8.5 per cent of the force. Storms en route dispersed the bomber force; some aircraft flew over Switzerland and were 'warned' by anti-aircraft fire. Only 39 aircraft claimed to have bombed Milan and local reports say that little further damage was caused there. Source - The Bomber Command War Diaries - M. Middlebrook / C. Everitt
Hi Obese1konobe You might like to contact Sgt Glen Turner of the 75 Sqn Assn in New Zealand. His email is 75Sqn.assnz@windowslive.com as he would be interested to hear about this documentary. We also have a website 75 Squadron Association New Zealand | RFC | RAF | RNZAF which although is still in its infancy we hope to have links to things such as this on... Best wishes Dee
Stirling 111 EH905 AA-R of 75 (NZ) T/O Mepal 20.32 hours on 31st August 1943 to visit Berlin.Over the target the aircraft was hit by bombs from above and consequently crashed at Ludwigsfelde(11 miles SEof Potsdam.5 crew killed 2 taken POW S.The dead included my wife's father Sgt. Arthur John Bishop W/O aged 22 years.We have all crew details but would like to determine the following; 1. Where exactly was the crash site in Ludswigfelde. 2.Do any photographs exist anywhere of crashed aircraft. 3.Did the 2 POWs bale out or did they go down with the aircraft( the W0344 does not advise)
The following is taken from RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.3 - W R. Chorley 24-25 October 1942 75 Squadron Wellington III Z1652 AA_ Op. Milan Took off from Mildenhall and crashed at Ville-sur-Retourne (Ardennes) on the south bank of the river Retourne some 13 km south south east of Rethel. france Crew Sgt. H J. Hugill RNZAF + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E J. Pete + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E. Worsdale RNZAF evaded Sgt. J G. Barnes RNZAF pow Sgt. L. Newbold evaded Many thanks, this is great info. I am meeting Eddie tomorrow.
The following is taken from RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.3 - W R. Chorley 24-25 October 1942 75 Squadron Wellington III Z1652 AA_ Op. Milan Took off from Mildenhall and crashed at Ville-sur-Retourne (Ardennes) on the south bank of the river Retourne some 13 km south south east of Rethel. france Crew Sgt. H J. Hugill RNZAF + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E J. Pete + CWGC - Casualty Details Sgt. E. Worsdale RNZAF evaded Sgt. J G. Barnes RNZAF pow Sgt. L. Newbold evaded Thanks for the exact location. I hope to visit the crash site next year.
Hi Obese1konobe You might like to contact Sgt Glen Turner of the 75 Sqn Assn in New Zealand. His email is 75Sqn.assnz@windowslive.com as he would be interested to hear about this documentary. We also have a website 75 Squadron Association New Zealand | RFC | RAF | RNZAF which although is still in its infancy we hope to have links to things such as this on... Best wishes Dee Many Thanks Dee, I certainly shall.
Hi You can obtain copies of the NZ airmen's service files by contacting the New Zealand Defence Force Archives at personnel.archives@nzdf.mil.nz. Virtually every RNZAF service file of a deceased airman has a one or two page entry that is realy detailed, giving biographical information, a career history and details of the sortie on which he died; it really helps to flesh out the dry administrative documents that make up much of the rest of the record. Just a caveat though: you are entitled to one free file copy per twelve calender months, every additional file copy request incurs a fee. There is a also a free reader's room available in case you are handy to the Wellington region.
My grandfather was rear gunner in this aircraft. He bailed out and received shrapnel in his back from the explosion. The Germans saved his life. He survived until the 70's where the shrapnel injuries eventually killed him. He never spoke much about the wartime. And I remember him getting very emotional when we gave him an air fix model we had made of a Stirling. His name was fred harries.
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=eh905 UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: F T J Harries Rank: Sergeant Army Number: 1358765 Regiment: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks POW Number: 12729 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 4B Camp Location: Muhlberg (Elbe), Germany Section: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks TD
Would love more details but I guess so many Stirling's were lost in the same way as they could not get the height. Thanks for the info.
He may have filled in a Liberation Questionnaire when released from POW camp - one of our members has this site - Archive Research - www.arcre.com (POW Liberation Questionnaires - www.arcre.com) It is also possible that there is a file at the TNA for him re the incident - I have just used the information you gave and looked for Fredrcik Harries and came up with several possible files - BUT I have no idea if any are your relative, you may need to research further Reference: AIR 79/1404/156388 Description: Name: Frederick William Harries. Date: [1918-1928] Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Language: English Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Open Immediately TD
Your Grandfather was in the hospital at Biesdorf from 1/9/43 to 17/10/43 and the MUG Sgt. G.T. . Buglass was in the same hospital 1/9/43 to 10/9/43.Sgt Harries bailed out of EH 905 and" was injured on the ground by bomb splintersF".I have a photograph of 5 of the crew including my wife,s father Sgt. A.J. Bishop and Sgt F.T.J. HarriesDo you have any photographs of the crew?I also have two diaries of Sgt. A.J. Bishop and Fred is mentioned at various times
Sgt(W/O whilst POW) Frederick Thomas John Harries Service no. 1358765 Born 4/7/1910 Died JFM 1975 age 64
To bring things uptodate 1. The aircraft crashed at Genshagen near Ludwigsfelde in the grounds of the DB factory (removed by the the Soviets in 1945.My wife and I visited the site in Jan 2019' 2, We are advised by local German historians that no photographs exist. 3. Sgt. FJ.T, Herries the R/G bailed out, Sgt G.T. Buglass the MUG was blown out.
I am in Northampton, UK and have been researching some WW2 newsletters from Northampton Post Office. These contain excerpts of letters home from former postal workers who were in the Services across the world. One was LAC Levi Newbold, elder brother of Leonard, and he made a brief reference in one letter to Leonard's return via Switzerland. (Levi was lucky to survive the RAF Fauld explosion later in the war.) Consequently I researched Leonard Newbold and found this post and Edwin ‘Eddie’ Worsdale, Wireless Operator, Hugill crew – Escape documents I can add a few details about F/Sgt Newbold: Leonard was born at Northampton on 13/10/1909, son of shoe operative Levi and Mercy nee Ainge. In 1911 the family home was at 22 Grafton Place, Northampton. The marriage had resulted in 10 children but 4 died in infancy or childhood. In 1935, Leonard married Lucy Maud Rayment and in 1939 they lived at 2 Ecton Street, Northampton. Leonard also worked in the boot and shoe industry as an examiner. They had a son, born in 1941. Leonard enlisted in the RAFVR, serial 1302201 and became a Flight Sergeant / Air Gunner. Levi was probably indiscreet when he wrote about his brother's evasion in September 1943 because it appears that Leonard was not de-briefed by MI9 until 11/11/1943. Leonard died in 1978 and Lucy in 2014.
Thanks for the update, most of the contributors are no longer active, e.g. opening post author has not been logged on since December 2012.