Bombing of Schwerte June 13,1941

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by keith davies, Sep 19, 2022.

  1. keith davies

    keith davies Member

    While doing family genealogy I came upon a cousin who was shot down in that raid. His plane took off June 12 @ 23:56 from RAF topcliffe and crashed June13 @ 03:16 at Waare, Holland.
    My question is this. Did they have enough time to drop their load and were shot down returning or did they go down on the way in.
    Pilot Officer Dawson was with the 102 Squadron and was there as an observer.
     
  2. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Last edited: Sep 19, 2022
  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    No 102 (Ceylon) Squadron has an active squadron association but nothing is referenced for the loss of this Whitley

    The op is well covered by the Aircrew Remembered website......102 Squadron Whitley V Z6489 Sgt. Chapman (aircrewremembered.com)

    Should an individual's RAF service be required, the service record can be obtained from Cranwell at the address below.

    RAF Disclosures Section
    Room 221b
    Trenchard Hall
    RAF Cranwell
    Sleaford
    Lincolnshire
     
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  4. keith davies

    keith davies Member

    Thank you for the answers.
     
  5. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    An Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V (Z6489) of 102 Squadron crashed at 3:18 a.m. on June 13, 1941. The bomber was flown by Sgt J. Chapman and was on a bombing mission to Schwerte. Given the time of day, the Whitley was shot down on its way back by a German night fighter. For a long time it was thought that it was piloted by Lt Knacke of 2/NJG 1, but he appears to have reported no hits for this night. It was probably another German "ace," namely Hptm Hans-Dieter Frank.

    The entire crew of the bomber perished in this crash. They were besides the pilot Sgt. John Chapman (24), air gunner Sgt. James Hall (19); air gunner Sgt. John Mathew Bailey Tunnah (30); bomb aimer P/O Raymond Woodrow Dawson (22); co-pilot Sgt. John Franklin James (RAAF) (25); radio operator Sgt. Kenneth Ridd Winter (2). All are buried at Woensel, graves JJ 16-20 and JJ 25. Sgt. James was not found for nine days, presumably during the salvage of the wreckage.

    The aircraft came down on the Gagelsche Akkers on the Genneperweg. In daylight, a large group of curious people approached it. One of them declared aloud that there was not an English plane burned out there, but a German one that had been marked with English license plates by the Germans before dawn. People laughed, but in the crowd were also others who reported Johannes Boons to the German Ortskommandant in Eindhoven, where he was taken on June 15 for interrogation and pending punishment for spreading false rumors.


    Source: Neergestorte vliegtuigen in Waalre 1940-1945 - BHIC
     
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  6. keith davies

    keith davies Member

    Thank you. I did read that Knacke had shot the aircraft down and I'm surprised that it now appears he didn't.
     
  7. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Such contradictions and inaccuracies are the rule rather than the exception.
    At least the crash site can be assumed to be certain.
    Since the majority of the sources however calls Knacke and only the Dutch source Frank, I would put a question mark there: one notes also the words "appears" and "probably"
    And finally, unfortunately, it does not change the fate of the crew
     
  8. keith davies

    keith davies Member

    Very true
     
  9. Adrie

    Adrie Member

    Hi Keith, Send you a PM. Looking forward to hear from you, Cheers, Adrian
     
  10. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Keith,

    I wonder if you have read the A705 Casualty file of the RAAF member of this crew, 404104 Sgt John Franklin James? Close to 100 pages of information

    Go to www.naa.gov.au and use his service number to search. His personnel file is there as well.

    Regards,

    Dave

    [​IMG]
     
  11. keith davies

    keith davies Member

    Thanks Dave, I'll look that up.
    Keith
     

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