Wellington Bomber shot down 03/10/1942

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by LookingforGeorge, Dec 21, 2013.

  1. LookingforGeorge

    LookingforGeorge New Member

    I am seeking any further information about my uncle, George Nelson (412476 Sergeant (Obs) (RNZAF)) who died while serving in the R.A.F during WW11.
    It seems their target was Krefeld (Germany) on the night of 02/10/1942, they were in a Wellington bomber (115 R.A.F. Sqdn) Serial number BK271/Op or BK271/A and took off from Mildenhall at 18.45. Their aircraft was supposedly brought down southwest of the target area near Dusseldorf. Other crew members who died were:

    • Pilot Sgt ADSETT Frederick Charles R/92747 RCAF
    • Pilot 2 Sgt JONES Rex Nigel Hugh 411217 RNZAF
    • W/AG Sgt MARTIN George Wilfred 405302 RNZAF
    • W/AG Sgt TURVEY Keneth Tempest 925966
    I would like to talk to anyone who knew him or his fellow flyers, or have photos, records or any documentation relating to any of the above. Many thanks."
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi,

    One of our members has created the 'Back to Normandy' website which covers more that just 1944 onwards - there are some details on there of the plane you are searching for - link - http://www.backtonormandy.org/the-history/air-force-operations/airplanes-allies-and-axis-lost/wellington/BK2711942-10-03.html - which you may have already seen ??

    Also from CWGC:
    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1
    NELSON, GEORGE

    Rank:
    Sergeant
    Trade:
    Obs.
    Service No:
    412476
    Date of Death:
    02/10/1942
    Age:
    21
    Regiment/Service:
    Royal New Zealand Air Force

    115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference
    Joint grave 8. E. 7-8.
    Cemetery
    REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information:
    Son of James and Margaret Baird Nelson, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    Edited to add:
    Others should be accessible via the CWGC site
     
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  3. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum.

    If you have not done so already I suggest that you apply for your Uncle's service record the cost would be £30, more details here.

    You can also download 115 Sqn Operational Record Book (Summary of Events and the Record of Events - £3.36 each) for the period from here.
     
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  4. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Hello, Brian
    As you know, George was part of the crew of Wellington Mk III Squadron Code KO-A serial BK271
    NELSON, GEORGE. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Obs. Service No: 412476. Date of Death: 02/10/1942. Age: 21.
    Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Joint grave 8. E. 7-8. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of James and Margaret Baird Nelson, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    JONES, REX NIGEL HUGH. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Obs. Service No: 411217. Date of Death: 02/10/1942. Age: 22.
    Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Grave Reference: Joint grave 8. E. 7-8. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Charles Jones and of Dagmar Constance Jones (nee Knipe), of Smethwick, Staffordshire, England.

    ADSETT, FREDERICK CHARLES. Rank: Flight Sergeant. Trade: Pilot. Service No: R/92747. Date of Death: 02/10/1942. Age: 22.
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Joint grave 8. E. 9-10. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Charles L. and Bertha M. Adsett, of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

    TURVEY, KENNETH TEMPEST. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Air Gnr. Service No: 925966. Date of Death: 02/10/1942. Age: 26.
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 115 Sqdn.
    Grave Reference: Joint grave 8. E. 9-10. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Wallace and Alice Mary Louisa Turvey, of Slough, Buckinghamshire.

    MARTIN, GEORGE WILFRED. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: W.Op./Air Gnr. Service No: 405302. Date of Death: 02/10/1942. Age: 23.
    Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force. 115 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: 8. E. 11. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Charles Henry Martin and of Helen Mary Martin (nee Buchanan), of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

    There is additional information on Rex Jones on a Cambridge NZ site, where it seems his family had emigrated to (although the Additional Information seems to imply they were in England http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/rex%20jones.htm

    Ah! I see someone has pointed you to Normandy Remembers which in turn points you to Aircrew Remembered, and Googling on Wellington BK271 may produce more.

    Unusually both George and Rex are shown on the RAF Loss Card as Observers and neither as a Navigator, but one should have had navigation as their primary role. Rex seems to have joined 115 in September 1942, but no details of how many raids known. The same may apply for George.
    I'd certainly confirm the advice to download the Operational Record Book for 115 Squadron for at least September and October.
    They often list at the end of each month not only the losses but men being posted to the Squadron. You may find that George and Rex, possibly others of the crew all arrived about then...

    Turvey was the rear gunner, Gorge and Rex may have manned the beam guns if they were shot down by fighters, explaining why they were difficult to individually identify, both being RNZAF. However the RCAF uniform of the pilot, Adsett should have been a way to identify him.

    Good luck.
     
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  5. Our bill

    Our bill Well-Known Member

    Hello Looking for George - welcome and l hope you find what you are looking for. Elsie
    Tricky Dicky Thanks for the link it is fantastic. I shall be reading it all later . Elsie
     
  6. Pieter F

    Pieter F Very Senior Member

    Hi Brian,

    I had a look and found some photographs you might find interesting. But you might know them already.

    His portrait from the Weekly News.
    [​IMG]

    His headstone at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
    [​IMG]

    A Roll of Honour plaque at the Addington Railway Workshops, in remembrance of their fallen members of staff.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Pieter F

    Pieter F Very Senior Member

    This is a portrait of Rex Jones:

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    ecalpald and Tricky Dicky like this.
  9. LookingforGeorge

    LookingforGeorge New Member

    Finally found out how Uncle Georges Wellington Mk III (Squadron Code KO-A serial BK271) was downed on the 2nd October 1942. Thank you to everyone who contributed to locating all the relevant information.

    The bomber was shot down by Night fighter pilot Oberleutnant Manfred Meurer of the Stab III./NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 F-4 from Twente airfield in the Netherlands.

    It was shot down at 21:47 roughly 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) north-northeast of Haldern.
     
  10. alberk

    alberk Well-Known Member

    I am from the Haldern area in Germany. Would you be interested what records may be found locally? Can't promise anything but I know the manager of the municipal archives of Rees, the town nearby which is also in charge of Haldern.
    Best
    Alex
     
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  11. LookingforGeorge

    LookingforGeorge New Member

    Hi Alex, thank you for your reply, would be great if I can get any further information about the actual crash. The aircraft was a Wellington Mk III Squadron Code KO-A serial BK271 shot down about 21:47 as stated above. The date of the crash was 2nd October 1942. I would be so grateful if there were any local records or photographs of the crash, thank you. Brian Nelson
     
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