I am looking for any information on Wellington N2805 from No.25 Operational Training Unit. It crashed at Rotterdam on 11 September 1941. The plane was flown by Flight Lieutenant G.W. Walenn's crew. He was one of the airmen killed during The Great Escape. Thanks in advance.
I am looking for any information on Wellington N2805 from No.25 Operational Training Unit. It crashed at Rotterdam on 11 September 1941. The plane was flown by Flight Lieutenant G.W. Walenn's crew. He was one of the airmen killed during The Great Escape. Thanks in advance. Pieter, do you have the details of this loss from Bomber Command Losses? Regards Peter
From Chorley's Bomber Command Losses, Vol. 7, Operational Training Units, 1940-1947 10-11 Sep 25 OTU "B" Flt Wellington IC N2805 F/L GW Walenn MID* pow F/L TL Walker RAAF pow W/O PA Edwards pow W/O SC Stevens pow W/O WA Platt pow T/o 1955 Finningley for a night bombing detail over the Misson ranges. Dropped two bombs, the second at 2043. At 2201, Finningley responded to a QDM request from this aircraft after which nothing further was heard. Well over seven hours later (0531 has been quoted), the Wellington was hit by flak, abandoned and left to crash in Rotterdam's IJsselhaven. F/L Walenn was amongst the Allied officers that tunnelled their way out of Stalag Luft III in March 1944. Recaptured (as most were), he was executed by the Gestapo (on Hitler's orders) on, or around, 29 March. His remains are interred in Poland at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery. The asterisk denoted he was twice Mentioned in Despatches Regards, Dave
10-11 September 1941 25 OTU Wellington IC N2805 Op. Enemy Action Took off from Finningley at 1955 hrs for a night bombing detail over the Misson ranges. dropped two bombs the second at 2043 hrs. At 2201, Finningley responded to a QDM request from this aircraft, after which nothing further was heard. Well over seven hours later (0531 hrs has been quoted) the Wellington was hit by flak, abandoned and left to crash in Rotterdam's IJsselhaven. F/L. Walenn was amongst the Allied officers that tunneled their way out of Stalag-Luft III in March 1944. Recaptured (as most were) he was executed by the Gestapo on or around 29 March. Crew. F/L. G W. Walenn MID* pow F/L. T L. Walker RAAF pow W/O. P A. Edwards pow W/O. S C. Stevens pow W/O. W A. Platt pow Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.7 - W R. Chorley
FWIW - F/L. T L. Walker RAAF is Flight Lieutenant TOM LESLIE WALKER 404271 of 25 Operational Training Unit He returned home and was discharged from the RAAF on 12 Sep 1945 None of his files held by the NAA have been digitised as yet, but besides his personnel file he appears to have two files referring to the loss of his aircraft and his capture by the Germans. WALKER, Tom Leslie - (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number - 404271; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Wellington; Place - Germany; Date - 10 September 1941 WALKER, Thomas Leslie : Service Number - 404271 : Rank - Flying Officer : Date of birth - 14 Sep 1941 : Place of birth - Cairns QLD : Date of capture - 11 Sep 1941: Place of capture - Rotterdam NETHERLANDS : Next of kin - WALKER, M G
Hi, Gilbert William WALENN enlisted Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve December 1937 as Sergeant Pilot 740998, commisioned Pilot Officer 29.3.1939 73022 (London Gazette) Called up for full time service 1.9.1939. Mark
Why was he still with 25OTU in 1941 as a Flight Lieutenant? It doesn't seem to have been a new crew of which he was the guiding trained pilot on their first mission. Were they trained on flying a different type of bomber?
