James E Linehan, MIA 1942 Wellington X3757

I've just joined this forum as I'm looking for help finding my uncle's plane. He was shot down in a raid in 1942 and is MIA. I've been able to find details of the plane and the other crew members, the date he flew, the location he flew from and the time, but am now hoping to find details of flight plans, orders and so on, with a final aim of possibly finding the plane.
I'm also trying to find details of who I might contact in Germany who deals with plane wreckages that are discovered.
Any help and suggestions would be gratefully received
Nicola

 

Hello Nicola,

Welcome to the forum.

Could you please post your uncle's name, it will help in any ongoing research.

Might be worth looking at this post.......
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/26720-aviation-archaeology-website-schleswig-holstein-german-language.html

Regards

Peter

 

Thanks. I thought the post had got lost so I reposted in the intro section .

My uncle's name was James E Linehan. I have his serial number & the serial number of the plane (Wellington Bomber Mk 3, Serial number X3757) he flew and his fellow crew members (57th Squadron), who are:
Pilot Officer NP Morse, RNZAF
Flight Sargeant GH Vogan
Sargeant G Lakeman
Sargeant MJ Naylor
Rear Gunner Sargeant RG Richard

His last mission was at 2205 on 8th April 1942.

 

Forgot to say, they flew from Feltwell. I've had a look at a site about Feltwell and he's not listed. where is Feltwell?

Thanks

 

This seems to be the Aircraft.

Wellington X3757 Information

Type Wellington Serial Number X3757 Squadron 57 X1D DX-? Operation Hamburg Date 1 8th April 1942 Date 2 9th April 1942 Airborne 2205 8Apr42 from Feltwell. Lost without trace.All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. P/O N.P.Morse RNZAF KIA F/S J.E.Linehan KIA F/S G.H.Vogan RNZAF KIA Sgt G.Lakeman KIA Sgt N.J.Naylor KIA sgt R.G.Richards KIA

 

Yes that's the one. Does anyone know where Feltwell is?

Thanks

 

The Airfields Of Norfolk Feltwell

 

Nicola,

Looks like you are receiving lots of information.
Best of luck with your quest.

Regards
Tom

 

Nicola
Welcome to the forum I see the members are already assisting you in your search, RAF Feltwell is just beyond Newmarket, if you look at a map it is down form Barton Mills.
Unfortunately a visit my not be possible I believe it is now either a USAFE base or part of the RAF Lakenheath complex.

 

The Hamburg raid of 8/9 April 1942

272 aircraft - 177 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 22 Stirlings, 13 Manchesters, 12 Halifaxes, 7 Lancasters - on yet another record raid for aircraft numbers to 1 target. 4 Wellingtons and 1 Manchester lost.
Icing and electrical storms were again encountered. Although 188 aircraft reported bombing in the target area, the raid was a failure. 17 people were killed and 119 injured. Bremen reports a load of incendiaries dropped very accurately on the Vulkan shipyard where 4 U-boats and several surrounding buildings were damaged by fire.

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/album.php?albumid=263&pictureid=2254

One of only 2 photos of him and the clearest one.

 

Nicola
Welcome to the forum I see the members are already assisting you in your search, RAF Feltwell is just beyond Newmarket, if you look at a map it is down form Barton Mills.
Unfortunately a visit my not be possible I believe it is now either a USAFE base or part of the RAF Lakenheath complex.

Yes Oldman it is a US military base. Feltwell is just down the road from me. I couldnt see a commemoration at the main gate like we have at Honington but the Feltwell site shows those sort of things anyway.
Nicola If you write to the base commander and explain you might (and only might) be allowed to visit... I am off down to Runnymede this weekend. If you wish I will add your crew to my list of people to take photos for... In the meantime I will look up your NZ pilot in Errol Martyns book and see what hes got there. You might also want to visit the following sites:
War Memorial - Auckland Museum New Zealand (re PO Morse)
RAF Museum in London & RAF Museum Cosford - Royal Air Force Museum Aviation History - free family fun activities (reference the rest)
and write to the following
57 Squadron Assn Hon Sec Gordon Lodge, Tudor Gables, 28 Ghyllwood Drive, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 1NF: 01274 565065:
jgl@btinternet.com
Good luck and keep us up to date with what you have found.
Dee

 

Thanks Oggie. I went to Runnymede quite a few years ago but at that time wasn't doing any research so didn't take any pics etc. I was thinking of possibly going to Runnymede this weekend as well. Perhaps we could meet up. Its only about 30-40 mins drive for me depending on the traffic. But if would be great if you could if I decide not to go.
I used to go to West Stow quite a lot a few years ago and drove past Lakenheath and had no idea that it was Feltwell. Weird how life turns out some times.
I've been to RAF Hendon several times and chatted to a really nice man the other day in the research department who was very helpful. He has said that he can arrange a visit to the Wellington they hold for me later in the summer .
Thanks for the other details I didn't know that. I will check out both things. I've been searching on the internet for address details for the Squadron Assoc but couldn't find anything.
As to what I've found I've got a feeling/ hunch, whatever you like to call it that the plane went down somewhere around Bremen. No proof or anything, just a gut feeling and finding that some planes from that raid actually bombed Bremen harbour successfully. I will be ordering a large scale map of Germany in a couple of days to check the area more closely.
I found this site: Startseite where volunteers research and excavate downed planes. I've emailed them for help and also emailed an English speaking German paper for help. Let's see what happens.
I know far more than I did last week lol

 

Also I have uploaded a photo of Jim in an album but hav set it as only accessible to contacts and admin. If any one would like to see it just ask to become a contact.

 

One of the others was also a KIWI but I forget which one. I will have to ring Hendon again

It is Vogan - RNZAF

 

UPDATE
Its been an exciting day. I received a reply to one of my emails to Germany. They don't cover North Germany, but have given me the details of a group in North Germany who do plane research and excavation and I have emailed them. Let's see what happens.

More excitingly I also received a response from my email to the Hon Sec of 57th Squadron! He rang me this morning. The squadron are meeting in a few weeks at East Kirkby. There will be a fly past, Lancaster being reved up and various other things and he has suggested I come along as the Squadron historian will be there, as will others who might remember my uncle. I can't beleive how fast things have moved in the last couple of weeks. I've gone from knowing very little and now have the chance to possibly meet some of my uncle's colleagues! Amazing!

 

Further update:
I now know the full names and most of the ages of the crew:

Noel Percy Morse Aged 27 or 28 (different sources have the age different), from Sydney, Australia
George Hillary Vogan 23 or 24 Canterbury NZ
Graham Lakeman 22 Plymouth UK
Norman Joseph Naylor 23
Ronald Jeffrey Richards

The last 3 were RAF Volunteer Reserve

 

Hi guys I just need someone to take a look at this link and tell me what they think of it. Am I imagining what I think I can see? What would a plane wreck look like in a wood after 70 years? How do tree roots react to things embedded in the ground?

Latendorf Map | Germany Google Satellite Maps

Damn! It doesn't blow it up really well, will have to take a screen grab

 

Hi Nicola (and welcome )

I just tried your Google map link and it centres on three blue fields with Latendorf a few fields away to the bottom left. Where were you looking?