John Sanders

 

RAF Langar, Nottinghamshire
RAF Langar was a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Langar, Nottinghamshire.  Having been established during 1942, it was used by bother the RAF and United States Army Air Force.  During the war, it primarily used as troop carrier transport airfield. 

September 1942, the first flying unit to arrive was the No. 207 Squadron, they came from RAF Bottlesford.  With them they brought Avro Lancaster bombers.  No.207 were a major Bomber Command, and it participated in major bombing raids in occupied Europe.


No.207 Squadron reformed November 1940, at RAF Waddington, the squadron were assigned the task of the introduction of ill-fated Avro Manchester, from there they moved to RAF Bottlesford, where the Avro Manchester were replaced to Avro Lancaster.  Owing to the runaway surface at Bottlesford breaking up and in need of repairs, the squadron moved to RAF Langar.  From there, the squadron became the first occupant of the newly RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire during October 1943.

November 25th, 1942, taking off at 3 pm, Avro Lancaster R5694, of No. 207 Squadron took from RAF Lanager heading for a bombing raid at Bad Zwischenahn, Germany.  It was here that the largest the biggest Luftwaffe airbase was in northern Germany. It was here that Luftwaffe pilots, flew during May 1940 to attack both Netherlands and the UK.

Avro Lancaster

Following the raid, R5694, is thought the aircraft is to have struck higher ground and clipping trees near Green Lodge, Easton, nr. Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft burst into flames, and 7 of all the crew were killed and the 8th died from his injuries a few days later.

Five of the crew were buried locally at St. Mary the Virgin, Bottesford, the other 3 were repatriated back to their families in Nottingham, Winchester and Swansea.

The crew were.

Pilot – Flight Lieutenant, Raymund Joseph Hannah DFC, 25, from Wellington, New Zealand

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Sergeant Bryant Leonard McKenzie Jenkin, 24, served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, came from Taranaki, New Zealand.

Navigator – Flight Sergeant John Kennerleigh Barnett, 26, from Exeter

Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Sergeant Albert Roberts, 21, from Liverpool

Flight Engineer – Sergeant Peter John Thompson, 21, from Buckinghamshire

Air Gunner – Sergeant John Bernard Burton, 21, from Nottingham.  Buried at Nottingham Northern Cemetery

Air Gunner – Sergeant Ernest Raymond Donald Piper, 19, from Winchester.  Buried at Winchester Magdalen Hill Cemetery


John Sanders
Air Gunner – Sergeant John Sanders, 20, from Swansea.  Buried at Danygraig Cemetery (above).

John’s parents were Leslie Horace Sanders and Margaret Elizabeth Fisher, during 1939, they resided at Sebastopol Street.

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