Handley Page Halifax Mk II, flight JB870 - 16th/17th April 1943

 17th April marks the 81 anniversary of Handley Page Halifax Mk II, flight JB870, of the 78 Squadron being shot down over Goyencourt, Somme, France.

Handley Page Halifax Mk II

The previous night, 16th April, the Handley Page Halifax had taken off at 21.15, from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire.  Its target was the Skoda factory, Pilsen.

RAF Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire
RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, was opened during 1937, as a bomber airfield.  On the outbreak of the Second World War, bombers, flew from Linton-on-Ouse, to drop propaganda leaflets over Germany.  The airfield was eventually used to launch bombing raids on Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

The Luftwaffe bombed the airfield during May 1941, where 13 men were killed.

At the end of the war the airfield was used in the transporting of passengers and freight back to the UK.

Helmut Bergmann
Flight JB870, had a crew of 7, was shot down by the German night fighter pilot, Leutnant Helmut Bergmann, who was a Bf 110, from Juvincourt airfield, France.

Juvincourt airfield
Juvincourt airfield had been built by the French Air Force during 1938 and 1939 and the runaways were mostly grass.  The Germans captured the airfield during 1940 during the Battle of France, eventually it was developed by the Luftwaffe, into one of the largest Germany military airfields.  During the duration of the war, the airfield was targeted by Strategic Bombing Campaign, 1943-1944. September 1944, the Allies captured the airfield from the Germans. Before abandoning the airfield, the Germans conducted several demolitions.

From September 1944, the airfield was under the command of the American Air Force using the airfield until the closure in July 1945.

The 7 crew members of flight JB870 were all killed.  They were.

Sergeant William Illingworth, Pilot

Sergeant Ronald Woodhall, Flight Engineer

Sergeant Clifford George West, Navigator

Flying Officer Herbert Donald Dixon, Bomb Aimer

Sergeant Edwin Gordon Thomas, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

Sergeant Sydney William Patton, Mid-Upper Gunner

Sergeant David Aubrey Watkins, Rear Gunner

All seven men are buried at Roye New British Cemetery, Roye, Somme.

Clifford George West
Roye New British Cemetery
Roye, Somme
credit - Findagrave
David Aubrey Watkins
Roye New British Cemetery
Roye, Somme
credit - Findagrave













However, 2 of the crew came from Swansea.

Clifford George West, born 1916, came from Morriston. He was the son of William Albert and Clarice Winifred West nee. Hanney.  His parents were married that year, 1916.

At the time of the 1921 Census, 4 year old George was living at his family home, 22 Chemical Road, Morriston. 

1921 Census
22 Chemical Road, Morriston

At the time of the 1939 Register Clifford was residing with his parents at 15 Heol Tirdu, and his occupation is listed as Lead Joiner & Pipe Fitter.

1939 Register
15 Heol Tirdu, Morriston

David Aubrey Watkins, born 1923, Swansea.  He was the son of Aubreey Wilfred and Clara Novello Watkins.  He isn’t listed on the 1939 Register, but his parents are residing at 27 Waterloo Place.

1939 Register
27 Waterloo Place, Brynmill 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strombus

Image
 What secrets lie on the seabed? The coordinates 51 34 33N 03 58 21W indicates where the bow of the DS  Strombus lies of the seabed. 51 34 33N 03 58 21W Location of the bow of the  DS  Strombus GoogleMaps DS  Strombus The DS  Strombus  was originally built as a Tanker, by Armstrong Whitworth & Co., during 1900, for Anglo Saxon Patroleum Co., London.  During 1925, was sold to Cia Ballenera del Peru, Peru, and was renamed as Callao .  During 1926, sold again to Hvalf, A/S Africa , Tonsberg, where renamed as DS  Strombus  and was converted as a Whale Factory. March 1940, DS  Strombus , arrived at South Georgia.   Later that month or April, departed South Georgia and travelled independently to Freetown, Sierra Leone, arriving on May 15 th . May 17 th , DS  Strombus , joined Convoy SL 32, departing Freetown for Liverpool, however, detached from the Convoy on the 19 th , and travelled to New Orleans, having travelled independently, DS  Strombus  was carrying a cargo of whale oil
Read more

No. 172 Squadron - 19th August 1942

Image
  Scarweather Point, Porthcawl What other secrets lay on the seabed? We will look at the events that were to take place on 19 th August 1942.   The events at Dieppe, France, where the Allies carried out an unsuccessful amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe.   6,086 infantry troops notably Canadian, which were supported by a regiment of tanks were put ashore from a naval operation which was protected by RAF fighters. For a short period, the port was captured, and to test the feasibility of the landing and to gather intelligence. German coastal defences, port structures and important buildings were demolished. The Raid was intended to boost the Allied moral.   Sadly, aerial and the naval support was insufficient to enable the ground forces to establish their objectives.   The tanks on the beach were trapped, and the troops were largely prevented to entre the town by obstacles and German fire. In less that six hours and huge number of casualties, the resulted in
Read more

Bristol Blenheim - collision 31st July 1940

Image
 Worm’s Head, Gower  Worm’s Head, Gower.  It is the furthest westerly point of the Gower Peninsula.  The name “ Worm’s Head ” comes from the Old English word, meaning ‘wyrm’ for ‘sea serpent’ the headland comprises of three islands. In the skies over Worm’s Head, this is where a collision occurred July 1940. Taking off from RAF St. Athans, a Bristol Blenheim Mk IF, L1408/J with a crew of 3 from 25 Squadron.   The plane was to undertake in A.I. Radar System trails. AF St. Athans Airborne Interception Radar Bristol Blenheim A.I., is short for Airborne Interception Radar. Radar systems that were used to equip aircraft in air-to-air role.  The radar was used to locate and tracking other aircraft.  The term was first used during 1936, when it was considered how a radar system could be fitted into an aircraft. This led to the formation of the Airborne Interception Mk IV, the first production air-to-air system, which came into service July 1940, which was widespread available on the Bri
Read more