Wellington of 22OTU 19/4/43 at Withington

Withington Wellington 19 April 1943

I have published the story of this crash on 19 April 1943 on www.historyjournal.co.uk

Thank you all for your invaluable help

Interesting – thanks.
I notice that the W/Op although shown as being from Northampton (UK) is shown as being RCAF (VR), I take it that this is a typo?

Hi Gellis
This is some info I have on the Wellington crash compiled by Alan White back in the mid 80’s, plus a photo of Etienne Bataille.
Best Regards G.

Chorley indicates that a Memorial Plaque within Withington Church was inaugurated in 1998 and the ceremony attende by, amongst others, a representative of the Belgian SAS.

It might be worth contacting the Church to see what they can add http://www.achurchnearyou.com/withington-st-michael-all-angels/

The following website may be of interest http://www.belgiansas.com/sitemap.html

E Battaille and a G DePauw are listed as killed on 19/4/43 and it states that the Belgian Independent Parachute Company were based at Malvern Wells.

Hope this is useful.

Regards,

kev35

likely they were getting their air legs? getting as much air time as possible…

You could probably buy a copy of the Accident Record Card from Hendon, but it is doubtful if it would elaborate on the presence of the two Belgians, on board. I don’t know if the SAS base was at Malvern during WW2, as it was later.
Doug.

Thank you

for the info – really great.
I have the fullcrew from the memorial and also from the Canadian veterans site, but did not have the aircraft reg or the the time of the accident.

I wondered why an OTU was airtesting the trainees, I would have thought the SAS would have had an aircraft available or would have flown with a fully operational unit.

Does that mean that there was an SAS base near Wellsbourne?
Is there an accident report available

Thanks

The ORB says the Belgians were undergoing air tests. Crash time; 1045.
Do you want the full crew?
Doug.

Wellington III serial DF743 coded : LT:L .The two Belgians were Special air Service paratroopers Private E Battaille and Private F De Pauw.