Crashed Wellington

Thats a funny size – either a 7×5 view camera – which I doubt, for that era – or it will be off a rollfilm camera and slightly enlarged. Originally I was figuring a 5×4 view camera (Along the lines of a Sped Graphic or similar ‘press’ camera). Damn.

Not that it is even remotely important of course.

Anyway, try RAF Museum at Hendon / PRO at Kew for the aircraft record card, and perhaps take a peek at the squadron Form 540 – you have the date of the prang, and the serial, as well as the crew. You now have plenty to go on if you wish to follow it up further. Do a search on here for Moxey, and you’ll see what you can end up with if you go for it! Good luck.

Oh, and reading your original message it does have a brownish area where it wasn’t fixed properly!

It is 7.2″ by 5.2.

No idea what type of paper

It is a gloss print. Its original owner was a press agency, Scherl Bilderdienst , Berlin SW68

So, whats it measure? What paper is it on? I was not drinking (not a daily occurence for me Andy!) but was giving my read on the photograph, rather than the contents. I also meant to add that it was a gloss print. Now, how wrong was I? I am intrigued.

You see, I have been working with originals like this, daily, for the last 18 months.

(Respected? Are you sure YOU haven’t been drinking Andy?!!)

Thanks chaps, most appreciated. I did try Google, but it didn’t do its usual magic for me.

I bought this print on Ebay from Germany and I have now received it. Translating the script on the back:

“Recently the British attempted to bomb Venice. Three enemy bombers were shot down by the italian air defence.

Our picture shows a British bomber in the shore waters of the venetian sea”

Dated 18 Jan 1941

So this all fits in nicely with the info you have provided

Thanks again

Ian

Originally posted by kev35
Bomber Command Losses simply states that the a/c took off from Mildenhall at 2130. The crew were all taken prisoner. No indication of where it actually came down.

The crew were…..

Sgt R A Hodgson.
P/O L K S Wilson.
Sgt L W Hatherley.
Sgt E E Harding.
Sgt J McAnnally.
Sgt C F Plummery.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

Lucky men.

Assuming it to be the Italian coast, spending the war as prisoners in Italy was quite a result compared to the likely fate of the majority of their squadron contemporaries

Moggy

In the distance on the left there looks to be some sort of pylon, perhaps they caught the wires. Still having a root about, will be back if I get any proper gen. Cheers for now,
Phil.A.

Hmmmmm,interesting results Moggy,I did a google search n’all and came up with absolutely nowt.Searched on a few other search engines too and even they came up with nowt.Ah well,nevermind…:)

Bomber Command Losses simply states that the a/c took off from Mildenhall at 2130. The crew were all taken prisoner. No indication of where it actually came down.

The crew were…..

Sgt R A Hodgson.
P/O L K S Wilson.
Sgt L W Hatherley.
Sgt E E Harding.
Sgt J McAnnally.
Sgt C F Plummery.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

Come on Ian!

It isn’t that difficult.

Did you try typing “Wellington T2807” into Google?

I did.

It crashed 12th January 1941 on a raid to Italy which in some way goes to explain the rather non-British bands around the service caps of some of the rubber-neckers.

The aircraft belonged to 149 Squadron, which at that time was operating from Mildenhall, just down the road from me. In all probability it was carrying OJ codes.

9 aircraft set out, just this one failed to return.

Somebody in possession of RAF Bomber Command Losses 1941 can hopefully now provide you with the crew list and their fate.

Moggy

Piece of Cake huh?

Well I’m afraid I can’t tell you much about T2807 specifically,but it appears to be (or have been) a Mk.1C with the windows in the nose.My guess is that some of the damage atleast has been done by the incoming tide,and the photograph was possibly then taken as the tide went down again.Sounds extreme,but I’ve seen other wrecks lying in the surf with similar tidal damage.
I know one or two members of the board have access to books and other sources regarding Bomber Command losses,so perhaps something more specific will turn up in due course.
As for Snapper,he is one of our most respected forum members and is a knowledgable chap really.Think that last post of his might have had something to do with the consumption of a certain volume of alchohol,a substance our Snapper is no stranger to…;)

Bumping this to the top to hopefully get some advice from the knowledgeable people on this forum

Thanks in advance

Ian

Its a contact print meausring around 5×4, its black and white on Velox paper, age has wearied it and the years condemned – as it was insufficiently fixed. It’s been taken on a large format camera, tripod mounted, and the photographer drowned moments later. Its then been scanned in RGB.

In addition….wait for it….you can teach MONKEYS to fly better than that!

(Are the people on top in wellingtons?)