Looking for SQ of killed crew member

I’m inclined to err towards a Wellington, but having said that, I don’t have any experience of Hampden crashes so can only compare with what I’ve found online. The way the wing is bent does rather suggest that it might well be a geodetic structure.

Nils, do you have any other photographs of the crash site or of the wreckage in the following years?

Flood – regret to inform you that it is snowing here :diablo:

Having looked at these photos against Wellingtons and Hampdens, I’m now of the mind that it most probably is a Wellington. If it were a Hampden I’d imagine that you’d see more of the engine nacelle around the wheel well and oleo area. Plus a Hampden has a straight leading edge with tapered trailing edge, but this wing appears more the shape of a Welliington.

And Moggy, you might be right about that exposed structure being geodetic too.

I thought it was bent a bit like other bits of Wellington I recall, can’t remember seeing bent Hampden wings like that. And that trailing edge in the second pic looks a bit geodetic to me. Stand to be corrected, of course…

Flood

That does look a bit like geodetic structure showing at the highest visible point of the wing in the second picture. That would make it a Wellington. What do the rest of you think?

Moggy

I have a copy of Errols excellent book “For Your Tomorrow”. Details for Wellington III X3282 on 12/13 March 1942 as follows:

Raid on Kiel by 68 a/c – 6 lost. Took off approx 1940-2035 captained by Sgt J F M Parhnam, RAF, and brought down near Schleswig, 40km NW of target. All six crew died, at least five, including two NZ’ers being buried in the Garrison Cemetery at Schleswig, but all six were later reinterred at Kiel.

F/Sgt John Lukies BROWN RNZAF age 22.282 hrs on 9th op
F/Sgt Campbell Ewen Justin AITCHISON RNZAF age 22.291 hrs on 24th op

The other two 75 Sqdn Wellingtons lost on this op are reported as ‘lost without trace’

Of the other 3 a/c reported as lost on the Kiel op, 9 Sqdn Wellington crashed in UK, 301 Sqdn Wellington Z1257 lost without trace and 311 Sqdn Wellington R1802 lost without trace last position given as 5317N 0307E last signal received reported sea landing was imminent.

No Hampdens from Bomber Command lost on 12/13 March, however on 10/11 March 4 Hampdens were lost on Essen op, two in UK and two in Germany (AT174 EA-E from 49 Sqdn, crew buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and AT192 UB-R from 455 Sqdn, crew buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery).

Hmmm, I have noticed a lot of little innaccuracies in the Norman Franks book. I am very much looking forward to Colin Hanson’s upcoming book on No. 75 (NZ) Squadron which will surely supercede it because Colin is extremely meticulous with his research.

So this leave two other aircraft from other squadrons – one of which may have been a Hampden. I cannot see any Geodetic framework on those photos so perhaps it is a Hampden.

Except the other three (non 75Sqn) aircraft lost on the Kiel mission were also Wellingtons: 9Sqn lost L7423 (with no loss of life) on return to Bodney, 301Sqn lost Z1257 and 311Sqn lost R1802 – both without trace, as were X3565 and X3588 of 75Sqn.
So it is not a Hampden if the date is correct…

Flood

Hi Nils,

A bit of extra info on the crew of No. 75 (NZ) Squadron Vickers Wellington III X3282:

Captain: Sergeant JOHN FREDERICK MASSEY PARNHAM 1254725 (English, RAF) Aged 21
2nd Pilot: Flight Sergeant JOHN LUKIES BROWN NZ402534 (New Zealander, RNZAF) Aged 22
Navigator: Sergeant ROBERT McGIBBON 998735 (Scottsh, RAF) Aged 26
Wireless Operator: Sergeant MURRAY ALEXANDER McDONALD 400352(Australian, RAAF) Aged 23
Front Gunner: Flight Sergent CAMPBELL EWIN JUSTIN AITCHISON NZ402974 (New Zealander, RNZAF) Aged 22
Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant JOSEPH HENRY GODFREY 1378233 (Canadian, RAFVR) Aged ??

“Forever Strong” by Norman Franks lists the Rear Gunner as R.E. Godfrey (Canadian) but CWGC does not bring up a name so this must be innacurate.

The same books states:

“Then it was Kiel – and disaster. Eight aircraft were assigned and they found clear weather over the target – the U-boat yards – after 5/10ths cloud on the way in. They met searchlights and heavy flak, and three aircraft failed to return. As the total losses that night were just five, 75 took the brunt of the missing. The crews of Squadron Leader Kitchen, Flying Officer Sandys, and Sergeant Parnham were all killed.”

So this leave two other aircraft from other squadrons – one of which may have been a Hampden. I cannot see any Geodetic framework on those photos so perhaps it is a Hampden.

There will be more detail on the fate of the three No. 75 Sqn crews in ‘For Your Tomorrow’ by Errol Martyn, but I don’t have those books to hand. Perhaps you should post this query on the RAF Commands forum as Errol reads that forum. It is here:
http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID6

Thanks for your details !

Now, before I public the result of my research, I will be sure that is the right a/c on the pictures I have.
My informations are, on this pictures are a crashed Hampden ! Maybe the writer make a mistake??

Can you recognize on the pictures the type of a/c?

At first; wish all a happy new year !

I have four names of crew member, KIA on 12.03.1942 near Kiel / Germany:

AITCHISON,C.E.J., Sgt. 75.Sqdn
BROWN, J.L. Sgt. 75.Sqdn
McGIBBON, R., Sgt., 75.Sqdn.
PARNHAM, J.F.M., Sgt. (Pilot), 75.Sqdn.

It´s possible, this is one crew. Maybe it´s the crew of a Wellington?
Can you help for find the rifght aircraft?

Thanks

Nils

Nils,

The airmen you list above were onboard 75 Squadron Wellington III X3282 AA-? on op to Kiel 12/13 March 1942 presumed crashed in or near target area. All buried Kiel War Cemetery. In addition to the four named above Sgt M A McDonald RAAF and Sgt J H Godfrey were killed.

Source of info: RAF Bomber Command Losses 1942 by W R Chorley

My problem is, I have informations about a crashed Hampden on 12./13.3.1942 near Kiel. But their is no Hampden crashed on this date…
or it is a mistake of myself?