PDA

View Full Version : Wellington R1708 Lancaster HK610


broke1losttheother1
16th Jul 2020, 13:07
First time post and hopefully in the right place.
I'm looking into my family history. My father's cousin was the pilot of Wellington R1708 from 25 OTU RAF when it was shot down and crashed near Mission on 13th June 1941 killing everyone.
My mother's cousin was a RCAF Air Gunner on Lancaster HK610 from 90 Sqn RAF which crashed at Hengrave following a mid air collision after take off on 2nd/3rd February 1945 again killing everyone.
I'm interested in finding out if the Wellington crashed immediately after being attacked or if it attempted to head for an airfield and land before it became a lost cause.
In the case of the Lancaster it appears it crashed after losing control as a result of the collision. Can anyone suggest where I can start to look for any witness accounts?
I discovered photographs of my mother's cousin on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial as part of the Operation Picture Me project. Is there a similar project here in the UK?
Any information or suggestions will be gratefully received.

goofer3
17th Jul 2020, 06:57
Regarding R1708, in the Wellington Crash Log by D.J. Smith it quotes; "Mission, Nr. Finningley. Shot down in circuit".
Just to add. 12-13th June, 1941, Oblt Paul Semrau , 3/NJG2, listed as shooting down a Halifax Nr. Finningley, 0140.

broke1losttheother1
17th Jul 2020, 07:52
Hello goofer3 and thankyou for your reply. You've also answered another question I was going to ask.
I knew that Oblt Semrau was credited but then I found he was also credited with a Halifax at the same time.
Thanks again.

DHfan
17th Jul 2020, 08:51
I have nothing to add but it may help to know when searching that the village near Finningley is almost certainly Misson, which definitely does exist, and not Mission which I suspect doesn't.

msaunder1972
14th Jul 2022, 08:59
Hi Broke1

I am currently working on a project to erect a memorial at the crash site for HK610 and would be happy to help you wih any information you may need. We are currently trying to contact family members regarding the project so please feel free to drop me a line or PM me your email and I will happily reach out.

Kind Regards

Martyn

broke1losttheother1
14th Jul 2022, 17:21
Martyn,
At present I don't hsve a great deal more information about John Train..
As I mentioned in my first post his photograph is in the Canadian virtual memorial.
8 know where he is buried but i haven't been down to visit yet.

msaunder1972
15th Jul 2022, 15:44
Hi Broke,

I have a reasonable amount and hopefully can pass it on to you.

broke1losttheother1
16th Jul 2022, 18:51
Martyn,
I've sent you an email

Hengravelancproject
30th Dec 2022, 15:18
Martyn,
I've sent you an email

Hi Broke, please reach out to us on our new email address for the group [email protected] and we can try to assist you further from here.

many thanks,
Alex