Hendelse
AM 355 CRUPPER 37 (ELG) 2 Buhovdseter – 26. februar 1945
Beskrivelse
Særmelding BBC : "Bikkje og katt"
Code : RUBIN Signal bakke: L Signal fly: ?
CON PAK M HD CRS SPD LAND . MERKNAD
FS/ *
17 4000 190 140 04:20 OF/
Squad: RAF 138
1. F/O Cornwallis Peter Brownell Stirling IV LK272 NF-P
2. F/O Banbury V Stirling IV NF-A
Out: 26.2.45 19:05/39 DROP NC/01:27
- 1
- F/Lt Peter Brownell Cornwallis RAFVR - Pilot
- Sgt John Edwin Cory RAFVR - Gunner
- F/O Leonard John (Len) Gornall DFC, RAFVR - Flight Engineer
- F/Sgt Stuart Samuel Hagerty RCAF - Gunner
- P/O Stanley Arthur Pepworth DFM, RAFVR - Navigator
- F/O John Edward Stanton RAAF - Air Bomber
- W/O Brian Douglas Tovey RAAF - Wireless Op
- 2
- P/O Banburry V. Pilot
- F/S Hillary G (NZ) Navigator
- F/S Sorgenson R.J (NZ) Air bomber
- F/O Prince R.C. (NZ) LS Operator
- Sgt Anderseon G.W Despatcher
- F/S Austin C, Rear gunner
- Sgt Harland J.W Engeneer
2 Carrying 2 bundles of leaflets, Operation completed.
1. 10 Stirlings from 138 Squadron took off from RAF Tempsford at 19:39 hrs on operation for destinations in Norway and Denmark. The Squadron Operational Record Book (ORB) records that LK272 was carrying 4 Agents, 11 containers and 9 packages to be dropped over Norway.
Fg.Off. Shaw aboard NF:B (Operation Thrush Red 2) witnessed an aircraft engaged by flak, and sent crashing into the sea off the Norwegian coast. As LK272 failed to return Flt.Lt. Cornvallis and his crew were posted as missing presumed killed. This was later confirmed, and the four agents on board also lost their lives. The crew had served with 138 Sqn for 6 months at the time of their deaths. (RAF Bomber commandprofiles, 138 Sqn by Chris Ward)
F/Lt Peter Brownell Cornwallis RAFVR - Pilot - died
Sgt John Edwin Cory RAFVR - Gunner - died
F/O Leonard John (Len) Gornall DFC, RAFVR - Flight Engineer - died
F/Sgt Stuart Samuel Hagerty RCAF - Gunner - died
P/O Stanley Arthur Pepworth DFM, RAFVR - Navigator - died
F/O John Edward Stanton RAAF - Air Bomber - died
W/O Brian Douglas Tovey RAAF - Wireless Op - died
All commemorated on Runnymede Memorial, UK
The following is a translation of a German Army Command Norway activity report dated 26th February 1945
9.57 to 01:15 hours . Entry of many hostile aircraft. Airplanes from SW into the area around Oslo, on the trip 20 km SWK ristiansand shooting down 1 enemy aircraft, probably by ship flak. During flights suspicion of agent supply.
23.14 to 01.25 hours - Entry of 4 enemy aircraft into the area eastwards of Stavanger, no bomb dropping. (Courtesy of Terje Dønnestad via Tormod Christiansen from Kristiansand)
It is possible that these entries ref er to the shooting down of LK272 and transit of the four Stirlings en route to Norway. it was known that a couple of hours earlier, very close to this position, the German freighter "Arsterturm" was sunk by 4S9 Sqn.
RNZAF Beaufighter T.FX, NE803, P6:M flown by Fg.Off. E.P.Taylor and Fg.Off. HJ.Webb.
The result of the torpedo hit was described like this "...a tremendous explosion flinging flaming debris into the air". The ship went down very fast.
it is possible that LK272 happened to fly right over the sitewere "Arsterturm" went down a few hours earlier and where most likely a search and rescue operation was still going on. This was the night before a full moon and a low flying Stirling would have been an easy target for the German AA gunners on board the ships who at this stage of the war were fighting Beaufighters, Mosquitos and Mustangs almost daily.
Equally possible was that there was a random meeting between LK272 and a passing ship.
RAF138 ORB
Steder
Tittel | Lenke |
|---|---|
| Sendt fra: RAF Tempsford Airfield | Se mer |
| SLIPP ┬ plass Buhovdseter RUBIN | Se mer |
Galleri
Nyttige lenker
Tittel | Lenke |
|---|---|
| Lost Cornwallis | Se mer |
| Lost LK272 | Se mer |
| The National Archives | Se mer |