Operation: Hornli Patrol (1)

Date: 23rd November 1941 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 608 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Hudson V

Serial: AM715

Code: UL-T

Base: RAF Thornaby, Yorkshire

Location: Near Skjern, Denmark

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Russell Hamilton MacMillan R/78250 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Pilot 2: Fl/Sgt. George Noile Fullerton R/58303 RCAF Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Short 923073 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Francis George Simmonds 1153725 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on a patrol (Hornli) at 10:43 hrs from RAF Thornaby in Yorkshire.

After flying over Tarm towards Skjern the Hudson then, according to eye witness reports, suddenly dived down and struck fencing running along the railway lines and exploded, throwing one of the crew members, Sgt. Simmonds clear.

Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries the following day at the nearby hospital at Tarm.

The Germans conducted a full military funeral for the members of the crew on the 28th November 1941. Further details of this can be found on the ‘Airman Denmark’ website. (see credits)

(1) Hornli Patrol: codename for a patrol from Horns Rocks in Denmark to List in Norway.

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Russell Hamilton MacMillan. Frederikshavn Cemetery. Allied plot. Grave 16. Born on the 11th December 1920, the son of Eben Russell Macmillan and Beatrice Macmillan, of Lansing, Ontario, Canada.

Fl/Sgt. George Noile Fullerton. Frederikshavn Cemetery. Allied plot. Grave 15. Understood to be from New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?

Sgt. John Short. Frederikshavn Cemetery. Allied plot. Grave 14. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Francis George Simmonds. Frederikshavn Cemetery. Allied plot. Grave 13. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?

Page placed for Wilma Kirkham who contacted us in June 2017. Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below. With thanks also to the ‘International Wargraves Photography Project’ for grave photographs. ‘Operation Picture Me’ for photo of the pilot. Also to Anders Straarup of Airman Denmark and Kenneth Kristensen both of whom the webmaster met and spent time with during another dedication ceremony in Denmark.