Operation: Convoy escort
Date: 10th March 1941 (Monday)
Unit: No. 272 Squadron (Coastal Command)
Type: Blenheim IV
Serial: Z5752
Code: XK-L
Base: RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland
Location: Off Northern Ireland, Atlantic Ocean.
Pilot: P/O. Arthur Albert Leopold Van Waeyenberghe 81629 RAFVR Age 26. Missing (1)
Obs: Sgt. James Robert Thompson 755146 RAFVR Age 24. Missing
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Denis Ince McWatt 977821 RAFVR Age 22. Missing
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Aldergrove on a convoy escort. During the operation the weather deteriorated and they were spotted by another aircraft undertaking a search operation but were soon lost in the poor visibility.
Some reports state that it collided with another Blenheim from the same Squadron - Z5722 XK-E, (2) but we are unable to confirm this. No trace of the aircraft or the crews.
Blenheim IV's (courtesy IWM)
Left: P/O. Arthur A.L. Van Waeyenberghe (courtesy Johny Recour)
(1) P/O. Waeyenberghe also spelt Wayenberghe.(2) Blenheim Z5722 XK-E Was flown by a 21 year old Canadian from Toronto, Sgt. Peter G.V. Chanler, who had just joined the squadron from the OTU at Catfoss. Also lost on his aircraft were Sgt. Harold K. Pass, the 21 year old observer from Warrington, England and the air gunner, Sgt. William A. Newton RAFVR - all the crew are missing, also commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Burial details:
P/O. Arthur Albert Leopold Van Waeyenberghe. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 35. NoK details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information? Further information: Born at Herzele, Belgium 1915 - joined the Belgian Army on the 26th June 1933, transferring to the Belgian Airforce on 1st April 1935. Joined the RAF on 27th June 1940. Served with 236 Squadron prior to joining 272 Squadron on the 19th November 1940.
Sgt. James Robert Thompson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 53. Son of James Summer Thompson and Lilian Gertrude Thompson, of King's Heath, Birmingham, England. Further information: Joined the RAF under call up on the 1st September 1939, after training, joined 236 Squadron later to 272 Squadron.
Above left: Sgt. James Robert Thompson (courtesy Frank Edmonds) Centre: Sgt. Denis Ince McWatt on extreme left of this group - pictured at RAF Aldergrove - circa 1940 and on right (courtesy Gabi Bateman)
Above, grave of the McWatt family at the Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey, Wirral, UK - with Denis McWatt name inscribed (courtesy Mike McQuaid - February 2016)
Sgt. Denis Ince McWatt. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 48. Son of Thomas and Mary McWatt, of Wallasey, Cheshire, England.
Above: Sgt. Denis Ince McWatt on right, also shown with his elder brother. courtesy Gabi Bateman)
Sgt. James Robert Thompson shown extreme left on centre row - probably during training prior to joining 236 and 272 Squadron - available at a higher resolution if you feel that you are able to recognise others? (courtesy Frank Edmonds)
James Robert Thompson whilst just a schoolboy and right: 'the Letter". We are often asked why we post such photographs - it is to show that they were real people, making the page far more personal to the family. (courtesy Frank Edmonds)
