Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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03/04.06.1942 No. 115 Squadron Wellington III X3635 KO-J F/O. Thomas Wood

Operation: Bremen

Date: 03/4th June 1942 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No: 115 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3635

Code: KO-J

Base: RAF Marham, Norfolk.

Location: No details currently available

Pilot: F/O. Thomas Reader Russell Wood 67642 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. John Wynne Chapman NZ/41978 RNZAF Age 29. Missing

Nav: Sgt. Leonard John Howe 137584 RAFVR Age 28. Missing

Air/Bmr: Sgt. Maurice John Morris Davies RAFVR Age 21. Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. H. B. Pearce Prisoner of War No: 556 Camp: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Poland

Air/Gnr (mid upper): Sgt. Benjamin Francis Wischhusen 751991 RAFVR Age 27. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23:00 hrs. from RAF Marham, Norfolk, shot down at 04:06 hrs. by Ofw Georg Klever, flying ME110 Nightfighter. He was part of NGJ/3 group based at Laon/Athies airfield in Northern France.

(1) It is believed that the Wellington had a full bomb load at the time. Four of those who died are commemorated on the Runnymede memorial whilst Sergeant Wood is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery.

P/O. Pearce was sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Poland. In 2008 he recounts in a letter to the Daily Mail of his attempt to escape from the camp:

“I was shot down on my 26th bombing operation and was the sole survivor. I was waiting in the block near the tunnel entrance ready to escape when the outside exit was discovered. I had arranged to accompany one of my fellow officers and had drawn a higher number than his for the escape. He was waiting outside in the woods for me and was one of those ruthlessly murdered on Hitler’s orders. I ended up spending three years in the prison camp.”

Left: Sgt. Benjamin Francis Wischhusen

The Wischhusen family originated from Bremen, in Germany, (close to where the Wellington was to drop it’s bombs) but moved to London in the 1790’s. Born in 1915 in Bethnal Green, London. Benjamin, known as Ben, had an older brother Leslie John Wischhusen who was born in Petchefstrom, South Africa in 1913.

After living in the East End of London, Bens father served in the 1st Dragoons (Royals) reaching the rank of squadron sergeant major, being mentioned in dispatches and gaining the DSM. After leaving the army and with the death of his wife in 1923, he moved the family out to Blandford, Dorset and re married Amy Hilda Seaviour and had another son, John.

Both of the older Wischhausen brothers worked at Lee Motors, a large transport garage where Ben was employed as a coach painter and Les as a metalworker. Ben married May Smith at St. Andrews Church, Boscombe and they moved to Shellbourne Road, Boscombe, their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1941 in Boscombe. When Ben was posted to his squadron his wife May and their baby moved in with her sister Lily and her husband Les (Leslie Eric Orchard Frost) in Enfield, staying with them after Ben’s death in 1942.

(1) Ofw. Georg Klever was to be posted as missing in action in April 1945. Further information can be found in our Kracker archive

Burial details:

F/O. Thomas Reader Russell Wood. Becklingen War Cemetery Grave 26.G.12. F/O. Woods is believed to have been the son of the Honourable B.R. Wood of Guyana. Apparently prior to this operation around October 1941, he had been forced to bail out with an injured shoulder after his aircraft ran out of fuel. Awarded a DFC with effect from the 3rd of June 1942. (Gazetted on 27th July 1943, page 3384)

Sgt. John Wynne Chapman. Runnymede Memorial Panel 117. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Sgt. Leonard John Howe. Runnymede Memorial Panel 86. Son of John and Ellen Louise Howe of Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Maurice John Morris Davies. Runnymede Memorial Panel 81. Son of Thomas Morris and Catherine Anne Davies of Barnes, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Benjamin Francis Wischhusen. Runnymede Memorial Panel 97. Son of Mr Benjamin John Wischhusen and Francis Ellen (nee Ellam) Wischhusen. of Boscombe, Hampshire, England. Husband of May (née Smith) Wischhusen.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Acknowledgements: Michael Wischhusen, nephew of Sgt. Wischhusen with thanks also to Hans Klootwijk of the Caribbean Aircrew site for extra info on Flying Officer Wood. We would like to appeal for any further information on F/O. Wood on behalf of Hans Klootwijk. With thanks also to Jon Pinkham who advised us of a correction with details of Sgt. Wischhusen in February 2016.

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