Archive Report: Allied Forces

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20/21.04.1943 49 Squadron Lancaster III ED620 EA:K Sgt. Adam Anderson

Operation: Stettin

Date: 20th/21st April 1943 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 49 Squadron

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ED620

Code: EA:K

Base: RAF Fiskerton. Lincolnshire

Location: Between Stadil and Kolby, Denmark

Pilot: Sgt. Adam Anderson 1347713 RAFVR Age 20. Injured (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Adam Telfer 1371009 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Nav: Sgt. George Boulton RAFVR PoW, Stalag Luft Heydekrug (2)

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. William Alexander Cook 1005936 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Gordon Joseph Evans 1218571 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. William Parnham Heyworth 1236949 RAFVR Age? Injured/ PoW No: 1134, Stalag Luft Heydekrug

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. George Barclay 995998 RAFVR Age? Injured/PoW No: 42754, Stalag Kopernikus

REASON FOR LOSS:

339 aircraft sent to bomb the distant city of Stettin (over 600 miles). ED620 Lancaster leaving RAF Fiskerton on Tuesday 20th April at 21:47 hrs with 8 others from the squadron. Weather conditions were very good but the full moon created problems with both the night fighters and the heavy flak en route to and from the target.

Crash site of Lancaster ED620 (courtesy Kracker Archive)

ED620, this crew on only their second operation - one of the victims of the flak during the outbound part of the trip. The flak had ignited some of the incendiaries they were carrying the aircraft starting to burn so the pilot, Sgt. Adamson decided on a crash landing at 23:35 hrs between Stadil and Kolby in Denmark.

(1) Sgt. Adam Anderson - survived the crash landing seriously injured, but sadly died a few hours later in hospital.

(2) Sgt. G. Boulton was also injured during the landing. He was repatriated in May 1944, due to his wounds. Thought to have been at the same time as an exchange of prisoners of war.

The two air gunners were injured and received treatment at the Luftwaffe field hospital at Aarhus.

The operation, despite the losses of 21 allied aircraft was classed as a success with over 100 acres of the town devastated, 13 Industrial premises destroyed, 380 houses. A large chemical works had its production completely halted. - 586 people killed on the ground. Fires were still burning in the town nearly two days later when reconnaissance aircraft overflew taking photographs.

Note: On the 21st April 1943 the bombing of Aberdeen, Scotland killed 78 civilians and 27 service personnel - the attack was the worst of 34 separate German air raids on the city.

49 Squadron Lancaster at RAF Fiskerton

Burial Details:

Crew funerals that took place on the 24th April 1943 - showing the respect provided by the Germans. (courtesy Kracker archive)

Crew graves at Lemvig (courtesy Michel Beckers)

Sgt. Adam Anderson. Lemvig Cemetery. Grave 737. Son of James and Margaret Anderson, of Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Grave inscription reads: ‘His Body Is Buried In Peace, But His Name Liveth For Ever More.’

Back Row L-R James Hiddleston (my Uncle Jimmy), Sandy Telfer (Adam's father), John Hiddleston (my Grampa). Front Row L-R Andrew Hiddleston (my Uncle Andy, brother to Jimmy and friend of Adam); Adam Telfer. (courtesy Christine Calder)

Sgt. Adam Telfer. Lemvig Cemetery. Grave 736. Third child of Alexander (Sandy) a shepherd and Janet Telfer (a domestic servant), of Kirkbride, Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. (They married at Woodhouselea, Durisdeer on 19th January 1912) Adam born on 21st December 1920. Adam is also commemorated on the Durisdeer war memorials. Grave inscription reads: ‘In Proud And Affectionate Remembrance Of Adam, He Gave His Life For Freedom.’

Sgt. William Alexander Cook. Lemvig Cemetery. Grave 735. Son of William and Maggie B. Cook, of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Grave inscription reads: 'When Change And Tears Are Past, All Safe And Blessed, We Shall Meet At Last.’

Sgt. Gordon Joseph Evans. Lemvig Cemetery. Grave 702. Son of Joseph and Catherine Evans, of Hereford, England. Grave inscription reads: ‘To The Glory Of God And In Proud Memory, We Will Never Forget, Dear Dad & Mam RIP.’

Researched for the family of Adam Teller. A relative, Mrs Christine Calder contacted us with further family details. Photographs of graves courtesy Michel Beckers. Funeral and crash site photographs courtesy Kracker Archives. Lancaster at RAF Fiskerton courtesy Wikipedia.

Other sources listed below:

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