Operation: Hamburg, Germany

Date: 10th/11th May 1941 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 115 Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1379

Coded: KO:B

Base: RAF Marham, Norfolk

Location: Near Tönning, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Pilot: Sgt. John Anderson 969380 RAFVR Age 26. KiA

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Alexander McBride Kerr 406012 RAAF Age 19. PoW No: 182 * (1)

Observer: Sgt. William John Albert Legg 914194 RAFVR Age 24. PoW No: 168 * (2)

Front Gunner: Sgt. Godfrey William ‘Geoff’ Hogg 911754 RAFVR Age 24. PoW No: 34 ** (3)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Arthur Bernard ‘Bernie’ Morgan 946930 RAFVR Age 25. PoW No: 33 ** (4)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. David William ‘Dave’ Fraser 633414 RAFVR Age 20. PoW No: 36 ** (5)

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland

** Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.

Original crew of Wellington R1379 - Sgt. Geoff Hogg, Sgt. Bernie Morgan, Sgt. Dave Fraser, Sgt. Alexander Kerr, Plt Off. Allan McSweyn, Sgt. William Legg.

Note: Plt Off. Allan Frank McSweyn MC, 402005 RAAF was the pilot of 115 Sqn Wellington IC R1509 KO:P which was hit by Flak and then attacked by a Bf110 on an operation to Hamburg on the night of the 29th/30th June 1941. All of the crew successfully abandoned the aircraft. Plt Off. McSweyn and four (4) of his crew became PoWs. The rear gunner, Sgt. James Vivian Gill 759007, released his parachute harness too early resulting him suffering critical injuries and he died later in hospital. Plt Off. McSweyn evaded for three (3) days and was eventually captured trying to steal an Bf110. He later escaped and returned to England. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on the 16th May 1944.

Sgt. John Anderson (courtesy Pete Jeaner via Michel Beckers)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took-off at 22:17 hrs from RAF Marham to join a force of one-hundred and nineteen (119) bombers on an operation to bomb Hamburg in Germany.

The rear turret was hit by Flak and set ablaze after which the aircraft was coned by searchlights. Sgt. Legg and Sgt. Fraser extinguished the fire. They were then attacked by a night-fighter which set off a flare in the flare rack on the starboard fuselage and wounded Sgt. Kerr and Sgt. Legg knocking them both unconscious.

Sgt. Kerr was later told that Sgt. Anderson, Sgt. Hogg and Sgt. Morgan baled out through the front hatch. Sgt. Fraser threw him out and then baled out himself, having not seen Sgt. Legg. Sgt. Kerr regained consciousness and opened his parachute, landing safely. The aircraft was ablaze but in level flight when Sgt. Legg regained consciousness and took control of the aircraft and performed a successful forced landing at Tönning.

The Germans reported that Sgt. Anderson was buried at Tönning. No member of the crew saw him after he had baled out.

R1379 was claimed by Lt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin, his 1st Abschuss, from 6./NJG1 over Tönning at 4.000 m. at 02:52 hrs.

Above: Lt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin

Note: Coned by 5./II/Flakscheinw. Regt. 3 (100) and also claimed by Seefliegerhortskompanie MG Zug Tönning (Machine gun defences of seaplane base Tönning) and light Flak of 3./lei. Flak Abt. 770. The victory was credited by OKL to Flak searchlight units, MG and Flak units and to Lt. Von Bonin on the 21st January 1941.(Nachtjagd Combat Archive (1939 - 12 July 1941) The Early Years Part 1 - Theo Boiten).

Maj. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin survived the war and was credited with thirty-four (34) confirmed Abschüsse with one (1) to be confirmed. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive - Biographies - Theo Boiten).

On the 10th May 1991, at a special ceremony at Hohn Air Base, Germany, three of the survivors, including Sgt. Legg, were introduced to Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin. He died on the 11th January 1992.

Sgt. Kerr and Sgt. Legg were both seriously injured and were admitted to Reserve Lazarette No. 11, which served Stalag 10A at Schleswig, on the same day.

(1) On the 20th July 1941 Sgt. Kerr was transferred to Reserve Lazarette at Stalag 3B in Rendsburg until the 15th August 1941 and then transferred to the Reserve Lazarett (hospital) in Hohemark until the 10th September 1941 when he was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel.

He was then transferred to Stalag 3E, Kirchhain arriving there on the 25th September 1942. He escaped on the 11th May 1942 with Wingfield and Chapman. They were making for Sarajevo where Chapman said he had contacts. They had no papers, no civilian cloths and little food. They walked at night for the first week then started jumping on trains. They were recaptured on the 21st May and returned to Stalag 3E.

Wingfield was Sgt. Ronald Charles Wingfield 907605 RAFVR who was flying 17 sqn Hurricane I Z4393 which failed to return from an operational flight over the Mediterranean sea on the 16th August 1941.

Sgt. Kerr transferred to Stalag Luft 3 arriving there on the 25th May 1942. Chapman was removed from the camp and taken to Berlin.

This was Cpl. Robert William Chapman 3711283 Royal Corps of Signals who was a Wireless Operator who had been parachuted to assist the Yugoslav Partisans near Sarajevo on the 3rd February 1942.

Sgt. Kerr was transferred to Stalag Luft 4 at Heydekrug arriving there on the 10th June 1943. On the 15th September 1944 he was transferred to Stalag 357, Fallingbostal but officially the designation was Stalag 357, Oerbke.

In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst Hermann Ostmann that 12,000 British PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. He was amongst the men marched from the camp in columns of 2,000.

After ten (10) days they arrived at Gresse, east of the Elbe. There they were issued with Red Cross parcels, but were then unfortunately strafed by British Typhoonfighter-bombers, mistaking them for German troops. Sixty (60) PoW were killed and many wounded.

WO. ‘Dixie’ Deans confronted Oberst Ostmann and bluntly gave him a choice, to be captured to the Russians or the British. Ostman provided WO. Deans with a pass and a German guard, and they headed west to contact the advancing British troops. On the 1st May WO. Deans and his guard were sheltering in a house east of Lauenberg when they heard over the radio the news of the death of Adolf Hitler. The next morning the house was overrun by troops of the British 6th Airborne. WO. Deans was taken to the commander of VIII Corpsand explained the situation. He was given a captured Mercedes car and drove back to Gresse. Two days later the PoW column marched back across the British lines. The then Warrant Officer (WO) Kerr was interviewed on the 7th May 1945.

During his time as a PoW he studied economics. Whilst at Stalag Luft 3 he sat for the Matriculation French examination and also for Part I Intermediate BSc in Economics. Upon his return to England WO. Kerr sat for examinations conducted by the London University in Oral French and Part II Intermediate BSc in Economics on the 6th and 7th July 1945.

Professor Kerr lectured in economics at the University of Western Australia (UWA) for 25 years and had numerous overseas postings for the United Nations and foreign governments. He moved to Murdoch University as foundation professor of economics before retiring as deputy vice-chancellor, and was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2004.

Alexander McBride Kerr was born on the 23rd April 1921 in Perth. He was a clerk prior to enlisting in the RAAF on the 27th April 1940. Alexander passed away on the 2nd January 2019, age 97.

(2) Sgt. Legg was also seriously injured after being hit in the lower stomach by MG fire. No other details of his treatment after being at Reserve Lazarette No. 11, which served Stalag 10A at Schleswig, with Sgt. Kerr has been found.

Records show that he was eventually transferred to Stalag Luft 3, however, no other records have been found documenting any PoW camps after Stalag Luft 3. It is believed that his injuries were severe enough for him to be repatriated in a prisoner exchange in October 1943.

WO. Legg was appointed to a commission and promoted to 182200 Plt Off. on the 18th July 1944 (London Gazette 19th September 1944). His appointm was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. on the 20th January 1945 (London Gazette 20th February 1945). He relinquished his commission on account of medical unfitness to serve in the RAF, retaining the rank of Fg Off. on the 5th August 1945 (London Gazette 17th August 1945).

William John Albert Legg was born on the 8th January 1917 in Melbourne, Australia. Prior to enlisting in the RAFVR his occupation was as a Plumber and Copper Welder. William passed away in January 1996 in Weymouth, Dorset, England

(3) Sgt. Hogg was not injured when captured and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. Early in June 1941 he was transferred to Stalag 18A, Wolfsburg where he remained for short time before be transferred to and unnumbered camp at Litzmannstadt in Poland where he remained until some time in July 1941.

Note: It is not known why he was sent to Litzmannstadt as this was the place where the Germans created two subcamps in what was termed the “Litzmannstadt Ghetto” for holding Gypsies in one and the other for children and youths.

He was then transferred to Stalag 8B at Lamsdorf where he remained until May 1942. He was then transferred to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan where he remained until June 1943. He was then transferred to Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug which became the camp for enlisted men. British and Canadian NCOs (non-commissioned officers) arrived at the camp from Stalag Luft 1 and Stalag Luft 3.

In early 1944 the Russian Army were advancing into the Baltic States from the North and the East preparation for evacuating the camp was being made. PoWs from Stalag Luft 6, the camp closest to the Russian advance, were in the "northern route" of the force-marches, and were transported to Stalag 20A by train in July 1944, and from there took part in the forced-march.

It was estimated that 100,000 PoWs took the northern route. It went to Stalag Luft 4 at Groß-Tychow, Pomerania then via Stettin to Stalag 9B and Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.

On the 1st September 1944 the PoWs were force-marched from Thorn (Toruń) in Poland to the site of the former Stalag 11D, with construction being carried out by the Italian PoW from Stalag 11B. The camp was commonly known as Stalag 357, Fallingbostal but officially the designation was Stalag 357, Oerbke.

In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst Hermann Ostmann that 12,000 British PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. The now Warrant Officer (WO) Hogg was not amongst those PoWs who were marched out of the camp.

Stalag 357 was liberated on the 16th April 1945 by British troops from B Squadron 11th Hussars and the Reconnaissance Troop of the 8th Hussars. They were met at the main gate of Stalag 357 by a guard of Airborne troops, impeccably attired and led by RSM Lord. WO. Hogg was interviewed on the 22nd April 1945.

Godfrey William Hogg was born on the 24th September 1916 in Surrey, England. He was employed as a Ironmongers Clerk prior to enlisting in the RAFVR January 1940. Godfrey passed away in October 1998 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

(4) Sgt. Morgan was not injured when captured and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. In July 1941 he followed Sgt. Hogg in being transferred to Stalag 18A, Wolfsburg but did accompany him to Litzmannstadt in Poland. He was then transferred to Stalag 8B at Lamsdorf where he joined Sgt. Hogg.

From here his PoW story is the same as for Sgt. Hogg. However, the now Warrant Officer (WO) Morgan was amongst the PoWs who marched from the camp in columns of 2,000. After ten (10) days they arrived at Gresse, east of the Elbe. There they were issued with Red Cross parcels, but were then unfortunately strafed by British Typhoonfighter-bombers, mistaking them for German troops. Sixty (60) PoW were killed and many wounded.

WO. ‘Dixie’ Deans confronted OberstOstmann and bluntly gave him a choice, to be captured to the Russians or the British. Ostman provided WO. Deans with a pass and a German guard, and they headed west to contact the advancing British troops. On the 1st May WO. Deans and his guard were sheltering in a house east of Lauenbergwhen they heard over the radio the news of the death of Adolf Hitler. The next morning the house was overrun by troops of the British 6th Airborne. WO. Deans was taken to the commander of VIII Corps and explained the situation. He was given a captured Mercedes car and drove back to Gresse. Two days later the PoW column marched back across the British lines. WO. Morgan was interviewed on the 6th May 1945.

Arthur Bernard Morgan was born on the 17th March 1916 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. He was employed as a Clerk prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 16th January 1940. Arthur passed away in March 1978 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England.

(5) Sgt. Fraser was not injured when captured and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. His PoW story was the same as for Sgt. Morgan above. The then Warrant Officer (WO) Fraser was interviewed on the 6th June 1945.

David William Fraser was born on the 18th April 1921 in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England. He enlisted in the RAFVR on the 6th February 1939. David passed away on the 20th August 2019 in Sussex, England.

Burial Details:

Grave Marker (Courtesy of The Dark Poet-FindAGrave)

Sgt. John Anderson. Hamburg Cemetery, Plot 4A. Row H. Grave 11. Son of Howard Allen and Jane Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland.

With thanks to the following: David Fraser for the photo of the crew and self. Pete Jeaner, Michel Beckers. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with new information (Jan 2026).

Other sources listed below:

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