Operation: De Kooy airfield, Netherlands

Date: 4th June 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, 2 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: R3903

Code: XD:R

Base: RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk

Location: West of Bergen-aan-Zee, Netherlands

Pilot: Plt Off. Wylie Baser 87459 RAFVR Age 20. MiA (1)

Obs: Sgt. Arthur William Simpson 40949 RNZAF Age 32. MiA (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Cyril Ernest Triggs 973935 RAFVR Age 23. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Blenheim R3903 took-off from Horsham St. Faith at 19:00hrs with five other aircraft for a bombing operation on De Kooy Airfield (now known as Den Helder airfield) in the Netherlands.

Blenheim IV aircraft (courtesy IWM), RAF Horsham St Faith, Norfolk (courtesy IWM)

The aircraft were attacked by Messerschmitt's Bf109E who shot down two of the Blenheim's. A third Blenheim was so badly damaged that it crash landed on return, seriously injuring two of the crew.

Blenheim R3903 was believed to be claimed by Uffz. Heinrich Nöcker of 3./JG1, at 20:08hrs and crashed west of Bergen-aan-Zee.

Map of the area of Blenheim IV R3903 crash West of Bergen-aan-Zee, Netherlands

De Kooy airfield came under German control during the Second World War and was renamed Fliegerhorst De Kooy. It suffered heavy damage during the war, this was despite the construction of heavy anti-aircraft defences in the area. After the war, the need for a naval air base in the area remained, and the airport was repaired.

(1) 936366 Sgt. Baser was appointed to commission as 87459 Plt Off. on probation with effect the 16th November 1940.

(2) Arthur William Simpson was an accountant prior to enlisting in the RNZAF in April 1940. He married in 1940 at St. Michael's Anglican Church, Kelburn.

This was thought to be his 19th Operation and he had a total of 201 flying hours.

Burial details:

Runnymede Memorial, Surrey

Plt Off. Wylie Baser. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 31. Born on the 23rd February 1921 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Son of William Bell and Agnes Smith (née Wylie) Baser of South Shields, Co. Durham, England.

Wylie is also remembered on the war memorial of Hutcheson's Grammar School, Glasgow and on the Giffnock War Memorial.

Sgt. Arthur William Simpson. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 64. Born on the 18th November 1908 in Southbridge, Canterbury. Son of George Spence and Barbara (née McJarrow) Simpson of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand. Husband of Doris Leslie Simpson (née Armit) of Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand.

Sgt. Cyril Ernest Triggs. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 53. Born on the 28th March 1918 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. Son of Ernest Edward and Frances Winifred (née Dolbear) Triggs of Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.

Cyril is also remembered on the war memorial, Bethany Church, Cardiff.

Researched Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to: New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. 1) further information can be found here, Hans Houtman and Jeroen Koppes (Nov 2015). Thanks to Antonio McDonald for the correction to Sqn Code. (Apr 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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