Operation: Hamburg

Date: 03/4th February 1943 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 75 Squadron 3 Group (motto: Ake Ake Kia Kaha - For ever and ever be strong)

Type: Stirling I

Serial: R9250

Code: AA-W

Base: Newmarket, Suffolk

Location: Ingen, Holland

Pilot 1: P/O. Kenneth Howard Blincoe DFC. 412194 RNZAF Age 33. Killed

Pilot 2: P/O. Andrew James Newell Scott 414685 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Desmond David Hayward 651764 RAF Age 20. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Frank Arthur Boese 1293282 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. George Wood Cook 412514 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. Harold Lowe DFC. 115129 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Edward McDermott R/96960 RCAF Age 19. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 18:21 hrs from Newmarket, Suffolk to bomb Hamburg. 263 bombers took part in the operation made up from 84 Halifaxes, 6 Stirlings, 62 Lancasters and 51 Wellingtons.

Poor icy conditions forced many aircraft to return early and the pathfinders were unable to produce concentrated marking and consequently the main bombing was scattered.

The results of the raid was disappointing 45 large fires, 2, in some oil depots and another in a warehouse. 53 people on the ground were killed and another 40 injured.The operation cost the allies a loss of 16 aircraft with 90 aircrew losing their lives an a further 28 being made PoW.

Above L-R: Sgt Desmond David Hayward, Ground Crew - unknown, P/O. Andrew James Newell Scott, P/O. Kenneth Edward Blincoe DFC, Ground Crew - unknown, Sgt. Frank Arthur Boese, Sgt Desmond Clearwater, F/O. Harold Lowe DFC.

Stirling R9250 was intercepted at 3,500 metres and shot down by Hptm. Reinhold Knacke of 1./NJG1 at 19:46 hrs. over Ingen 5km south of Amerongen.

Hptm. Knacke who was already a very high scoring ace (43) was shot down and killed after being hit from return fire by one of the other bombers (214 Squadron Stirling R9197) which he also shot down on this raid. His regular Bordfunker, Uffz. Bundrock escaped out of the Bf110 F-4 G9+DK by bailing out. It is understood that Hptm. Knacke also baled out, but the aircraft was too low for survival.

The aircraft sank deep into the soft ground and it wasn't until 1949 that the final three bodies were recovered for burial.

Above as described (courtesy Tom Kracker)

Burial details:

P/O. Kenneth Howard Blincoe DFC. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 13. Grave 212. Born on the 03d November 1909 at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand, the son of Francis Blincoe and of Ruth Blincoe (née Packer), of Nelson, New Zealand and husband of Ida Annie Blincoe, of Murchison, Nelson, New Zealand. A total of 450 flying hours logged and on his 22nd operational sortie.

P/O. Andrew James Newell Scott. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 91. Son of William Lorimer Scott and Marian Phebe Scott, of Mataura, Southland, New Zealand. A total of it is thought, 680 flying hours logged and on his 03rd operational sortie.

Sgt. Desmond David Hayward. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 90. Son of William John and Lydia Hayward, of Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Frank Arthur Boese. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 92. Son of Arthur and Carrie Boese, of East Ham, Essex and husband of Irene Emily Boese (née Middleton), of East Ham, England.

Sgt. George Wood Cook. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 13. Grave 211. Son of Samuel Arthur and Eva Harriette Cook, of Otorohanga, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 243 flying hours logged and thought to be on his 01st operational sortie.

F/O. Harold Lowe DFC. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 13. Grave 213. Son of Harold and Priscilla Lowe, of Horsham, Sussex and husband of Chrissie Lowe, of Horsham, England.

Fl/Sgt. Edward McDermott. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 93. Son of Mrs. D. Hastings, of London, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Desmond Clearwater. Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 89. Son of Irwin Clearwater and of Jacobina Manson Clearwater (née Bain), of Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 324 flying hours logged and on his 22nd operational sortie.

Researched for Richard van de Velde (Researcher) and the relatives of the crew. With thanks to Jenifer Lemaire of New Zealand for compreheive further information and crew photographs. Also to Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted.

Please note:

Photo of P/O. Kenneth Howard Blincoe DFC placed with permission under licence: Auckland Library Heritage Collection - 25 July 1945 AWNS19450725-26-13 / Auckland Library Heritage Collection - 14 April 1943 AWNS19430414-18-18.

Photo of Sgt. Desmond Clearwater placed with permission under licence: Auckland, New Zealand - Auckland Library Heritage Collection 5 May 1943 AWNS19430505-18-46.

Photo of Sgt. George Wood Cook placed with permission under licence: Auckland Library Heritage Collection 14 April 1943 AWNS19430414-18-19.

Photo of P/O. Andrew James Newell Scott placed courtesy RNZAF Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand.

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